4 Art Activities to Help You Process Your Mormon Faith Transition
Leaving Mormonism can feel like trying to explain an experience that doesn’t fit neatly into words.
You might be grieving community while feeling relieved to leave. You might feel angry, hopeful, confused, liberated, and terrified… all at the same time.
Faith deconstruction is complex because it affects every part of your life: your identity, relationships, values, body image, purpose, and sense of safety in the world.
Sometimes talking about it helps.
Sometimes writing helps.
And sometimes, words simply aren’t enough.
Creative expression can offer another way to process what you’re feeling when your thoughts feel tangled or overwhelming.
Before we dive in, an important note: I am not a certified art therapist. I am, however, both personally and professionally a huge fan of using art as a coping skill. As a therapist specializing in religious trauma and Mormon faith transitions, I’ve seen how creative expression can help people access emotions, reconnect with themselves, and make meaning of experiences that are difficult to verbalize.
And please note that you don’t need artistic talent to benefit from these activities! The goal is not to create art so beautiful you can hang it in your living room; the goal is to process emotions and tune into yourself. You only need curiosity.
Why Art Can Be Helpful During Faith Deconstruction
High-demand religions often teach people to prioritize external authority over their own inner experiences.
Many women leave Mormonism feeling disconnected from:
- Their emotions
- Their bodies
- Their intuition
- Their creativity
- Their personal values
Art invites you to slow down and listen inward again.
Creative activities can help you:
- Express emotions that feel difficult to name
- Process grief, anger, or confusion
- Reconnect with your intuition
- Explore your identity outside of Mormonism
- Access your nervous system in a different way than talking alone
The goal isn’t to create something beautiful. The goal is to create something honest!
Activity #1: Create a Vision Board of Your Post-Mormon Values
After leaving Mormonism, many people realize they’ve spent years making decisions based on expectations they didn’t consciously choose.
Faith deconstruction creates an opportunity to ask:
- What matters to me now?
- What kind of life do I want to create?
- What values do I want to guide my decisions?
A vision board can help you move from abstract ideas into something tangible.
Gather magazines, stickers, printed photos, markers, or anything else that catches your attention. Without overthinking it, choose words, images, colors, and symbols that resonate with you.
Focus less on goals and more on values.
You might include themes like:
Authenticity- Rest
- Adventure
- Simplicity
- Creativity
- Connection
- Joy
- Freedom
- Self-trust
When you’re finished, notice what patterns emerge.
What surprised you?
What feels most important?
If you’re struggling to identify your values after leaving Mormonism, download my free values workbook to help you get started.
Activity #2: Draw or Write What Life Felt Like Before, During, and After Your “Shelf Break”
Many former Mormons describe their faith transition as a “shelf break”—the moment when unanswered questions, painful experiences, or difficult truths become too heavy to ignore.
This exercise helps you externalize that experience.
Divide a page into three sections:
- Before
- During
- After
You can draw, write, collage, or use colors and symbols instead of words.
Ask yourself:
- What did life feel like before I started questioning?
- What emotions came up during my deconstruction?
- How do I feel now?
- What has changed?
- What am I still grieving?
- What feels possible now?
There are no right or wrong answers.
The goal isn’t to create a tidy narrative.
It’s to witness your own experience with compassion.
Activity #3: Create a “Letting Go and Inviting In” Handprint
Faith transitions often involve both loss and possibility.
You’re not only leaving things behind.
You’re also making room for something new.
Trace both of your hands on a piece of paper.
On your left hand, write or draw what you’re ready to release from Mormonism.
This might include:
- Perfectionism
- Shame
- Fear of disappointing others
- People-pleasing
- Black-and-white thinking
Purity culture- The need for external validation
On your right hand, write or draw what you want to invite into your life.
You might choose:
- Self-trust
- Curiosity
- Peace
- Authenticity
- Joy
- Boundaries
- Self-compassion
- Personal agency
Notice what emotions arise as you complete this exercise.
Sometimes seeing your hopes and losses side by side can help you recognize how much courage this process requires.
Activity #4: Paint or Draw Your Core Self
Many people leaving Mormonism ask:
“Who am I without the church?”
That’s a big question.
This activity invites you to connect with the part of yourself that existed before expectations, roles, and conditioning.
Imagine your core self—the version of you that has always been there beneath the rules, expectations, and labels.
What does that version of you look like?
What colors, symbols, landscapes, or images come to mind?
You might ask yourself:
- What qualities have always been true about me?
- What did I love as a child?
- What feels most authentic to me?
- What parts of myself have I hidden or ignored?
Create a self-portrait using whatever materials you have available.
Remember, this isn’t about artistic skill! It’s about connection to self.
You Don’t Have to Be “Good” at Art for It to Help
One of the challenges many ex-Mormons face is perfectionism.
You might worry about doing these activities the “right” way.
There isn’t one.
Your art doesn’t need to make sense to anyone else.
It doesn’t need to be pretty.
It doesn’t even need to be finished.
The value comes from the process, not the product.
If these exercises bring up intense emotions, pause, take a few deep breaths, and offer yourself compassion.
You can always return to them later.
And if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, working with a therapist who understands religious trauma can help you process what comes up in a supportive environment.
Need Support During Your Faith Transition?
You don’t have to navigate Mormon faith deconstruction alone.
I specialize in helping women process religious trauma, faith transitions, reconnect with themselves, and build lives that feel aligned with their values.
I offer virtual and in-person therapy for women across Arizona and in-person Brainspotting intensives in Arizona for women traveling from anywhere.
Schedule a free consultation HERE to learn more about working together.
Frequently Asked Questions About LDS Faith Transitions
Is art therapy helpful for religious trauma?
Creative expression can be a valuable tool for processing religious trauma because it helps access emotions and experiences that may be difficult to put into words.
While art therapy is a specialized field practiced by trained art therapists, simple creative activities can still be powerful coping tools.
Do I need to be artistic to try these activities?
Not at all.
These exercises are about expression, not skill. Stick figures, scribbles, collages, and simple drawings can be just as meaningful as detailed artwork.
What if these activities bring up difficult emotions?
Strong emotions are common during faith deconstruction.
If you feel overwhelmed, take a break, ground yourself in the present moment, and return when you feel ready. Consider reaching out to a trusted friend, support group, or therapist if you need additional support.
What supplies do I need?
Start with what you already have.
Paper, pens, markers, magazines, glue, colored pencils, or paint can all work. You don’t need special supplies to benefit from creative expression.
Can therapy help with Mormon faith transitions?
Yes.
Therapy can provide support as you process grief, challenge internalized beliefs, rebuild self-trust, navigate changing relationships, and create a life that aligns with your values after leaving Mormonism.
