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The Shattered Soul: Restoring Wholeness and Rebuilding Your Faith After Spiritual Trauma
On the path back to faith after spiritual abuse, find hope and healing with this trauma-informed and spiritually sensitive guide.
Understanding spiritual abuse and trauma is one thing―knowing how to move forward is another. Survivors are often left unsure how to reconnect with God, their soul, or to community. Anything associated with their prior spiritual practice―attending worship, prayer, reading Scripture, participating in Christian community―becomes a trigger for reliving their abuse. How do we restore health and wholeness and rebuild our faith when our spiritual life feels painful?
You don’t have to force your faith or abandon it altogether. There is a sacred space in between―unhurried and gracious―where the shattered pieces of your soul can be gathered into wholeness by the love, compassion, and gentleness of the Divine.
In her debut book, The Shattered Soul, trauma therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor Colleen Ramser journeys with survivors as an empathetic companion on the path to recovery from spiritual trauma and abuse. Through expert knowledge and her own vulnerable story of reconnecting to her faith after abuse, listeners will come to understand how
become aware of instances of spiritual abuse and spiritual trauma in your story see how the impact of spiritual trauma on your body and soul hinders your capacity to experience God, others, and your faith overcome the silence that keeps you debilitated and stuck in your thoughts and emotions soften the guarded parts of your soul to experience connection within, with God, and community in safe ways understand the relational dynamics that made you vulnerable to prevent future risk use practical tools and direction to help begin the process of healing your trauma and reconnecting to your soul and your faith Restoration is possible. In this book, discover how to truly reclaim an authentic and embodied faith in Christ.
Understanding spiritual abuse and trauma is one thing―knowing how to move forward is another. Survivors are often left unsure how to reconnect with God, their soul, or to community. Anything associated with their prior spiritual practice―attending worship, prayer, reading Scripture, participating in Christian community―becomes a trigger for reliving their abuse. How do we restore health and wholeness and rebuild our faith when our spiritual life feels painful?
You don’t have to force your faith or abandon it altogether. There is a sacred space in between―unhurried and gracious―where the shattered pieces of your soul can be gathered into wholeness by the love, compassion, and gentleness of the Divine.
In her debut book, The Shattered Soul, trauma therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor Colleen Ramser journeys with survivors as an empathetic companion on the path to recovery from spiritual trauma and abuse. Through expert knowledge and her own vulnerable story of reconnecting to her faith after abuse, listeners will come to understand how
become aware of instances of spiritual abuse and spiritual trauma in your story see how the impact of spiritual trauma on your body and soul hinders your capacity to experience God, others, and your faith overcome the silence that keeps you debilitated and stuck in your thoughts and emotions soften the guarded parts of your soul to experience connection within, with God, and community in safe ways understand the relational dynamics that made you vulnerable to prevent future risk use practical tools and direction to help begin the process of healing your trauma and reconnecting to your soul and your faith Restoration is possible. In this book, discover how to truly reclaim an authentic and embodied faith in Christ.
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Published July 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 23, 2026
I am incredibly grateful for this book. It was a balm for my soul, and I’m sure it will be for so many others who have lived the crippling reality of spiritual abuse and trauma. I am so grateful for Colleen’s gracious and shepherding voice throughout the different stories in this book, as well as the techniques she uses to equip her readers with helpful tools when they don’t know where to even begin. The invitations at the end of each chapter were so accessible and approachable without being overwhelming for those who are wading through their healing journey. All in all, this is a book I will keep going back to as I mend.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Soon to be released by Tyndale publisher, The Shattered Soul Restoring Wholeness and Rebuilding Your Faith After Spiritual Trauma by Colleen Ramser, LPC
This is one of those books that is needed not only if you yourself have dealt with church hurt or spiritual abuse, but one to read to help others understand those that have been hurt by “believers” and/or the church. I will caution there is some things in this book I don’t line up theology-wise with but this seems to happen a lot in the mental-health book area. I feel sometimes there is some misuse use of the Scripture. If you have been a person that has been hurt deeply this book is not going to be a cure all, you still need Jesus and possibly a trusted Biblical health worker to help guide you to healing. The author really does have a heart and some good knowledge in this area, and I did learn from this book.
The one thing I took from this book is to think more about what we don’t know about a person before we act or think we know what they need and expect how a person should act. I understand this because I have dealt with bad counsel and also people misusing the church and Scripture. It really opened my eyes to sometimes when things like this happen how hard it can be for a person to sometimes walk through those church doors or trust others, and healing does take time. Sometimes others need longer than others. I haven’t always been good about this myself with understanding others, but I am learning more grace and mercy are often needed.
