How to Heal from Rejection as a Christian: Insights from Therapist & Author Tabitha Panariso | E63
In this episode, Courtney interviews Tabitha Panariso, a licensed professional counselor and author, discussing the themes of rejection, healing, and personal growth. Tabitha shares her journey through various forms of rejection, including familial abandonment and friendship breakups, and how these experiences shaped her understanding of self-worth and relationships. The conversation delves into practical steps for healing, the importance of building trust, and the impact of church hurt on faith. Tabitha emphasizes the significance of self-compassion and authenticity in overcoming rejection and encourages listeners to trust God's timing in their personal journeys.
Connect with Tabitha:
Follow Tabitha on Instagram: @tabithapanariso
Subscribe to her substack: www.tabithapanariso.substack.com
Tabitha Panariso is a licensed professional counselor candidate (MA, LPCC), writer, speaker dedicated to blending Christian faith, theology, and counseling into the fabric of everyday life. She and her husband live with their three children in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Rejection can leave deep wounds, but healing is possible.
This week, Courtney talks with therapist and author Tabitha Panariso about how to process rejection, heal from church and friendship wounds, and rebuild trust in yourself and others. If you’ve ever felt like you had to shrink or hide to stay accepted, this conversation will help you walk in freedom again.
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What you can learn in today’s episode:
How early rejection shapes our identity and relationships
What it looks like to walk through a friendship breakup with grace
The difference between self-reflection and self-betrayal
How to heal from church hurt without walking away from God
Why rebuilding trust starts with honesty and vulnerability
Episode Blog:
Healing from Rejection and Rebuilding Trust
Rejection touches more of us than we often admit.
Whether it comes through a broken friendship, a church that let you down, or a quiet moment of feeling unseen, rejection has a way of shaping how we show up in the world. Sometimes, it even causes us to hide.
In this episode, therapist and author Tabitha Panariso sits down with Courtney to share how her story of rejection led to deep healing and transformation. She invites us to consider how past wounds are still impacting us today and how healing is possible when we start with God.
When Pain Goes Unseen
Tabitha shares how her childhood was marked by early rejection when her biological father chose to walk away. What followed was a pattern of deep wounds from friends, churches, and relationships that once felt safe.
For a long time, she thought she had moved on. But when a painful friendship breakup left her unable to bounce back, she realized something deeper was going on. She wasn't just grieving the loss of the relationship. She was carrying a much older wound.
The Layers of Healing
Tabitha believes that healing happens in layers. First, we heal our view of God. Then, we heal our view of ourselves. Finally, we begin to rebuild connection with others.
She encourages us to ask questions like:
What am I believing about God because of this rejection?
What am I believing about myself that might not be true?
Many of us struggle to receive love because we’ve come to believe we’re not worthy of it. That belief often starts in childhood but continues unchecked. Healing begins when we bring those lies to light.
Friendship Breakups and Church Hurt
One of the most unspoken forms of rejection is the end of a friendship. Tabitha shares how losing close friends left her questioning her worth. But over time, she learned to let go of shame and see the full picture.
Sometimes, we need to redefine friendships instead of ending them. Other times, walking away is an act of wisdom. It all depends on whether both people are willing to do the work of repair.
She also speaks openly about church hurt a topic that is often misunderstood. Leaving her church was painful, but it also gave her space to rediscover who God really is. Her encouragement to others: your pain is valid, and it doesn't disqualify you from faith. God will meet you even in the wilderness.
Stop Shrinking to Fit In
One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is Tabitha's insight into self-betrayal. She describes it as shrinking, masking, or adjusting ourselves to be more acceptable to others.
But we were never meant to fit in. We were made to belong.
She reminds us that when we live from a place of people-pleasing or fear of rejection, we often betray who God created us to be. Healing begins when we learn to show up as our whole selves even if that means ruffling feathers or walking away from the approval of others.
Subscribe to the show wherever you listen! Connect with me on Instagram at @courthopejones.
