For many spirituality is an important part of identity.  Within each of us is an innate longing to connect with something larger than ourself.  A wanting for meaning, a purpose, a sense of belonging to a higher form of intelligence.

Spiritual trauma is invisible to the outside world.  Any spiritual or religious abuse is a betrayal of trust which almost always leaves no visible tracks.    

Spiritual abuse disrupts our sense of self, our sense of connection.  This weaves its way into our relationships as unresolved trauma, never staying in the past, creeping into the present, impacting how you feel, think, move.

Unrecognized trauma

While all abuse is destructive, there is something unique to spiritual and religious trauma. Psychological harm continues long after the abuse has ended damaging our core spiritual beliefs. This leads to a loss of trust in a system we relied for support.

Survivors of spiritual trauma often feel alone, confused, and disconnected from their inner guidance, struggling to trust.  How isolating the world is when your source of meaning and purpose in life has been coupled to the source of your pain.  Spiritual and religious leaders and communities hold tremendous amounts of power.  Misuse of this power is never acceptable.  Those impacted by this abuse and manipulation are never at fault.

Unlike other forms of trauma, which may stem from external sources, spiritual trauma impacts the very core of a person's belief system.  It may lead to existential anxiety, depression, guilt, shame, loss of trust, and difficulty forming new spiritual connections.

The harm of spiritual trauma

Spiritual and religious trauma is the misuse of sacred beliefs, practices or authority to justify emotional, physical or sexual abusive behaviour.  Some issues that emerge as a result of spiritual trauma:

• Anger with God

• Fear of the Light

• Feeling unsettled, empty

• Feeling undeserving of love or protection by divine being

• Loss of trust

• Disbelief in a possibility of goodness

• Feeling rejected by God

• Fear of being with a spiritual or religious community

• Struggling to connect genuinely and deeply with other people

• Deep sense of shame and unworthiness

Spiritual violation can block spirituality

The perpetrator may conceal their abuse in sacredness using God’s name to justify their behaviour. This can contaminate and harm the survivor’s relationship to sacred spaces, rituals, prayers, texts and even God.  Some may believe that God is punitive and sees them as evil and not victim.

Generational, cultural, collective imprint

This does not create only individual harm.  Spiritual and religious historical trauma impacts all: individuals, family, community, cultural and the collective. Shame, pain and the stigma of disclosing the abuse contributes to perpetuating the cycle of trauma with outdated belief systems crossing from generation to generation. 

Self-regulation through spiritual practices

Helps cultivate self-soothing, increase coping capacity, and promotes overall growth and wellness.  Find something that resonates.

• Meditation, mindfulness, prayer: cultivate inner peace, acceptance and connection.

• Somatic therapy, yoga, dance: encourages awareness of body sensation, releasing physical tension and trauma held in the body.

• Nature, hiking, gardening, sitting by water: helps regulate emotions. Reduce stress and anxiety and increase inner peace and inspiration.

• Rituals: release internalized emotions. deepens connection to self, community, higher power, brings calm.

• Journaling: explore your journey, beliefs, and spirituality, fostering self-reflection and growth.

Embracing your deepest heart knowing

At the heart of healing is the journey: back to yourself.  Reclaiming your voice, wisdom, and knowing. Reconnecting with your heart’s deepest truths, learning to trust your feelings, honouring your own path, recognizing that spirituality is deeply personal. No external source dictates your connection to the divine or the sacred.

The most profound spiritual awakening happens when we strip away fear-based beliefs and stand in the truth of our own experiences. You are not broken. You are not lost. You are simply returning home — to yourself, to love, to the sacred wisdom that has always resided within you.