Introduction
Counseling victims who have painful, traumatic memories can often be overwhelming, leaving the counselor to question the best kind of care they can offer. In these moments of crisis, the counselor has a choice to either hold fast to the Word of God or attempt various man-centered therapies in the care of souls. Today, a third group of counselors exists, seeking to integrate the Word of God with secular psychological findings to provide the best of both worlds, especially integrating what is considered “scientifically based evidence” or “scientifically factual.” This paper is an evaluation of one such utilized therapy. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)1 [1]2 Francine Shapiro, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures, 3rd ed. (New York, NY: The Guilford Press, 2018), Kindle. is a popular evidence-based psychotherapy utilized by some Christian counselors 2 [1]3 See minutes 4:31-35 and 14:00. Jeremy Lelek and Eliza Huie, “What is EMDR Therapy – With
Author & Biblical Counselor Eliza Huie,” Speak the Truth, May 25, 2020, https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/speak-the-truth/ep-59-what-is-emdr-therapyY5L39voKUyA/. Both Jeremy Lelek and Eliza Huie utilize this therapy in their practices.
to desensitize traumatic memories via voluntary bilateral eye movements. Yet, along with having no scientific consensus to prove that eye movements are directly linked to memory reconsolidation, biblical counselors should reject adapting EMDR into their counseling methodology because it is contradictory to the goals of biblical counseling. Instead, they should utilize teaching God’s Word, submitting to God’s method of change, and incorporating God’s Church to help those who are suffering from painful memories to rely upon and trust in Christ’s healing power. This article will first define pertinent terms and then briefly provide an overview of EMDR’s methodology and epistemology. This will be followed by a survey of the various explanations of eye movement mechanisms that have emerged in the psychiatric world. The aim is to demonstrate the lack of consensus within the scientific community and the rise of scientism regarding EMDR in the counseling world. Finally, this article will discuss what is being assumed and adopted by those who accept EMDR under the guise of common grace, and then a retort will be given by advocating for using God’s sufficient words, methods, and church over EMDR in biblical counseling methodology.
Defining Terms
Before moving forward with arguing for and defending the thesis of this article, it is important to define certain terms that will be used throughout to provide clarity for the reader. Since EMDR is classified as an evidence-based therapy in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that is utilized to desensitize traumatic memories, clarifying the meaning of both “evidence-based” and “trauma” is important to furthering the argument.3 [1]4 Mark C. Russell, and Francine Shapiro, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Theories of Psychotherapy Series, ed. Matt Englar-Carlson (Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association, 2022), 5, Kindle Pages 5-7 list out the major organizations it is recommended for the treatment of PTSD. It is also adapted for use in treating other disorders. The working definition of being evidence-based is “the integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture, and preferences.” 4 [1]5 American Psychological Association, “Evidence-Based Practice in Psychology,” APA.org, 2008, https://www.apa.org/practice/resources/evidence#:~:text=Evidence%2Dbased%20practice%
20is%20the,at%20their%20August%202005%20meeting. For EMDR’s classification as an evidence-based treatment, see Francine Shapiro, and Margot Silk Forrest, EMDR: The Breakthrough Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma, New York, NY: Basic Books, 2016, 275 76. Kindle. In conjunction with this definition, trauma is defined as “an event, series of events, or a set of circumstances an individual experiences as physically or emotionally harmful or threatening, which may have lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.” 5 [1]6 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Practical Guide for Implementing a Trauma-Informed Approach, Rockville, MD: National Mental Health and Substance Abuse Policy Laboratory, 2023, VII. See also Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach, Rockville MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014, 7-9. Shapiro states this about trauma: “These may include intrusive images; negative thoughts or beliefs the client has about herself or her role in the rape; negative emotions such as fear, guilt, or shame and their associated body sensations; and, conversely, the precise way the client would prefer to think about herself instead.” Shapiro: EMDR, 2. “Although the adverse events may not breed the intrusive imagery of PTSD, the emotions, beliefs, and physical sensations arise in the body and mind, coloring present perceptions and leading to unhappiness and inappropriate behaviors in the present. In simple terms, the past is present. It therefore does not matter whether it is a “big T” traumatic event that precipitates PTSD or the more ubiquitous “small t” events that are rampant throughout childhood. There is a long-lasting negative effect on the self and psyche. By dictionary definition it is a “trauma” and, in information-processing terms, it is posited to be dysfunctionally stored as an emotional/episodic memory, in a form that prevents it from subsequently evolving into a usable integrated/semantic memory.” See Shapiro, EMDR, 4. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is defined as “a mental health condition triggered by a traumatic event—either experiencing it or witnessing it in person. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.” SAMHSA, Practical Guide for Implementing a Trauma-Informed Approach, VII. Psychotherapy is defined as “any psychological service provided by a trained professional that primarily uses forms of communication and interaction to assess, diagnose, and treat dysfunctional emotional reactions, ways of thinking, and behavior patterns.”, The American Psychological Association, “Psychotherapy,” APA Dictionary of
Psychology (11/15/2023), https://dictionary.apa.org/psychotherapy?_gl=11uep704_gaMjc3MjUxMDQ0LjE2NjY3Mj AyMTA._ga_SZXLGDJGNB*MTY5MTU5NDAyOS41Ny4wLjE2OTE1OTQwMjkuMC4 wLjA.&_ga=2.225164890.1711128830.1691594030-277251044.1666720210. It is also described as carried out by psychiatrists and psychotherapists and is derived from Freud’s psychoanalysis. However, it is also described as referring to all psychological treatments. See Richard Gross, Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behavior, 8th ed., (London, England: Hodder Education, 2020), 6, 774. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=nlebk&AN=2550075&site=eds-live. Lastly, scientism is defined as “an exaggerated trust in the
efficacy of the methods of natural science applied to all areas of investigation.” 6 [1]7 Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2024), s.v. “scientism.” “Scientism is qualified by the recognition that many of the events that require explanation are not simple physical or physiological processes, but complex phenomena that can be explained only by taking into account the cultural significance they undoubtedly possess, such as “the meanings of words,” “the morals of a story,” “the significance of gestures and facial expressions,” “the challenges and obligations and social opportunities,” and “all the intricacies that make up a functioning culture.” See John Kekes, The Nature of Philosophical Problems: Their Causes and Implications (Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 2014), 137,
https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198712756.001.0001.
To keep reading this essay by Ryan Thomas in the Journal of Biblical Soul Care Fall Edition 2024, click here. [2]