In this episode of In Session with Ashley B, Ashley Buckner returns with a candid reflection on perfectionism, religious trauma, and what it means to show up authentically even when it feels messy. She opens up about the anxiety that resurfaced after launching the podcast again and how old patterns rooted in Mormonism and religious trauma can quietly reappear. From there, the episode moves into powerful listener submissions, including questions about anger after faith deconstruction, navigating a parent’s cancer diagnosis while building your own life, divorce and betrayal after leaving the church, feeling triggered by active members, fear around group therapy, and the grief of losing a belief system once held with your whole heart.Throughout the episode, Ashley invites listeners to get curious rather than judgmental about their emotions. She reframes anger as something to be befriended rather than eliminated, explores how trauma responses can show up after leaving high control religion, and validates the deep grief and integrity struggles that often accompany faith transitions.With compassion and nuance, she reminds listeners that healing is rarely black and white. Whether wrestling with guilt, resentment, betrayal, or activation around believing family members, Ashley encourages intentional inner work, self-trust, and giving yourself permission to live authentically, even when it feels uncomfortable.

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyb_therapyLink for submissions: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dXCjsH8gf8O4NvmcTvNnFeKQm7NgE5uwm1vqqKdjHSs/edit