Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this episode, Rachel Bernstein interviews Elise Heerde, a certified coach and mental health practitioner specializing in religious trauma, cult recovery, and coercive control. Elise recounts being raised in fundamentalist Pentecostalism with fear-based teachings about hell and the rapture, leading to anxiety, depression, and insomnia. While on staff at a high-control Pentecostal megachurch, she sought pastoral care and experienced grooming and assault, followed by silencing, threats, and blame. She describes the challenges of leaving and explains her trauma-informed coaching approach versus unqualified “spiritual counseling.” Elise also discusses co-founding the Religious Trauma Collective Australia & New Zealand to connect survivors with resources and practitioners, and advocates for behavior-focused reforms such as group-based coercive control through Victoria’s parliamentary inquiry.
Elise’s Link
Website: eliseheerde.com
Book: eliseheerde.com/books
The IndoctriNation Podcast is a weekly show covering cults, manipulators, & systems of control. Hosted by Rachel Bernstein LMFT, Cult Specialist.
Featured in The New York Times
Join Patreon: patreon.com/indoctrination
Follow on social media: https://linktr.ee/indoctrination
Webinars/Video Lectures: rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html
Why Fear Makes Us Say "Yes" When We Should Have Said "No" (Free PDF): education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/why-fear-makes-us-say-yes
Am I Dating a Narcissist? (Free PDF) : education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/am-i-dating-a-narcissist
Do I Have a Safe Therapist (Free PDF): education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/do-i-have-a-safe-therapist
5 Signs of an Emotionally Manipulative Partner (Free PDF): education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/five-signs-of-emotionally-manipulative-partner
In this episode, Rachel Bernstein interviews Elise Heerde, a certified coach and mental health practitioner specializing in religious trauma, cult recovery, and coercive control. Elise recounts being raised in fundamentalist Pentecostalism with fear-based teachings about hell and the rapture, leading to anxiety, depression, and insomnia. While on staff at a high-control Pentecostal megachurch, she sought pastoral care and experienced grooming and assault, followed by silencing, threats, and blame. She describes the challenges of leaving and explains her trauma-informed coaching approach versus unqualified “spiritual counseling.” Elise also discusses co-founding the Religious Trauma Collective Australia & New Zealand to connect survivors with resources and practitioners, and advocates for behavior-focused reforms such as group-based coercive control through Victoria’s parliamentary inquiry.
Elise’s Link
Website: eliseheerde.com
Book: eliseheerde.com/books
The IndoctriNation Podcast is a weekly show covering cults, manipulators, & systems of control. Hosted by Rachel Bernstein LMFT, Cult Specialist.
Featured in The New York Times
Join Patreon: patreon.com/indoctrination
Follow on social media: https://linktr.ee/indoctrination
Webinars/Video Lectures: rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html
Why Fear Makes Us Say "Yes" When We Should Have Said "No" (Free PDF): education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/why-fear-makes-us-say-yes
Am I Dating a Narcissist? (Free PDF) : education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/am-i-dating-a-narcissist
Do I Have a Safe Therapist (Free PDF): education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/do-i-have-a-safe-therapist
5 Signs of an Emotionally Manipulative Partner (Free PDF): education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/five-signs-of-emotionally-manipulative-partner
