ABOUT
Hi
I’m Teri
Teri Hales is a certified Religious Transition and Trauma Recovery Coach and host of the Emancipate Your Mind podcast.
Since graduating with her Bachelors degree in Marriage, Family, and Human Development in 2002, she has been passionately focused on deepening her understanding of mental and emotional health. Teri combines her deep love of social science with New Age ideas and practices in a way that honors and supports the individual authority and inner wisdom of her clients.
She gently guides them through acknowledging and releasing old beliefs and stories about themselves and the world to create a life that is tailor made for their happiness. Because of her ability to help others feel safe and supported as they journey through painful experiences, she has often been called an “emotional doula” by her clients and those who have heard her speak.

“I found Teri when I was going through a deeply challenging transition. I looked forward to her posts and stories on Instagram because they consistently inspired me and brought hope and humor to a difficult situation.
When I got on a coaching call with her for the first time, I was amazed at how much Teri immediately felt like a friend. Her cheerfulness, enthusiasm, and warmth put me at ease right away.
Working with Teri helped me to uncover blind spots in the ways I was approaching solutions to problems and achieving goals. She helped me to talk through my approach and helped me select action steps. Working with Teri helped me feel excited to move into the future I am creating, and I am so grateful!”
-Liesel M.
- Vanessa J.
“What I love most about working with Teri is her out of the box “Gods Eye View” of all situations. She has a way of making you see the magical and what’s possible in difficult life circumstances. She is truly the mother I always wished I had!
She’s so intuitive and insightful and in those moments when you feel like you can’t do it or go any further in life, Teri shows you that you can light up the whole sky.”
-Ivory V.
Since I’ve worked with her, I have had a huge weight lifted from my chest. I can breathe easier now. I have gotten to know myself on such a deep level, and I have gotten to accept and love myself like never before. I could not recommend her enough. I love this woman. She is a huge part of my healing story. Without her, I don’t know that I would have ever been able to recognize the scars and wounds inside me that came from my religious background as a child. She truly is a gift to this world.”
-Ashley B.
“There is something SO powerful about a woman who unapologetically owns every part of herself, and does it with so much beauty and grace. Teri shows up through the vulnerable moments, the messiness of life, and does it so effortlessly that one cannot help but be mesmerized by and drawn to her authenticity.
She has been my light in a dark place. She provided the spark that lit my soul on fire. She has helped me to shine a light on the shadows that fuel my shame-driven perfectionism, and then learn that it is only by bringing them into the light, that it is possible for me to grow despite and because of them. She has shown me that loving every part of myself is the only way to live an authentic life.
My life, and the lives of my family, have been forever changed. Because I love myself, I can now give each of them the freedom to love themselves too. And that alone is going to change generations.”
-Caitlin G.
“Teri has helped me accept and love myself in ways that I didn’t know were possible. I’ve been able to work through some shame and guilt with her that were not easy to address and she made me feel so safe and comfortable. She is one of my favorite people in the world!
She is so compassionate and authentic and that comes through in all of the work she does. Her passion for her work and her authenticity allows other people to feel safe with her and that is a true gift.
I can’t recommend her enough!”
-Heather I.
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PODCAST

With Teri Hales
If you have an anxious attachment style, you likely spend your time trying to people please, take care of the people around you, and in general try to win the love and connection you so desperately crave. But, you may worry that those you love don’t care about you as much as you care about them. You worry that eventually, they may reject you or even abandon you and this leaves you feeling anxious and unable to fully trust the people you care about.
In this episode, we explore how this attachment style develops and explore how high demand religion may have influenced the ways your parents showed up emotionally in their relationships with you and your siblings. We address fears you may have about your own parenting and your relationships with your own kids. And a few steps you can take to begin healing this part of yourself so that you can feel safe and secure in your favorite relationships.
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RESOURCES:
Addah, Ogue and Lemay, Edward. “Romantic Surveillance and Secret Assessments: Responsiveness Monitoring Born from Insecurity in Relationships”. University of Maryland. 2014.
Catlett, Joyce. M.A. “Anxious Attachment: Understanding Insecure Anxious Attachment”. PsychAlive.com
Child Development Institute. “The Power of Attunement”.
Firestone, Lisa. Ph.D. “How Your Attachment Style Affects Your Parenting”. PsychAlive.com
Gibson, Thais. “The Anxious Attachment’s Top 5 Triggers”. July 3, 2021. The Personal Development School. YouTube.
Ludden, David. Ph.D. “How Early Childhood Shapes Your Relationship with God: Attachment Style and Religious Belief.” June 17, 2021. PsychologyToday.com
Morton, Katie. “The 4 Main Attachment Styles in Relationships- Plus Attachment Theory”. December 13, 2022. YouTube.
Sage, Kimberly. Ph.D. “Healing Anxious Attachment Style”. November 10, 2021. YouTube.
The Attachment Project. “Self Regulation Strategies for Anxious Attachment Triggers”. July 23, 2021. The Attachment Project.com
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DONATE TO THE PODCAST AND JOIN THE LIVE WEEKLY DISCUSSION:
Do you want support in understanding and working through your own childhood attachment style? Join us for the live weekly discussion this Wednesday at 6:30pm MT.
Monthly donors will be invited to weekly live discussions and group coaching every Wednesday at 6:30pm Mountain Time (8:30pm Eastern/ 5:30pm Pacific). Make a monthly tax-deductible donation of any amount at emancipateyourmind.org .
New donors will be automatically added to the email list every month on the 5th with links to the discussions, exclusive exercises and tools to help you recover faster, and invitations to attend any additional workshops this year for free. To be added to the email list more quickly, please email us at teri@emancipatedcoaching.com right after making your donation and you’ll be added to the list within 24-48 hours.
We hope to see you there!
FREE COMMUNITY:
Not ready to donate but still want to join in online community and text discussions? Come join the Emancipate Yourself Facebook group to share your thoughts on today’s podcast and ask more questions.

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Get More In-Depth Support
One On One
For those who prefer the VIP experience of a personal recovery plan and the freedom to move through self-discovery and empowerment at a pace tailor-made for them.
Emancipate Yourself App
This app is for anyone who has questioned or left religion and feels afraid, confused, ashamed, or guilty for their questions or their decision to leave.
One day workshops
For those who just want a little boost of support in a specific area related to building a life from empowered authenticity after a religious transition.
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