I Belong to Me with Tia Levings
IndoctriNation
IndoctriNation
4.8 • 566 Ratings
🗓️ 27 May 2026
⏱️ 89 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode, host Rachel Bernstein welcomes back author Tia Levings to discuss her new book, 'I Belong to Me: A Survivor’s Guide to Recovery and Hope After Religious Trauma.'
Tia opens up about surviving church-sanctioned domestic abuse and the long, deliberately paced process of rebuilding selfhood after leaving Christian patriarchy. She and Rachel explore how reclaiming body awareness, personal boundaries, and the simple practice of "I statements" can counter indoctrination.
The conversation moves through the disorientation and shock that follow leaving a high-control environment or cult, the heightened vulnerability to further exploitation, and the grief of being exiled from former communities. Tia and Rachel discuss how reframing language can reduce shame, and why relearning consent and the freedom to say "no" is central to recovery.
They also examine "story wounds," the mistranslations used to uphold patriarchal systems, the lasting harms of religious patriarchy, and a nuanced understanding of forgiveness — one framed not as obligation, but as a release that becomes possible only after tending to the injury and refusing self-betrayal.
This episode of IndoctriNation explores religious trauma, coercive control, spiritual abuse, fundamentalism recovery, and the path to reclaiming autonomy and identity after a high-control group.
Tia’s Links
Book: https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/belong-to-me-9781250374271/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tialevingswriter/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/TiaLevings
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https://linktr.ee/indoctrination
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Restart and Restore: A Journal for Survivors of Manipulation:
Restart and Restore: Companion Notebook:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSCLTZN4
Download a Free Chapter from Restart and Restore:
https://education.rachelbernsteintherapy.com/restart-and-restore-campaign
Journal App:
https://rachelbernsteintherapy.com/restore-journal-app.html
Download Rachel’s Video Lectures and Webinars here:
https://rachelbernsteintherapy.com/videos.html
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You are not alone. And now there are two resources that I've put together specifically for your journey. |
| 0:16.0 | This is your host, Rachel Bernstein. I am an educator and a therapist and a cult specialist, and I am very excited to announce |
| 0:27.2 | restart and restore a journal for survivors of manipulation and a companion notebook that I've put together to go with it, |
| 0:39.3 | that has people's stories that they've shared with me, |
| 0:44.4 | that they wanted to share with you, |
| 0:46.4 | and some wonderful quotes from people whose thoughts I truly admire, |
| 0:52.2 | and more pages and writing prompts for you to continue with the writing |
| 0:59.0 | that can help you along your healing journey. |
| 1:03.5 | This isn't just another blank journal. |
| 1:07.1 | It's a trauma-informed recovery companion, and it offers psychoeducation on the mechanics of manipulation and control and therapeutic writing prompts to explore your history and your strengths, practical exercises that transform insights into some actionable steps, and the freedom to heal at your own pace. |
| 1:31.8 | You can do it in the time frame that works for you without any judgment or pressure. |
| 1:39.7 | Whether you joined the organization or the relationship that was controlling as a teen or as an adult, |
| 1:46.7 | restart and restore provides the structure and I think validation needed to process your |
| 1:53.5 | experiences safely. I'm also excited to share beyond the journal and its companion notebook |
| 2:00.5 | that I'm currently working on a second journal |
| 2:03.3 | specifically for those born and raised in high control groups or high control family units, |
| 2:09.6 | as their healing journey often involves different and specialized challenges. Restart and Restore and its companion notebook are available now, |
| 2:20.7 | and you can find the link in the show notes. |
| 2:23.9 | Thank you very much. |
| 2:25.4 | I hope it's helpful to I want to give you a quick |
| 2:49.8 | heads up because I don't want you to miss |
| 2:51.8 | something really special. Our next Patreon exclusive Q&A is coming up on June 19th and these |
... |
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