Some highlights I took from the book:
When you experience spiritual trauma, it impacts your body as well as your mind and soul because your body is carrying something painful inside.
After trauma, we develop guarded parts of us inside that mean well and have been noble shields, but they need tending so we can heal.
It’s important not to rush past these protective parts of us but rather to slow down and pay attention to what they need.
And just because there wasn’t intent to cause harm doesn’t mean harm didn’t occur.
When we experience spiritual trauma, our body responds through trauma responses.
Guarding is a deeply intelligent response to what you’ve lived through. And yet, while it keeps hurt out, it can also keep healing, connection, and sacred moments from getting in.
Speaking after trauma is not just emotionally difficult but physiologically difficult as well.
Your silent part works very heard to make sure you don’t say something that will induce shame or further harm.
We’ve been burned, so now we look for reasons to distrust…exchange cynicism for discernment
The Bible teaches us to grow in love that is discerning, not blind, to consider the fruit of a person’s life…
It doesn’t expect perfection in others, but it does require integrity in others.
No matter how far from God you might feel – know it’s okay to be there and to experience God in breadcrumbs
Biblical truth that is used by one image bearer to control another meets the definition of spiritual abuse.
I would recommend this book to people, as it is one of the better books out there that I have read on this topic, again be discerning. However, I think it is an important topic that needs to be discussed more out in the open, but in a Biblical way that is helpful and most importantly points people to Jesus.
Many thanks to Netgalley for providing this book for review! Opinions are 100% my own! I did receive the product in exchange for this review and post.
This is one of those books that is needed not only if you yourself have dealt with church hurt or spiritual abuse, but one to read to help others understand those that have been hurt by “believers” and/or the church. I will caution there is some things in this book I don’t line up theology-wise with but this seems to happen a lot in the mental-health book area. I feel sometimes there is some misuse use of the Scripture. If you have been a person that has been hurt deeply this book is not going to be a cure all, you still need Jesus and possibly a trusted Biblical health worker to help guide you to healing. The author really does have a heart and some good knowledge in this area, and I did learn from this book.
The one thing I took from this book is to think more about what we don’t know about a person before we act or think we know what they need and expect how a person should act. I understand this because I have dealt with bad counsel and also people misusing the church and Scripture. It really opened my eyes to sometimes when things like this happen how hard it can be for a person to sometimes walk through those church doors or trust others, and healing does take time. Sometimes others need longer than others. I haven’t always been good about this myself with understanding others, but I am learning more grace and mercy are often needed.
Some highlights I took from the book:
When you experience spiritual trauma, it impacts your body as well as your mind and soul because your body is carrying something painful inside.
After trauma, we develop guarded parts of us inside that mean well and have been noble shields, but they need tending so we can heal.
It’s important not to rush past these protective parts of us but rather to slow down and pay attention to what they need.
And just because there wasn’t intent to cause harm doesn’t mean harm didn’t occur.
When we experience spiritual trauma, our body responds through trauma responses.
Guarding is a deeply intelligent response to what you’ve lived through. And yet, while it keeps hurt out, it can also keep healing, connection, and sacred moments from getting in.
Speaking after trauma is not just emotionally difficult but physiologically difficult as well.
Your silent part works very heard to make sure you don’t say something that will induce shame or further harm.
We’ve been burned, so now we look for reasons to distrust…exchange cynicism for discernment
The Bible teaches us to grow in love that is discerning, not blind, to consider the fruit of a person’s life…
It doesn’t expect perfection in others, but it does require integrity in others.
No matter how far from God you might feel – know it’s okay to be there and to experience God in breadcrumbs
Biblical truth that is used by one image bearer to control another meets the definition of spiritual abuse.
I would recommend this book to people, as it is one of the better books out there that I have read on this topic, again be discerning. However, I think it is an important topic that needs to be discussed more out in the open, but in a Biblical way that is helpful and most importantly points people to Jesus.
Many thanks to Netgalley for providing this book for review! Opinions are 100% my own! I did receive the product in exchange for this review and post.
July 27, 2026
This book puts to words the experience of spiritual trauma and offers practical tools for moving through it. It meets readers where they are rather than prescribing a timeline. For those who struggle with how Scripture has been misused against them, it is very careful and compassionate.
A few things I particularly appreciated:
The section on anger. Ramser makes the case that numbing anger doesn't isolate the anger, it also shuts down your capacity for joy and love. The end result is detachment from your own life.
Reclaiming your voice is intentional work. After abuse, it's tempting to use your voice to get back at people who caused harm. Ramser distinguishes that from learning to speak in line with your own values, which is much harder and yet more useful.
