Ann Russo LCSW

Ann Russo LCSW Founder and Director of AMR Therapy. Creator of the Religious Trauma Treatment Model. Together, we can reimagine what mental health care can be.

Specializing in religious trauma and sexuality, Ann Russo works at the intersection of faith, queerness, and power, developing structured pathways toward autonomy and r I’m a queer entrepreneur, author, and educator dedicated to transforming mental health care through compassion, inclusivity, and empowerment. As the Founder and Clinical Director of AMR Therapy, I’ve led a thriving practice that has served over 2,000 clients, creating a space where marginalized communities feel seen and supported. Currently, my focus is on training mental health professionals and organizations to embrace culturally affirming, sex-positive practices. Through workshops, consulting, and my forthcoming book, [Working Title: Beyond Belief: Healing Religious Trauma and Reclaiming Identity], I equip providers to navigate complex trauma, religious shame, and identity-based challenges with confidence and care. Whether you’re a mental health provider seeking to grow or someone curious about the intersection of trauma, sexuality, and inclusivity, I invite you to connect with me here.

03/01/2026

When faith and q***r identity collide, it can shape identity, relationships, and mental health in lasting ways.

On The Spiritually Curious Therapist podcast, I talk about my experience navigating religious trauma, discrimination, and the process of healing and integration.

You are not alone.

Listen here:
https://buff.ly/pE2kQdh

02/27/2026

Talking about religious trauma isn't 'attacking faith'—it's exposing how systems weaponize belief to control bodies, minds, and souls. Healing begins when we name these wounds without shame. visit https://buff.ly/PAVNiIV & https://buff.ly/ggs2Z0Z for the full Self Care Level 1000 podcast.

02/26/2026

I do do not believe experts exist.

I believe there are people who specialize. People who dedicate years to studying and practicing in one area. People who can teach and guide others.

But real expertise requires humility.

Working with q***r communities today is not what it was twenty years ago. Language evolves. Lived experience evolves. Practice must evolve with it.

This clip comes from a recent podcast conversation about growth, learning, and staying responsive in mental health work.

You can learn more about my work here:
https://buff.ly/cHadEdg





02/26/2026

I do not believe experts exist.

I believe in specialization. I believe in experience. I believe in people who have spent years working deeply in one area and can teach others.

But expertise without humility becomes rigidity.

Working with q***r communities today is not what it was twenty years ago. Growth requires listening. It requires learning. It requires staying open.

This clip is from a podcast conversation about humility in clinical work and lived experience.

More of this work at the link in bio.





For generations, women were told endurance was virtue.Silence was strength.Obedience was safety.Compliance was morality....
02/25/2026

For generations, women were told endurance was virtue.

Silence was strength.
Obedience was safety.
Compliance was morality.

Breaking chains is not rebellion.

It is the restoration of autonomy.

S*xual violence thrives where autonomy is suppressed.
Healing begins where authority returns to the body.

Freedom is not dramatic.
It is the quiet decision to trust your own discomfort.



*xualViolence

How many people were taught to override their own discomfort long before anything happened? Consent requires capacity. A...
02/22/2026

How many people were taught to override their own discomfort long before anything happened? Consent requires capacity. Autonomy requires bodily trust. Are we teaching that clearly enough?



*xualViolenceAwareness

02/22/2026

Healing work begins with listening.

In my clinical work, I follow client language because it reflects lived experience. Many clients use the term q***r to describe non heteronormative experiences that have often been misunderstood or harmed within traditional models of care, particularly in the context of religious trauma.

Therapy is not about fitting people into categories. It is about reducing harm, increasing safety, and restoring dignity. This work is grounded in clinical experience and guided by the people it is meant to serve.

02/19/2026

When faith and q***r identity collide, the impact can be deeply personal.

I shared my story on The Spiritually Curious Therapist podcast, including the realities of religious trauma and the process of finding peace and integration.

You are not alone.

🎧 Link in bio.

TherapyVoices

02/19/2026

Strength doesn’t always look soft.

Sometimes it looks like standing steady after losing certainty.
Sometimes it looks like trusting your body again after years of being told not to.
Sometimes it looks like choosing your own path when the old one no longer fits.

Healing after religious trauma is not about becoming someone new.
It is about reclaiming the self that was always there.

Grounded. Capable. Resilient.

02/19/2026

If God is loving and expansive, why would that God want you living in fear, rigidity, or constant self-doubt?

Rigid theology can shape how safe you feel in your own body and mind. It can train contraction instead of growth.

In this clip from the Mind Elevation podcast, I reflect on how our image of God influences autonomy and self-trust.

Full work and resources at the link in bio.






Autonomy
MindElevation

02/18/2026

Religious trauma isn’t just about faith—it rewires your client's nervous system, relationships, and even your capacity for joy. The damage is systemic, but so is the healing. Check the link in bio for the full S*x, Drugs, & Soul podcast.

Address

Unit 201
Los Angeles, CA
90803

Telephone

+13232075901

Website

http://www.amrtherapy.com/, https://bellarmine.lmu.edu/theologicalstudies/, https://www.csulb.

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