Ann Russo LCSW

12/29/2025

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”— Matthew 25:40 (NIV) There is justice in creating spaces where children sleep in warmth and safety, and parents remain with their families. There is sacredness in protecting life, in welcoming the stranger, and in honoring every person as worthy of care.

12/28/2025

As a therapist, I've seen how religious trauma can make clients question their very essence. But here’s the sacred truth I witness every day: your identity isn’t broken—it was simply waiting for safe spaces to bloom. links in bio Or che

12/27/2025

What does it actually mean to live authentically when faith, identity, and safety collide?

This Los Angeles Wire feature shares my story, from growing up in a quietly q***r family in the 1980s to creating the Religious Trauma Treatment Model. It explores how religion shapes identity, why authenticity matters for healing, and how compassion and boundaries can coexist.

Read: Ann Russo on Living Authentically: Faith, Identity, and Inclusive Healing
Link in bio.

***rhealing

12/27/2025

Is there an ethical way to do religion?
That’s one of the questions we unpack on the latest episode of the Unruly Travel & Alternative Living Podcast, now live.

We talk about:

– Religious trauma and how it lives in the body
– Q***r identity and rejection
– Growing up in a closeted household in the 80s and 90s
– Why inclusive therapy is essential
– The origins of RTTM and what real healing can look like

This is science, story, and a reminder that you’re not alone in this.

Link in bio to listen
More on RTTM + CEU offerings on my website.

***rTherapist *xualEmpowerment

12/27/2025

Healing doesn’t start in adulthood.
It starts where the nervous system first learned safety, fear, or silence.

In this episode of More S*x than Secrets, I talk about how childhood programming and religious abuse shape adult relationships, intimacy, and self-trust. We explore how shame and confusion get wired early, and what it actually takes to heal through inner child work, nervous system regulation, and consent-based care.

This is a conversation about moving from stuck to sovereign and learning how to trust yourself again.

Listen now. Link in bio.

12/25/2025

Reclaiming female sexuality after purity culture isn’t about rejecting faith.
It’s about reclaiming authorship over your body.

On S*xual Empowerment Beyond Purity Culture with Dr. Jeff, I talk about how Christian teachings shape women’s relationships to desire, worth, and consent, and how healing happens through embodiment, language, and choice. We explore how women are reconnecting with their sexual values in grounded, affirming ways without abandoning meaning or spirituality.

If your body was taught to be feared or controlled, this episode offers clarity and a way back to yourself.

Listen now. Link in bio.

12/24/2025

For me, it looked like two dads, one mom, and a roommate who wasn’t really a roommate.

This week I sat down with ***rfamilypodcast to talk about growing up q***r and raised by q***r parents in the ’80s. And? It worked.

We talked:
– Chosen family & Deadhead potlucks
– Religious trauma 101
– How purity culture hits the nervous system
– What it really means to vet an affirming therapist
– Q***r joy as fuel for the long haul

We recorded the day after a church shooting. I want you to hear what we said.

Full episode: link in bio
Book launch list: link in bio
Therapists: you’re going to want the guide I’m writing.

***rTherapist

12/22/2025

A client's community doesn’t just influence their thoughts—it writes the script for what they believe is possible, worthy, or 'holy.' Healing begins when we question who truly benefits from those narratives. Check the link in bio for the full Self Care Level 1000 podcast.

12/21/2025

Religious dogma doesn’t ‘protect’ women’s sexuality—it polices it, weaponizing shame to control pleasure, desire, and bodily autonomy. Healing begins when we dismantle the lie that holiness requires self-erasure. Visit https://buff.ly/aFtaE1h & https://buff.ly/HTDJzL9 to check out the full More Human, More Kind podcast . *xuality

12/20/2025

New course on Religious Trauma — only $15!

Whether you’re a therapist, social worker, or simply curious, this self-paced training introduces the Religious Trauma Treatment Model (RTTM) and the impact of high-control religious systems.

1 CE Credit (ASWB ACE approved)
Online • Self-Paced • Only $15
Watch or listen like a podcast

Enroll before Oct 1 and get 25% off with code: learnnow

👉 Sign up today: link in bio

12/15/2025

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.

12/14/2025

Q***r therapist and “kid of q***r parents” Ann Russo joins Jaimie to show what ordinary, extraordinary q***r family looks like. Raised in the ’80s by a mom, dad, and dad’s partner under one roof—publicly “the roommate” for safety—Ann shares how chosen... learn more.

Q***r therapist and “kid of q***r parents” Ann Russo joins Jaimie to show what ordinary, extraordinary q***r family looks like. Raised in the ’80s by a mom, ...