Safety as the metric for community. Rather than asking whether a church is perfect, Ramser reframes the question around where a community falls on a spectrum of safety (whether it demonstrates humility and a willingness to grow), and offers questions to consider.
Honest about justice and healing. The person may never apologize. The organization may never change. Ramser names that grief directly instead of resolving it, while still pointing toward healing that doesn't depend on it.
It doesn't push therapy or Christianity on you. For readers who aren't sure where they stand with either after spiritual abuse, or who can't access therapy in this season, I believe this is still helpful.
The mind-body material is handled well, and the practices are things you can actually implement. Recommended for anyone who has experienced spiritual trauma, and for those walking alongside them. Take it slow and watch how it can help you pursue healing.
A few things I particularly appreciated:
The section on anger. Ramser makes the case that numbing anger doesn't isolate the anger, it also shuts down your capacity for joy and love. The end result is detachment from your own life.
Reclaiming your voice is intentional work. After abuse, it's tempting to use your voice to get back at people who caused harm. Ramser distinguishes that from learning to speak in line with your own values, which is much harder and yet more useful.
Safety as the metric for community. Rather than asking whether a church is perfect, Ramser reframes the question around where a community falls on a spectrum of safety (whether it demonstrates humility and a willingness to grow), and offers questions to consider.
Honest about justice and healing. The person may never apologize. The organization may never change. Ramser names that grief directly instead of resolving it, while still pointing toward healing that doesn't depend on it.
It doesn't push therapy or Christianity on you. For readers who aren't sure where they stand with either after spiritual abuse, or who can't access therapy in this season, I believe this is still helpful.
The mind-body material is handled well, and the practices are things you can actually implement. Recommended for anyone who has experienced spiritual trauma, and for those walking alongside them. Take it slow and watch how it can help you pursue healing.
July 24, 2026
The Shattered Soul by Colleen Ramser is an exceptional book devoted to the topic of spiritual trauma and healing path ahead. Colleen shares a pathway that is designed for compassionate care and healing, by guiding the reader towards orienting, guarding, awakening, descending, and restoring. The author is a compassionate guide who explains the various misuses of terminology on the topic of spiritual abuse, and she shares the many avenues in ways it can be seen through many real-life personal examples as well as case studies from others. She presents the information in an easy-to-understand format, and at the end of each chapter is an invitation for further hands-on aspects of how one can heal on their journey. She is compassionate, builds trust, and has such a gentle approach that you literally feel like you are sitting in a room with her, as she invites you to move forward in your healing. For people helpers, this book is a wonderful resource that can be referenced often as you care for others. I highly recommend this book to not only mental health practitioners, but also pastors, ministry leader, advocates, and anyone who has a heart to care for those who are harmed by spiritual abuse. This book is filled with hope, compassion, and restoration! Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the advanced review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
July 23, 2026
I’ve read a lot of books on healing from spiritual trauma, and Colleen Ramser’s The Shattered Soul is one of the best I’ve read. It is now one of my top recommendations for survivors and caregivers. Through relatable stories, including personal stories of both harm and healing, Ramser shepherds readers on the path of healing. Shepherds don’t lead by walking in front of sheep and expecting them to follow in single file. They let sheep roam where they know the food is available and healthy; they provide containment so they don’t want off without safety and protection; and they guard against danger. In all of that, sheep still have a lot of agency. They aren’t force-fed but have freedom to choose what, when, and where to eat. Readers will find similar green pastures in The Shattered Soul. As Ramser guides survivors through the dark valley of trauma, there is so much goodness and mercy. Trauma healing is dialectical—pain must named rather than minimized, and at the same time hope must be sought rather than avoided—and Ramser navigates that tension with grace, clinical wisdom, and confident faith that Jesus finds sheep who have been snatched and scattered by religious wolves.
July 23, 2026
The Shattered Soul is an invitational and compassionate guide to the impacts of religious trauma. Using the pathway of orienting, guarding awakening, descending and restoring, Colleen guides her readers through the confusing journey of healing. She does this with a patience and gentleness that builds trust from the very first pages. This book is not only good for those directly impacted by spiritual trauma, but also for those who love and care for them. It provides helpful insight to what is happening in the survivors‘s mind, body, and soul and how you can care for them well. I also think it is a must read for pastors, ministry leaders, and counselors. If you have been called to care for people, you have an obligation to understand trauma, and how it impacts peoples lives. This is a beautiful book of hope and healing for those who souls have been shattered by spiritual trauma.
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July 22, 2026This is a great book for anyone dealing with spiritual harm. It is full of stories you can easily relate to and practical exercises to help point you back to Jesus. I love all of the mind and body work she discusses as it’s so crucial to your healing.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews