A Biblical Parallel for EMDR
Jesus Calms a Storm
Mark 4:35-41
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Your Stormy Sea
You know that feeling of breathlessness that you get when suddenly you’re reminded of a difficult situation that you’ve faced in the past? The panic that comes automatically? Meet the chaos of the stormy sea, also known as trauma. Every single person, from every walk of life, has something that they can’t quite make sense of in their body. The heaviness that sits in your chest. The tension in your shoulders. The racing thoughts that won’t stop. These are the moments that feel so intense that sometimes it feels impossible that anyone could understand—the moments that take a Savior to step in for you to find healing.
There are many articles online that talk about the neuroscience behind EMDR and why it works. I’m fascinated by it. But maybe that’s not why you are here or what you need to hear at this moment. Maybe the reason you are searching this website and looking at counselors is that you want to know that you aren’t alone and you won’t always feel this way. I’m here to tell you that it is possible.
Jesus wants to calm your storm.
Doing EMDR is like sitting in the boat with the disciples. You’ll be asked to revisit that difficult moment, briefly, and slowly (in the company of a fellow Christian), the waves will become smaller and peace will settle in. Your body will relax and you’ll be able to feel a great calm.
As a counselor, I’ve had the privilege of sitting with many clients working through unimaginable situations and also, doing my own EMDR work. If you are wondering “Is this for me?” my answer to you is wholehearted, “Yes!” God is present in the process and you don’t have to live your life in fear of the storm you bear.
Written by: Coleen Dixon LMFT
Available for Online Counseling
coleen@restorationcounselingatl.com
Coleen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Georgia. She is passionate about helping individuals, couples and families move past trauma and relational injuries, and toward a wholehearted connection with themself, others, and God. Coleen has been trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) since March 2018.