EMDR Therapy For Christians: Combining Faith, Science, and Emotional Healing
I have often been questioned whether or not EMDR is compatible with the Christian faith. Many Christians are hesitant towards many therapeutic modalities due to the lack of compatibility towards Christian faith and values. There is also a rising concern for therapists integrating new age, witchcraft, or other religious practices, which completely violates Christian morals. So when I was approached with the idea of integrating EMDR into my faith based practice I made sure to look into it thoroughly to make sure it supported, not conflicted with, Christian beliefs.
Is EMDR Compatible?
After my research and completing the extensive EMDR training I have found that EMDR is absolutely compatible with the Christian Faith. To better understand why we must first understand the foundation of EMDR. EMDR utilizes bilateral stimulation to help the brain process overwhelming memories, trauma, or negative beliefs that often keeps individuals stuck in the past. This bilateral stimulation helps desensitize one to these past experiences in order to allow the brain to reframe the experience into healthier thoughts and reactions moving forward.
I believe that EMDR taps into God’s natural design. One of the leading theories in EMDR focuses on REM Sleep.
During REM sleep:
- Your eyes move rapidly left to right.
- Your brain processes and organizes emotional experiences from the day.
- Stressful or confusing moments are sorted, softened, and stored in healthier ways.
This is the brain’s God-designed nightly healing system for processing life’s experiences.
EMDR mimics this process through bilateral stimulation (like tapping or guided eye movements).
This left–right rhythmic activity activates both hemispheres of the brain, helping it:
- Revisit distressing memories safely
- “Unstick” the emotional charge
- Reprocess the memory so it becomes less intense
- File it away in a more peaceful, logical, and manageable form
Just like REM sleep helps you process experiences without fully reliving them, EMDR guides your brain to finish processing memories it didn’t fully heal from, especially trauma or overwhelming events.
Looking Further Into God’s Natural Design
The more I learn about bilateral stimulation the more I see God’s design in our daily lives. I strong believe that EMDR is only tapping into the beauty of God’s creation. For example walking is a form of natural bilateral stimulation. When you walk, your body naturally alternates left–right movement This rhythmic pattern engages both sides of the brain in a similar way to EMDR-style bilateral stimulation. This often makes me think back to the earliest moments of mankind, when we were walking and talking with the Lord. Learning how to operate and navigate in this world He created for us. Some other examples of natural bilateral stimulation include:
- Walking or jogging (alternating legs and arms)
- Swimming (left–right strokes)
- Rocking in a chair
- Tapping your hands or feet alternately
- Knitting or crocheting (repetitive left–right hand movement)
- Dancing with side-to-side steps
- Marching in place
- Drumming with alternating hands
- Swinging your arms while standing or stretching
How EMDR Aligns With a Christian Perspective
EMDR is based in nureoscience. It’s foundation is looking into helping the body return to it natural original design and function. Because of this intergratiting the Christian faith has been nothing short of easy. Using EMDR as the guidelines and having the Christian Worldview remain the foundation helps the sessions flow seamlessly. A major part of the EMDR therapy process is something called “Resourcing”. Despite misconception, majority of EMDR is focusing on building positive adaptive skills to move past the overwhelming memories, trauma, or negative beliefs keeping one stuck. Focusing on processing the trauma itself is actually a rather small portion of the therapy. Much of the time in EMDR is spent in the Resoucing Phase. This is where one builds healthier tools and skills to help one feel more grounding and incontrol when it comes to processing difficult memories and emotions.
Looking at all the various dynamics of EMDR, I haven’t found any area that isn’t God honoring or goes against the Christian faith.
Concluding Thoughts
1. EMDR Supports Emotional and Mental Healing
God has a deep desire for healing the brokenhearted. EMDR helps individuals not only build resilience but can also help us develop a healthier perspective of life and ourselves through the eyes of God.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3
2. EMDR Is Not Spiritual or Mystical
EMDR is based in neuroscience, focusing on the natural biological fuctions which God created himself!
“Ears that hear and eyes that see—the Lord has made them both.” — Proverbs 20:12
3. EMDR Can Work Alongside Faith
Individauls utilizing EMDR therapy has the ability to intergate God Himself into the sessions. This can be done through prayer, utilizing scripture to build up individuals, and allow one to lean on God Himself.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6–7
4. EMDR Respects Free Will and Personal Belief
Individuals maintain full autonomy during EMDR sessions. They can pause at any time, and the process does not influence or challenge their personal beliefs. Many choose to integrate Scripture, prayer, or faith-focused grounding techniques before or after sessions.
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” — Deuteronomy 30:19
5. EMDR Often Helps Remove Emotional Barriers to Spiritual Growth
By helping one process the heavy weight of past traumas, EMDR can help individuals more easily receive and believe the biblical truths about their identity, worth, and security in Christ.
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2
So if you are thinking about intergraiting EMDR into your Mental Health jouney I am comfortable to say I find no discrpencies with EMDR and scripture. Of course always allow God to lead your heart and allow Him to guide you throughout this process. However, EMDR can be a phenomenal tool for one to find healing through the beauty of God’s natural design.
Want To Learn More?
If you want to deepen your understanding of EMDR even more check out the following books!
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EMDR In-depth:
Shorter Reads:
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Thank you all for your continued support and never forget Therapy and Jesus do go together! Have the best and most blessed day ever!
Sierra Stratman MSW LMSW U/S PHD Student at Liberty University