About the Presenter: Annelise Murphy, LCMHC

Annelise Murphy, LCMHC, is a leading expert in religious trauma and identity conflict, with years of experience helping individuals navigate faith-based trauma, high-control religious environments, and the intersection of spirituality and mental health. She specializes in treating OCD—particularly scrupulosity OCD—using Exposure-Response Prevention (ERP) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) while integrating an understanding of how religious doctrine can reinforce obsessive-compulsive beliefs.

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Annelise has been at the forefront of religious trauma treatment, launching and facilitating queer-focused religious trauma support groups at the Utah Pride Center before expanding them at Corner Canyon Counseling to serve adults from diverse religious backgrounds. She now owns and operates Ginger Zen Therapy, a private practice dedicated to supporting individuals grappling with religious beliefs within their DSM diagnoses.

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Beyond her clinical work, Annelise is an active member of the Reclamation Collective, a national network of therapists specializing in religious trauma. She is also a co-author of Feel Secure in Yourself: A Guidebook for LGBTQIA+ People and Those with a Different Label or No Label, where she contributed the chapter “Find Peace with Religious, Sexual, and Gender Conflicts”. This resource provides vital guidance for those struggling to reconcile their faith with gender and sexual identity.

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In addition to her work in religious trauma, Annelise was the lead researcher of a groundbreaking study on consensual nonmonogamy (CNM), published in the Social Psychological and Personality Science Journal in April 2020. The study, A Prospective Investigation of the Decision to Open Up a Romantic Relationship, followed 233 individuals over two months, examining the impact of CNM on relational, sexual, and personal well-being. The findings demonstrated that individuals who engaged in CNM experienced significant increases in sexual satisfaction—particularly when addressing sexual incompatibilities—without adverse effects on life satisfaction or relationship quality with their primary partners.

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With a unique ability to bridge religious deconstruction and clinical mental health treatment, Annelise offers a compassionate, evidence-based approach to healing. Her work ensures that clients can explore their beliefs, relationships, and identities without bias—whether they choose to leave, redefine, or remain within their faith.