Faith Based EMDR Therapy
Combining Science and Scripture to Heal Trauma and Anxiety
If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I know God is with me, but I can’t shake this fear or pain,”—you’re not alone. As a Christian therapist, I walk alongside women every day who love Jesus deeply and yet still wrestle with anxiety, trauma, and the wounds they’ve carried for years. It’s NOT a lack of faith. It’s the result of experiences that left a mark—experiences that your brain and body haven’t fully processed.
That’s where EMDR comes in.
You may have heard the letters before and wondered, “What even is EMDR?” And more importantly, “Is it something that fits with my Christian beliefs?” The answer to that last question is: yes. When done with intentionality and Biblical grounding, EMDR can be a powerful tool God uses in your healing.
Let’s unpack what EMDR actually is, why it works, and how it can blend beautifully with your walk of faith.
What Is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. That’s a mouthful, I know. But let’s break it down in a way that makes sense.
Imagine your brain is like a filing cabinet. When something hard or traumatic happens—whether big or small—your brain tries to file it away. But if the event overwhelms your system, that memory doesn’t get filed correctly. Instead, it gets “stuck,” almost like a messy paper jam.
That “stuck” memory can keep replaying in the background. It may show up as anxiety, nightmares, people-pleasing, avoiding situations, or feeling overly triggered by small things. Your body remembers even when your mind tries to forget.
EMDR helps your brain go back, unjam the memory, and file it correctly—so it no longer disrupts your everyday life.
And no, you don’t have to rehash every detail out loud. In fact, EMDR is unique in that it allows healing to happen without having to retell the story again and again.
How Does EMDR Work Scientifically?
EMDR uses something called bilateral stimulation—which just means stimulating both sides of the brain, usually through eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones.
Here’s what’s happening:
When you think about a traumatic memory while using bilateral stimulation, your brain starts to process it like it would during REM sleep (the stage when your brain naturally sorts and stores information).
As your brain processes the memory, it separates the facts from the intense emotions. You start to remember what happened without feeling hijacked by it.
Research shows that EMDR can help reduce emotional distress, calm the nervous system, and create new, healthier beliefs about yourself and the world.
What Does EMDR Look Like in a Christian Counseling Session?
When I use EMDR with Christian clients, faith is not pushed aside—it’s woven into the healing process.
Before we begin reprocessing any memory, we lay a strong foundation of emotional safety and spiritual anchoring. That might mean inviting God into the session through prayer, identifying Scripture that aligns with your healing, or pausing to listen for the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
Many clients invite Jesus into their memories. That might sound odd at first, but here’s what it means: during EMDR, you may ask, “Jesus, where were You in this moment?” And surprisingly often, people experience deep comfort as they sense Him present in the memory—grieving with them, protecting them, or simply sitting beside them.
This experience doesn’t replace Scripture or theology—it deepens the personal connection between your faith and your healing.
Biblical Truths that Support the EMDR Process
EMDR doesn’t replace the Gospel. Jesus is the Healer, and therapy is one of the many tools He can use to help us access that healing.
Here are a few Scriptures that support the heart behind EMDR:
Romans 12:2 – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind...”
EMDR works by literally helping your brain form new pathways—taking thoughts of fear, shame, or worthlessness and helping replace them with peace, truth, and stability. This aligns perfectly with the process of renewing our minds in Christ.
Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
God doesn’t ask us to ignore our wounds. He meets us in them. EMDR is a way to engage the healing He already desires for us.
2 Corinthians 10:5 – “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
So often, we’re captive to our thoughts. EMDR helps us reverse that. Through processing and healing, we regain control over what we believe and how we respond to the world around us.
Understanding Negative and Positive Cognitions in EMDR
In every EMDR session, we identify a Negative Cognition—a belief you hold about yourself that came from a painful experience. These beliefs are usually formed in survival mode and don’t reflect truth. But they feel true, and they shape how you live.
Some common negative beliefs are:
“I am not safe.”
“I am powerless.”
“I am not good enough.”
“I cannot trust anyone.”
“I’m a failure.”
Then we work toward a Positive Cognition—a truth-based belief that aligns more with who you truly are and how God sees you.
Some examples of positive cognitions:
“I am safe now.”
“I can handle it.”
“I am valuable.”
“I can trust myself and God.”
“I did the best I could, and that’s enough.”
We anchor these truths in both your nervous system and your faith. One of the most beautiful shifts I see is when a client who walked in believing “I’m alone and unlovable” begins to embody the truth: “I am loved by God, chosen, and never alone.”
That’s not just emotional—it’s spiritual.
EMDR: Will It Be Too Much?
Some Christians worry that therapy like EMDR might “stir up” too much. While it can bring buried pain to the surface—but it doesn’t leave you there.
The goal of EMDR isn’t to dwell on trauma—it’s to heal it.
Think of it like cleaning out a wound. At first, it stings. But then, as the infection clears, the healing begins. EMDR gives your body and brain a safe, structured way to do just that.
And the best part? You’re not doing this alone. Not in the session, and certainly not in life.
Isaiah 41:10 reminds us: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Is EMDR Right for Me?
If you’re wondering whether EMDR might help you, here are some signs:
You’ve experienced trauma (big or small) and haven’t felt the same since.
You’re constantly anxious or on edge.
You feel stuck in the past or can’t stop replaying certain memories.
Talk therapy has helped, but you still feel emotionally hijacked by certain triggers.
You love God deeply, but you still feel weighed down.
EMDR isn’t magic, but when combined with spiritual truth and professional guidance, it can be life-changing.
EMDR Organizes the Brain
Think of your brain like a highway system. When trauma hits, it’s like a huge boulder falling into the road. The traffic (your thoughts and feelings) gets rerouted in inefficient pathways. You may avoid exits (memories), take unnecessary detours (coping behaviors), or drive with anxiety every time you pass that spot.
EMDR is like a road crew—guiding your brain to remove the boulder and restore the original, clear path. It doesn’t erase the past, but it removes the emotional charge so you can travel forward freely, allowing your brain to organize the memories of the past.
What EMDR Feels Like in Session
Many clients share concerns that EMDR will be overwhelming. But it’s designed to go slowly, only processing what feels manageable, or within your “window of tolerance.” You’re in control every step of the way.
Sessions often begin with resourcing—tools to help your body feel safe, grounded, and connected to God. Then we choose one “target” memory or issue to process, using bilateral stimulation to help the brain refile and resolve the experience.
After processing, we check in on the negative belief. Does it still feel true? If the negative belief is resolved, we then move to strengthen the positive cognition and bring in Scripture to anchor it further.
God Cares About Your Mental Health
You don’t have to choose between your faith and therapy. God created your brain, your nervous system, and even the science that helps us understand them. EMDR doesn’t contradict your beliefs—it actually enhances them.
Healing is not “getting over it.” It’s about restoration—emotionally, spiritually, and relationally.
Psalm 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
That’s what EMDR, when anchored in faith, is all about.
So if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of why your anxiety or pain just won’t let up—I see you and am here to support you. Your situation is not hopeless. Healing is absolutely possible.
If you're curious about how EMDR can be part of your healing journey, you're not alone—and you're not without options. I invite you to explore more about how I support women through anxiety, trauma, and faith-based therapy.
If you reside in Ohio, Michigan, Maryland, Nevada, or Florida, and you want to understand how EMDR works, learn about EMDR intensives, or dive deeper into Christian therapy that honors both your story and your beliefs, I encourage you to reach out. Take your next step by reading further blogs, or contacting me for a free 15 minute consultation. I can’t wait to walk this healing journey together.
