Individual Counseling

Trauma is any experience that causes deep emotional pain and can cause deep wounds that affect a person’s mind, body, and spirit. There are many causes of trauma, including abuse, loss, violence, betrayal, illness, or natural disasters. These painful life experiences often change the way a person views themselves, others, and even God. The emotional pain may be carried silently for years, and a person may feel trapped by shame, fear, anxiety, anger, sadness, or all these emotions. Healing is possible with support, faith, and perseverance. Trauma and the Bible There are many stories in the Bible of people who experience grief, heartbreak, persecution, abuse, betrayal, and other forms of emotional pain. God understands trauma because He sees every person and the emotional wounds they experience. He promises to draw close to the brokenhearted. Through faith, a person can find comfort, strength, and direction during the healing journey. Faith does not prevent or protect us from trauma; however, it provides a pathway for healing. Trauma is more than a bad memory. It is an emotional response to a deeply distressing experience that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. Trauma may be a single event or repeated events over a span of time. After trauma, a person may experience difficulty sleeping, focusing, regulating their emotions, eating, interacting with others, or taking care of themselves. People may struggle with anxiety, panic, emotional numbness, distrust, shame, or feelings of worthlessness. It is important to remember that reacting to trauma is not an indication of weakness or a lack of faith. Many people in the Bible who had a strong faith faced emotional suffering. David cried out in despair in the Psalms. Elijah experienced deep exhaustion and hopelessness. Even Jesus experienced anguish and sorrow. God never condemns people for experiencing emotional pain. God [...]

Eye movement therapy, also known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), is a popular therapy treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other trauma disorders. Studies have shown that eye movement therapy is more effective than traditional therapy. More than 7 million patients have embraced EMDR. What is eye movement therapy? Eye movement therapy was developed in the 1980s to treat PTSD. As the decades have passed, more mental health professionals have used EMDR for other trauma disorders and traumatic memories. The counselor helps the patient to focus on a particular memory that brings, at best, discomfort and, at worst, pain. These memories are vivid and bring strong emotions. EMDR seeks to work with these unprocessed memories through a series of phases using eye movement and bilateral stimulation (rhythmic left to right). These controlled sessions will help to decrease the emotional response. The Eight Phases of EMDR Another reason that eye movement therapy is popular is that it can usually be completed in one to three sessions. Many people attend one or two sessions a week. There is no overexposure to a trigger or homework to practice. These are the recognized phases of EMDR: History and Assessment In the first stage, the counselor and client will work together to review history and treatments. An assessment will be completed and a plan made for treatment. Preparation for Treatment In the preparation stage, the counselor will review eye movement therapy, teach the client how to do the movements, and introduce the concept of a Calm Place. Discussion of the Memory and Assessment of the Beliefs and Emotions Although uncomfortable, the counselor will walk through the traumatic memory with the client, having the client describe emotions, beliefs, and bodily sensations. The counselor uses different scales to measure the client’s feedback and [...]

For many Christians, emotional healing is deeply personal. It’s shaped by prayer, scripture, community, and a desire to honor God in every part of life, including mental health. When new types of therapy come along, especially ones that seem unfamiliar or different from what we’re used to, it makes sense to have some questions. Is this something I should try? Is it safe? And more importantly, does this line up with my faith? One approach more people are hearing about these days is eye movement therapy, also called EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s used to help people work through trauma, anxiety, and other emotional pain. If you’re a Christian who’s never heard of it before, or if you’ve been warned against anything that sounds non-traditional, you may feel unsure. This article is here to help you look at what eye movement therapy really is, what it’s not, and how Christians can approach new healing methods while still keeping God at the center. What is eye movement therapy? Eye movement therapy isn’t a spiritual trick or mystical practice. It’s a structured form of therapy developed in the late 1980s by a psychologist named Francine Shapiro. The basic idea is that when someone goes through something painful, the brain doesn’t always process the experience in a healthy way. This therapy technique uses simple things like guided eye movements or light tapping to help the brain reprocess those memories. During a session, a trained therapist will guide someone as they recall a difficult memory. At the same time, the therapist will use these movements or sounds to help keep the brain focused and calm. Over time, the memory usually feels less intense, and the person begins to feel more at peace. There’s no hypnosis. No spiritual rituals. No manipulation [...]