Piecing everything together again: Exploring the experiences of ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses and how to support them

Former members of high-control religions can face numerous challenges after leaving their religious groups and require support to heal from the harms associated with disaffiliation. Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used to explore the experiences of 20 ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses in the UK. Participants described experiencing a wide range of difficulties and trauma that had lasting impacts on their daily lives. The participants’ recoveries were complex, idiosyncratic, and embedded in their social and cultural contexts. Developing new identities, relationships, and worldviews after leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses was often slow and difficult, but these processes were an important part of their healing. Our analysis shows that with adequate support these vulnerable individuals could rebuild new lives outside the organization and experience post-traumatic growth. Increasing awareness of the experiences and needs of individuals like our participants will enable professionals to better provide the support and care they need.