Spiritual trauma can be difficult to name. But if you’ve experienced it, you know how deeply it can shape your life. I’ve worked with clients who’ve been told that their worth depends on obedience. Others who’ve been discouraged from trusting their own thoughts or feelings. Some who still carry fear, not just of people, but of God’s judgment. For many, faith was supposed to be a source of comfort and hope. But when that faith was used to control, shame, or silence, it left wounds that are hard to talk about.
Maybe you’ve felt those wounds, too. If you find yourself anxious about everyday decisions, constantly questioning whether you’re doing something wrong, or avoiding anything related to spirituality because of pain, it may be time to look at that through a new lens. That pain you’re feeling? It’s real. It’s valid. And you don’t have to carry it alone. As an EMDR therapist in Atlanta, GA, I help people process spiritual trauma in a way that doesn’t require retelling every painful moment. But does give you a chance to find clarity, peace, and healing on your terms.
What Is Spiritual Trauma? 
Think about a time when you were scared to make a decision without running it by a pastor, a parent, or someone who said they knew what God wanted for your life. Maybe you were told that asking questions meant you didn’t have enough faith. Or that feeling things like anger or doubt made you a bad Christian. Spiritual trauma doesn’t always show up in obvious ways. Sometimes, it looks like being terrified to make a mistake because you think God will punish you. Or feeling like you have to be perfect all the time just to be loved. Maybe you still can’t make a simple decision, like what job to take or who to date, without feeling paralyzed.
I’ve worked with people who felt deeply connected to their faith at one time but now can’t even walk into a church without getting a knot in their stomach. For some, it’s the shame that never seems to go away. For others, it’s the pressure to act like everything is fine, even when they’re hurting. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. What you went through wasn’t just part of the “faith journey.” It was real. And it left a mark. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.
How Spiritual Trauma Can Show Up
Sometimes you don’t even realize you’ve been affected by spiritual trauma until life starts to feel heavier than it should. Maybe you tense up when someone talks about church. Or maybe you second-guess every decision because you’re scared of messing up or being “outside God’s will.” I’ve worked with folks who feel completely numb when they try to pray. Others feel angry with God but don’t know if it’s okay to say that out loud. You might not have words for it, but you know something doesn’t feel right. If faith left you feeling more fearful than free, that’s not something to ignore. That’s something to pay attention to. And it’s something EMDR therapy can help you begin to process, one step at a time.
How EMDR Therapy Can Help You Heal from Spiritual Trauma 
When I meet with someone who’s been through spiritual trauma, I often hear something like, “I thought it was just me.” That kind of pain runs deep. You might think that if you had just prayed more, obeyed more, or trusted harder, you wouldn’t feel this way. But when spiritual pressure turns into fear, shame, or emotional harm? It’s not about a lack of faith, it’s about wounds that need care. EMDR therapy gives you a way to go back to those painful moments, not to get stuck there, but to help your brain see them in a different light.
You don’t have to relive every detail. We focus on what still feels stuck. That might be a memory, a message you heard from someone in authority, or a belief that still makes you feel anxious or unworthy. As an EMDR therapist in Atlanta, GA, I’ve worked with many people who carry beliefs like, “If I question leadership, I’m sinning,” or, “If I don’t feel close to God, something must be wrong with me.” Through EMDR, we work together to release the weight of those beliefs so you can begin to trust yourself again. And maybe even reconnect with the parts of your faith that bring peace instead of pressure.
What Does EMDR Therapy Look Like for Spiritual Trauma?
When people come in for EMDR therapy, especially after spiritual trauma, they’re usually nervous about what to expect. That’s okay. You don’t have to know everything before we begin. What matters most is that you feel safe and supported throughout the process.
First, We Focus on Safety
Before we get into any tough memories, we take time to build trust. If you’ve been hurt in a spiritual setting, trust may not come easy, and I respect that. So we go slow. I’ll teach you tools to help you stay grounded so that nothing feels overwhelming or out of your control. We do this work together.
Then, We Name What’s Still Hurting
Spiritual trauma usually comes with a message that got stuck, something like, “I’m not allowed to question,” or “God’s disappointed in me.” We look at where that belief came from. It might be a moment in church, something a leader said, or even a feeling you’ve carried for years. We’re not trying to relive the pain, we’re just giving it the space to shift.
