Releases March 3, 2026

For everyone unlearning the faith that broke them, Growing Up Saved is a companion for the road—an honest look at spiritual trauma, healing, and the slow work of becoming whole again.

by : Kristen LaValley

GROWING UP SAVED

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  • the growing up saved mixtape

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  • trauma-informed book club kit

  • discussion guide

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Kristen LaValley grew up a church kid through and through. She said the sinner’s prayer” before she could write her name and spent the next few decades trying to prove she meant it; in a body that couldn’t rest, with a mind she didn’t yet understand, under a God she was afraid to disappoint. She learned to perform the kind of faith that got praised: one that hid pain and swallowed questions.

But in the thick of depression, spiritual exhaustion, and a late ADHD diagnosis, she found herself wondering if the faith she’d built her life on could really hold her.

In Growing Up Saved, Kristen maps the slow undoing of a faith formed in certainty and what it took to find God in the middle of her unraveling.

In these pages, you’ll find authenticity, empathy, and compassionate theology as you explore:

  • how to find your way through a faith that was formed in fear

  • the intersection of trauma, mental health, neurodivergence, and spiritual identity

  • the healing work of making peace with your body, your mind, and your story

  • a path for those navigating life after disillusionment, burnout, religious trauma, or pain

This book isn’t a call to give up on faith. It’s an invitation to hold it differently. With tenderness, grit, and humor, Kristen offers a hard-won way through grief and grace to a messy, holy rebuilding.

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“From hilarious chapter titles to heartbreaking stories, Kristen LaValley exposes the pain of growing up evangelical and the promise of being loved no matter what. A book brimming with kindness, honesty, and humor—Growing Up Saved is a refreshing read from a voice I respect.”

- K.J. Ramsey, Therapist and author of The Place Between Our Pains and The Book of Common Courage

“Growing Up Saved is a raw and honest look at the struggles many face in the church, from self-doubt to perfectionism. If you’ve ever questioned your faith or struggled to feel enough, this book will remind you that you’re not alone and that God’s love is far bigger than you’ve been told.”

- Tony Miltenberger, Host of the Follow 2 Lead podcast and author of Wisdom in the Wound

“With unflinching personal honesty and thorough research, Kristen LaValley offers an inspiring, practical, Jesus-centered path forward for those who hunger for wholeness and integrity. As someone who has witnessed both the profound cost of spiritual abuse and the real power of Christ’s living church, I am grateful for voices like Kristen’s—truthful, kind, and rooted in grace.”

- Jonathan Puddle, Pastor and author of You Are Enough: Learning to Love Yourself the Way God Loves You

“If you’ve ever wondered if life with God was really supposed to be heavy or if there was something better on offer, this book is for you.”

- Meredith Miller, author of Woven : Nurturing a Faith Your Kid Doesn’t Have to Heal From