Taming the Wild Animals Within: Finding God's Peace Through EMDR Intensives
When you wake up each morning, have you ever felt like a stampede of thoughts, feelings, and memories rush at you, demanding your attention? It can feel overwhelming—like wild animals on the loose, exotic but dangerous, clawing for control of your day. C.S. Lewis described this moment vividly: “All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.”
But how do we "shove them all back" when the chaos feels unrelenting? This is where EMDR intensive counseling can be transformative, helping you quiet the mental zoo, hear God's voice, and experience His perfect peace.
Taming the Wild Thoughts of the Mind
Our thoughts and emotions can often feel untamable, like wild animals. Unresolved grief or trauma, persistent negative thinking, and painful memories stalk our peace, making us feel trapped in anxiety or sadness. These wild animals may look different for each of us—an intrusive thought here, a sharp pang of regret there—but their impact can be profound.
For Christians, scripture calls us to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Yet, in practice, this can seem impossible when our thoughts and feelings feel more like predators than captives. If you’ve struggled to find relief, you’re not alone.
Shoving Them Back: The Role of EMDR Intensives
In traditional weekly therapy, you might feel like progress is slow, especially when dealing with deeply rooted pain. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) intensives, however, offer a focused approach to addressing trauma and negative thought patterns.
During 3-5 hour sessions, we have the time and space to dig deep into what’s causing the chaos in your mind. Together, we identify the sources of your mental turmoil and use EMDR techniques to process and reframe those experiences. This creates room for what Lewis called “that larger, stronger, quieter life” to flow in—the Spirit of God.
Many of my clients report experiencing Isaiah 26:3 firsthand: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in You.” In fact, 95% of the individuals I work with leave their intensive sessions with a deep sense of peace and clarity.
Are you ready to find God’s peace through a focused, faith-based approach? Learn more about our EMDR intensive sessions and start your transformation today.
Transforming Pain: From Egg to Bird
C.S. Lewis compared the process of transformation to an egg turning into a bird: “It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg.” EMDR intensives are a way to break free from the shell of pain and fear that keeps you grounded.
Here’s how it works:
Over 6-8 weeks, the neural pathways in your brain begin to change, allowing you to stop negative thoughts in their tracks before they take over the zoo.
As these new patterns develop, Jesus’ promise in Matthew 11:30 becomes tangible: “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
The transformation isn’t superficial; it’s like dye soaking through fabric, as Lewis described. EMDR doesn’t just mask the pain—it addresses the root causes so lasting peace can take hold.
How EMDR Brings Lasting Peace
EMDR intensives provide tools for trauma healing, targeting not just the symptoms of distress but the core experiences driving them. When paired with Christian counseling, they also offer a spiritual dimension that invites God’s perspective into the process.
Through this integration of faith and therapy, you can move from chaos to calm, reconnecting with God’s voice and experiencing the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). With each session, you’ll grow stronger in your ability to quiet the noise, stand back from the mental chaos, and embrace God’s healing work in your life.
Finding God’s Peace Today
You don’t have to let the wild animals of the mind run your life. With the focused, faith-based approach of EMDR intensives, you can shove back the chaos, hear God’s voice, and experience His perfect peace.
Contact us today to schedule your EMDR intensive and begin your journey to God's peace.