About this speaker
Elise Heerde is a trauma-informed counsellor and coach specialising in helping individuals heal from religious trauma and high-control environments. Her work is deeply personal, having spent over 30 years in evangelical Pentecostal Christianity before deconstructing her faith. She understands firsthand the pain, confusion, and isolation that can come with leaving a rigid belief system behind. Now, she is dedicated to supporting others as they reclaim their autonomy, rebuild their identities, and find peace beyond religious coercion.
As a co-founder of The Religious Trauma Collective, Elise is committed to connecting individuals across Australia and New Zealand with practitioners who understand the nuances of religious trauma and can provide compassionate, trauma-informed care.
In her private practice, she offers trauma-informed counselling and coaching to those navigating the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of religious trauma. Whether it’s processing the fear of eternal damnation, unlearning conditional love, setting boundaries, or rebuilding self-trust after years of external control, she provides a non-judgmental space where clients feel safe to explore their experiences. She integrates a range of therapeutic approaches, including Havening Techniques®, Somatic Processing, and Narrative Therapy, to help clients reconnect with themselves and their values.
Elise also writes and speaks about the lasting effects of high-control religious spaces, sharing insights from both her personal journey and professional work. Her e-book, Unlearning Obedience, explores how religious conditioning shapes a person’s sense of self and how they can begin to break free.
Above all, her work is about hope. She believes that healing is possible, that autonomy is worth fighting for, and that no one has to navigate their healing alone.
