Hello there, fearfully and wonderfully made human—and welcome to another episode of The Holistic Counselor Podcast. I'm your host, Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP, CTP, QS—founder of Through the Valley Therapy and Transformed Mind Consulting & Coaching.

Today's guest is the powerful and compassionate Sowania Germain, LMHC-D, PMHC—also known as The Mama Therapist. Sowania joins us to share her courageous story of escaping a spiritually abusive, cult-like church and how her healing journey led her to become a trauma-informed therapist and ministry leader.

We unpack how faith can be weaponized, the signs of communal narcissism in spiritual spaces, and how modalities like EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy can support deep soul recovery. Whether you're deconstructing your faith, navigating church hurt, or walking with clients through spiritual trauma—this episode is for you.

• What defines a cult, spiritual abuse, and religious trauma—and why clarity matters

• How communal narcissism shows up in churches and Christian communities

• Love bombing, prophetic manipulation, and financial coercion in high-control groups

• Why some therapists miss the mark when it comes to culturally-embedded spiritual trauma

• Practical tools for trauma recovery: EMDR, IFS, therapy intensives, and peer support

• How to rebuild trust in God without bypassing grief, anger, or doubt

• What to look for in a faith-integrated therapist—and what to avoid

• Cultural intersections: Haitian, Latinx, and Caribbean experiences with Santería and Catholicism

"Healing begins when you make peace with the pain—through forgiveness. Forgiving yourself, and those that wronged you." – Sowania Germain, LMHC-D, PMHC

"If a person is on a pulpit and they are not pointing to Jesus Christ—and not encouraging you to open the Word yourself in context—then what are they doing up there?" – Diana S. Rice, LMHC

• We Need to Talk Podcast with Ezekiel Azonwu (Sowania's testimony): Watch Here

• A Well-Trained Wife by Tia Levings: www.tialevings.com

• Call to Peace Ministries – Domestic violence & spiritual abuse education

• Moms in Prayer International – Global prayer support network

• Religious Trauma Institute – Education on healing religious trauma

• The New Evangelicals – Community for exvangelicals and deconstructing Christians

• EMDR Therapy: Reprocesses painful memories and rewires your brain's response to trauma

• IFS (Internal Family Systems): Helps identify, honor, and heal your inner "parts" carrying shame, fear, or spiritual wounding

• CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy rooted in renewing the mind with truth

Learn more about Sowania's therapy services, ministry work, and upcoming intensives:

• Website: www.sowaniagermainlmhc.com

• Instagram: @themamatherapist_

• Facebook: Sowania Germain, LMHC

• TikTok: @sowania.germain

• Podcast Episodes

• Therapy Services – Through the Valley Therapy

• Consulting & Events – Transformed Mind CC

Loved this conversation? Please subscribe, rate, and share it with someone who's navigating church hurt, deconstruction, or healing from spiritual abuse.