Elizabeth Meeshim Hogsten
Religious Trauma Coach, Master's of DivinityHi, I’m Elizabeth! I help people heal and move forward from damaging religious experiences.
My Story
When I was 31, after 7 years of deep involvement in a church that had become like family, my pastors were removed because of spiritual abuse, and my world fell apart.
I had no idea how to move forward. I just knew I needed to leave.
The journey of healing was rough and confusing. My body broke down in concerning ways. I was often emotionally overwhelmed. Healing pathways I had relied on in the past (like prayer, therapy, church community, reading the Bible, etc.) weren’t enough.
So I began to explore new ways of healing and understanding myself and the world. My journey led to some pretty incredible discoveries and breakthroughs, particularly through somatic healing techniques, parts of self (IFS), insights from the Enneagram, meditative spiritual practices, and life coaching techniques.
I eventually created a healing program that incorporates all the wisdom I gained through my own healing journey in order to help others who have been through traumatic church experiences heal and move forward.
I always consider myself a work-in-progress, but I know now that we don’t have to settle for being haunted or driven by our wounds, no matter how deep they are. Healing is possible. Rebuilding trust with yourself and with God is possible. Building a life of meaning and intentionality is possible.
My Credentials & Experience
Life Coach Certification (Oct 2023)
I got my certification through Lumia Coaching, a program credentialed by the International Coaching Federation (ICF). The program is grounded in positivity psychology and emphasizes intersectionality.
Master's of Divinity (Sept 2022)
I received my MDiv at Fuller Theological Seminary. an interdenominational seminary that values disagreement, questioning, and cultural awareness.
Ministry Experience
I have over 12 years of ministry experience, including 7 years in South Korea. My experience includes leadership development, church planting, facilitating small groups, mentoring, healing ministries, individual counseling & prayer, worship leading, preaching, and vision casting. I currently guest preach at local churches and lead worship at my own local church, but I am also a vocal critic of the church.
My Values & Beliefs
Honesty, Grief, & Gratitude
I believe full, vibrant living starts from the place of raw honesty and then flows from acknowledging both the pain and the beauty of life. Finding safe spaces to be brutally honest is a key part of growth and healing. Making space for both grief and gratitude enables us to flourish.
Radical Self-Compassion
I believe self-compassion is at the center of effective change. We all have shadow sides and weaknesses, and we are often our own harshest critics. But when we accept ourselves, we are empowered to change and grow. As Richard Schwartz says, we have no bad parts, just parts that need healing.
Letting Curiosity Lead
Many of us have learned perfectionism from our families, school systems, and/or the church. But what if we stop thinking about “rules” and “perfection” and simply explore what is happening and what is possible with curiosity? There is space for you to make mistakes and figure things out in a messy process of learning––that is what growth is all about!
My Approach
I coach according to the standards of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), so my coaching is grounded in deep listening, powerful questions, and keen observation. I received my certification from Lumia Coaching, which bases their training in the field of positive psychology.
I also incorporate my expertise in theology & spiritual abuse and the wisdom of somatic practices, the Enneagram, and IFS (parts of self) into my coaching.
