I'm Emma Churchman, and I believe leaders can transform their deepest challenges into their greatest strengths—even while the crisis is still unfolding.
As a nationally certified trauma chaplain and leadership consultant, I've spent over 25 years guiding executives through the unspoken aftermath of trauma.
But my real education came from living it: growing up with a mother who had 123 personalities, losing my father and all three brothers to suicide, and most recently, leading my community through Hurricane Helene while my world was falling apart.
That hurricane changed everything. In September 2024, when Helene devastated Western North Carolina, I wasn't just witnessing trauma—I was drowning in it. Our power was out for a month, my business collapsed, and we had no access to basic resources. But in that chaos, something clicked.
I realized we can't wait years to process trauma on a therapist's couch. In today's world of constant crisis, we must learn to heal in real-time.
Why This Matters Now
Research shows that 70% of people globally have experienced potentially traumatic events, yet most leadership development ignores trauma's impact on executive decision-making.
With 96% of organizations undergoing transformation and natural disasters increasing in frequency and severity, leaders need new tools for navigating constant uncertainty. I don't just teach resilience—I live it.
From the serene mountains of Gerton, North Carolina, where I rebuilt after Helene with my husband Jeff and our dachshunds Winston and Leroy, I help leaders worldwide discover that their greatest challenges can become their most powerful assets.
I work exclusively with leaders, executives, and senior management teams who are ready to transform crisis into conscious leadership.
"Emma doesn't just teach trauma recovery—she embodies it.
Her ability to guide leaders through real-time crisis while maintaining strategic clarity is unmatched."
~ WBENC Leadership
I specialize in working with leaders whose organizations have been impacted by natural disasters, market volatility, and unexpected crises.
Because when everything falls apart, your people need a leader who can stay present, think clearly, and guide with both strategic wisdom and deep humanity.
My Approach: The 4-Phase Trauma Recovery Framework
Through my groundbreaking teaching in trauma resilience, I teach leaders how to navigate:
Rescue: Immediate crisis response while maintaining decision-making capacity
Recovery: Processing trauma in real-time using evidence-based tools
Reconstruction: Rebuilding stronger systems and relationships
Evolution: Transforming crisis into organizational wisdom and competitive advantage
This isn't therapy—it's leadership development for the real world. My methodology integrates neuroscience research from experts like Bessel van der Kolk and Peter Levine with ancient wisdom and practical business strategy.
Credentials & Recognition
Background:
- 25+ years of business and leadership experience
- Nationally Certified Trauma Chaplain (CPE, 2013)
- PhD Candidate in Conscious Business Ethics (University of Arizona)
- Master of Divinity (Earlham School of Religion)
- WBENC Certified Woman-Owned Business (Since 2022)
Endorsed By:
- Women's Business Enterprise National Council
- Mennonite Disaster Service
- National Voluntary Organizations Aiding in Disaster
- Senator Timothy Moffitt, North Carolina
- Representative John Ager, North Carolina
Published Works:
- The Deep End of Hope in the Wake of Hurricane Helene: 40 Days and Nights of Survival and Transformation (GracePoint, 2025) - A raw, real-time account of leading through a natural disaster
- Unshattered: Surviving My Mother's 123 Personalities and Transforming a Legacy of Abuse (GracePoint, October 2025) - Transforming a legacy of trauma into leadership wisdomThe
- Deep End: Resilient Leadership in a Volatile World (GracePoint, June 2026) - Practical strategies for crisis leadership
Recent Speaking Highlights:
- WBENC National Conference: 2-hour wellness session women business leaders to kick off the conference
- National VOAD Conference: Keynote for 750 disaster response leaders (standing ovation)
- Mennonite Disaster Service 75th Anniversary: Plenary speaker for 350 volunteers
Featured In:
- SUCCESS Magazine
- The Guardian
- On Being
- Thrive Global
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