Finding Care Without Religion: 3 Ways Secular Chaplains Support You
- Ashley Beaty-Perry
- Sep 22, 2025
- 2 min read
Leaving religion can be a huge relief. But if you’ve ever gone looking for support afterward, you may have found that so much care is still tied to faith. I hear it all the time: folks telling me they finally reached out to a counselor or a therapist, only to be told to pray, have faith in God, or lean on religion. And that can feel devastating — especially if you’ve already done the hard work of stepping away.
As a secular chaplain, I want you to know there’s another option. Finding support that isn’t tied to religion can feel like such a deep breath of relief. You are cared for exactly as you are, without anyone trying to hand you beliefs that don’t fit.
Today, I want to share three ways secular chaplains offer care and why it matters so much.
👉 If you’d rather watch the video version, you can find it here: Finding Care Without Religion: 3 Ways Secular Chaplains Support You
1. Spiritual care doesn’t have to mean religious care
For us, “spiritual” care is really about the human spirit — our meaning, our purpose, our hope. Those things aren’t locked inside religion. We find them in nature, in the arts, in science, and in our relationships with one another. Secular chaplains recognize that, and when we talk about caring for the spirit, we’re talking about your values, your sense of meaning, and what brings you alive.
2. Safe space for the big questions
Who are we? Why are we here? What does it all mean? These are human questions, not religious ones. A big part of our work is creating space where you can explore those questions without anyone steering you toward a certain belief. We’re not here to convince you of anything. We encourage you wrestle with what feels true, meaningful, and real for you. I often say our job is to walk with people until they can hear themselves more clearly and find their own answers.
3. A non-anxious presence in hard times
Life brings grief, loneliness, and messy feelings — and sometimes what we need most is someone who won’t flinch or try to “fix” us. Secular chaplains offer a steady, non-anxious presence. We sit with you in the hard stuff, validate what you’re feeling, and remind you it’s okay to be exactly where you are. That kind of unconditional compassion and acceptance can be deeply healing.
Why This Matters
So many people don’t even know secular chaplains exist. But for those of us who’ve left religion, it can be life-changing to know there’s support out there that meets us on our terms — no strings attached. You deserve that kind of care.
💬 I’d love to hear from you. Have you experienced the relief of finding non-religious support? Share your story in the comments — your voice might be just what someone else needs to hear today.
💛 Ashley
Your secular chaplain
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