Reclaiming Honest Communication After High-Control Environments
A Framework for Religious Trauma and Relational Abuse
Friday, November 20, 2026 · 12:00–2:00 PM ET (9:00–11:00 AM PT) · Live on Zoom
$45 Professional · $25 Student/Intern
Questions?
Why this matters
When clients come from high-control environments, including high-demand religious communities and emotionally abusive relationships, they learn a pattern of communication that keeps them small to ensure safety and, ultimately, survival. These environments don't exactly inspire or nurture a sense of self-trust or self-compassion. As adults, they often struggle to identify what they feel, trust that their needs are legitimate, or express themselves without fear of backlash.
No one handed them a manual on how to reclaim their voice after abuse, but we can help these clients learn to identify their needs and trust their ability to communicate effectively, giving them a foundation for healthy relationships and, most importantly, more confidence in themselves.
Who this training is for
Counselors and other licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals who work with clients affected by religious trauma, coercive control, or emotionally abusive relationships.
When and where
Friday, November 20, 2026 · 12:00–2:00 PM ET (9:00–11:00 AM PT)
Live and interactive on Zoom. The link is emailed after registration.
Live captions are available. CE credit is not offered for this workshop, and recordings are not provided.
What you’ll learn
A five-step framework (Notice, Name, Need, Check Capacity, Say It) with a practical, in-session tool for each step. By the end, you'll be able to:
Describe how high-control environments undermine clients' ability to notice, name, and express their internal experience
Identify the barrier each step presents for these clients
Apply at least one in-session intervention for each step
Support clients when honest communication is met with defensiveness, dismissal, or rejection
Who is teaching
Katie Barillas, LPC, holds a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is the owner of Katie Barillas Counseling in Alpharetta, Georgia, where she specializes in complex trauma, religious trauma, and LGBTQ+-affirming care. She is trained in EMDR and weaves IFS-informed approaches throughout her work. She is passionate about helping clients reclaim honest communication after environments where honesty wasn't safe.