EMDR Helps You Process What’s Still Stuck
Through EMDR, we use things like eye movements or gentle tapping to help your brain reprocess those experiences. You don’t have to talk through every detail. Your mind does a lot of the work naturally. Over time, what once felt sharp and heavy starts to feel more manageable. You remember it, but it no longer defines you.
You Start to Believe Something New
As the old messages lose their hold, new truths start to take root. Things like, “I’m allowed to be honest about what I feel,” or “I don’t have to earn love.” These aren’t things I’ll tell you to believe, they’re truths you’ll begin to see for yourself. And they’ll become part of your healing story.
EMDR Can Help You Reconnect Without Pressure
One of the hardest parts of spiritual trauma is that it often damages your relationship with God. Or that it makes you question if that relationship was ever real in the first place. I’ve sat with people who feel angry at God but are afraid to admit it. Others feel numb when they try to pray or avoid anything religious altogether, even though deep down they miss that connection. You don’t have to figure all of that out at once. Also, you don’t have to leave your faith behind to heal. EMDR therapy gives us room to explore the pain without judgment and without trying to force answers. We start where you are.
If that includes rebuilding your spiritual life, we can make space for that. If it means letting go of some things that no longer serve you, that’s welcome too. As an EMDR therapist in Atlanta, GA, I work with people at all points in their faith journey. Those holding on, those walking away, and those somewhere in between. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need a place where your questions, doubts, and hopes are respected. That’s what this work is about: helping you feel safe again, not just in your body, but in your beliefs too.
You’re Not the Problem 
Spiritual trauma can leave you questioning yourself. I’ve worked with people who carry guilt for struggling, thinking it must mean their faith wasn’t strong enough. They wonder if they missed something. Some prayer, some rule, some spiritual formula. But this isn’t about a failure on your part. It’s about the impact of something that hurt you deeply, even if it was dressed up as truth.
What you’ve experienced matters. And if it’s still showing up in your thoughts, your relationships, or the way you see yourself, it’s worth tending to. EMDR therapy gives us a way to do that work. Not by forcing you to relive every moment, but by helping you understand how those experiences shaped your beliefs—and giving you the space to shift them. Over time, people begin to feel lighter. More settled. More themselves.
Begin EMDR Therapy in Atlanta, GA, to Heal from Spiritual Trauma
If your past spiritual experiences still bring up fear, anxiety, or self-doubt, you don’t have to keep pushing through it alone. EMDR therapy can offer a structured, compassionate way to process what happened and begin to rebuild trust. Not only in yourself but also in others, if it’s important to you, and even in your faith. Working with an EMDR therapist in Atlanta, GA, can help you untangle the beliefs that no longer serve you and find healing that feels honest and lasting.
At Faith and Family Empowerment, our therapists offer EMDR therapy but also offer other in-person and online therapy options. We know schedules can be full, and this kind of work takes time and intention. Whether you’re just starting to name what happened or you’ve been carrying these wounds for years, you’re welcome here. Together, we’ll work at a pace that feels safe and respectful. When you’re ready to begin EMDR therapy in Atlanta, GA, here’s how to take the next step:
- Contact us to schedule an initial appointment
- Learn more about our therapists (Rashad and William) and approach
- Begin the process of healing from spiritual trauma with care and support
Other Therapy Services Offered at Faith and Family Empowerment
EMDR therapy in Atlanta, GA is just one of the services we offer at Faith and Family Empowerment in Decatur, GA. Our team provides a variety of in-person and online mental health services to support individuals, couples, and families. These include marriage counseling, premarital counseling, and discernment counseling. We also offer Christian counseling, depression support groups, and counseling for affair recovery. To learn more about our services, approach, or team, feel free to visit our About, Blog, or FAQ pages today.
About the Author 
William Hemphill is a seasoned therapist based in Decatur, GA, with over twenty years of experience helping individuals and couples navigate the complexities of faith, trauma, and relationships. As the founder of Faith and Family Empowerment, William leads a growing team of compassionate therapists dedicated to providing thoughtful, client-centered care across a range of services, including EMDR therapy in Atlanta, GA.
He understands how painful spiritual experiences can shape the way you see yourself and the world around you, and he’s committed to offering a safe, grounded space for healing. In addition to his clinical work, William is also available for speaking engagements on mental health, relationships, and spiritual resilience. To learn more about working with William or a member of the team, feel free to reach out today.