Speak The Truth

Episode Notes:- What is EMDR TherapyDeveloped by Psychologist Francine Shapiro, EMDR stands for Eye Movement Reprocessing and Desensitization. It focuses on how memory is stored in the brain and how that impacts experience. It is a successful evidenced-based method for treating trauma.- How is it usedEMDR uses dual attention stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or rhythmic audio sounds) to activate the brain’s orienting response, allowing you to access adaptive information and attach it to the memory of trauma. “EMDR connects the ‘here and now’ parts of your brain to the ‘then and there’ trauma parts until your brain says I'm ok.- Is EMDR biblicalTo ask if EMDR is biblical may not be the right question if you are hoping to find the Scripture that speaks of it. The better question may be, “Is it unbiblical?” To that the answer is easy. –No. Nothing in the practice of EMDR goes against Scripture. When done by a    biblical counselor, it is best understood that EMDR is applying neuroscience to biblical counseling.- Scriptures and the EMDR processPsalm 139:14- The complexities of the brain are the Lord’s handiwork.John 16:13- Speaks of the Spirit’s role to guide us in truth. Believing clients often find the truth of Scripture plays a key role in the EMDR process. Jeremiah 33:6- Reminds us that healing is connected to truth.John 8:32- Truth has the power to set us free from what binds. 2 Corinthians 10:5- Calls us to take thoughts captive.Isaiah 61:1-3- Gives a picture of the healing that is ours.Psalm 24:1- All things belong to the Lord, including methods of care and healing.- Who should consider EMDR    - If you've been impacted by traumaTrauma is defined as the emotional shock following a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. Trauma overwhelms the senses and hijacks normal processing. Traumatic experiences cover a broad range. Some include personal involvement where something happened to you. Others include something that happened to someone with you. Situations can also be traumatic due to the personal significance and impact on your life. Trauma results in an overwhelming sense of fear, feelings of helplessness, and loss of control. PTSD and CPTSD are clinical diagnoses given to people who are dealing with the continual impact of trauma. However, you do not need a diagnosis for EMDR to be helpful in processing your experience.- If you feel "stuck"EMDR is extremely helpful to people who feel stuck in their struggle. If negative self-talk, catastrophizing, feeling continually overwhelmed, or feelings of hopelessness are part of your regular life, reprocessing target events and memories with EMDR can help. If your life seems centered around the negative experiences of your past and traditional talk-therapy has not fully helped you move forward, EMDR may be exactly what is needed.- Is EMDR safeYes. Because EMDR is non-invasive and client-led, there is little concern surrounding the process or impact of the therapy. Below are supporting facts as well as things to consider:The client remains fully coherent and focused during the process. The client sets the pace and can decide if they need to stop at any time. When done properly, EMDR has the least susceptibility to suggestion or manipulation than do other therapies.EMDR should only be done by a professionally trained therapist. While EMDR is considered safe, not everyone is a good candidate for this therapy. Consult with a trained professional to determine if it is right for you.Episode Resources:Elizahuie.com  Mclean Bible ChurchCCEFEliza's Books    - Raising Teens in a hyper-sexualized world    - Raising kids in a screen saturated world

Episode Notes: After 8 or 9 minutes of riffing about being in lockdown with each other, the discussion starts about using assessments in the counseling room and with the local church for leadership development.ABC has a resource page with the assessments broken down into categories such as: AngerMarriageSexIntimacybitternessMoneySpiritual LifeSubstance AbuseParentingAdulteryDomestic AbuseWomanhood, etc.Besides providing excellent training for certifying biblical counselors, ABC is also dedicated to providing, through membership, counselors with enough resources to help. You can print out one of the resources and hand them right to the client.ABC membership is really a resource hubThe assessments help gather data quickly with a Likert ScaleEpisode Resources:Association of Biblical Counselors Membership

General Notes: Discuss Stewart Scott's new book, "31 Ways to be A One-Another ChristianHow Mike uses it as a pastor to encourage group leaders to be more relationally intentional with their groups and then being able to use it as a more formative leadership developing piece.Also, as a counselor, being able to use it as a form of data gathering, where the counselor is being forward about the relational dynamic of church engagement. As most counselees are pretty infrequent in attending church and even more infrequent with the communal life of their church.Using the book as a homework assignment to help counselees meditate on the verses, their explanations, maybe think of their own illustration, and then work to apply it by asking specific questions that center around the actions of the verse, etc.Episode Resources: 31 Ways to be A One Another Christian - Stuart ScottBiblical Counseling Coalition 

Episode Notes:The Heart of the Matter: designed to help facilitate a process with our counselees to help with the opportunity of examining their hearts. Drawn from Psalm 26.2Heart log (helpful in assisting counselees to identify various aspects of their hearts begin to identify our theirs through logging A situationTheir emotionTheir thoughts and beliefsTheir desires and wantsTheir subsequent behaviors and habitsEmotion Wheel Emotions are often smoke alarms of the soul that alert us to problemsUsing the exercises to reveal deceptive patterns of thoughts, desires, behaviors, etc. Deceptive thoughts about situations and othersDeceptive thoughts about selfDeceptive desiresLevel of desireSinful behaviors or habitsThis series is intended to diagnose what is going on within the counselee. The next part of the series will be about "Put On", where this series is about "Put Off"Episode Resources:BooksA Theology of Christian Counseling - Jay Adams.Linkshttp://feelingswheel.com/Episode Quotes:Situation is just a context that exposes the heart. - Jeremy Lelek.Idolatry is when you give yourself permission not to love God or someone else because you didn't get what you wanted. - Jeremy Lelek.Habits shape the heart - Christian History.

Episode NotesInterview with Lee Lewis (was in our 10th podcast on depression)Pastor at Radiant Church in Austin - https://www.radiantaustin.com/www.soulcareconsulting.com12 stone counseling - Garret Higbeehttps://www.twelvestones.org/Soulcare ConsultingCreating a ministry of soul careBuild a culture of care not a side avenue of careWhat would that process look like for a church considering implementing this culture of care 360 evaluation interview processEvaluate what's already happening in the church, find holes, and then provide a road map.The road map is tailored to the size of the church, the resources they have available, which serves as a playbook to implement a process of healthy discipleship and culture of care.Tag Line: "equipping churches for intentional life on life ministry to the intensive care needs."Resources level 1 - small group studyFreedom groups - Gal. 5 13 weeksReach out to soul care consulting at: info@soulcareconsulting.comInfluential books Lee has readInstrument's in the Redeemer's hand -Paul TrippDesiring God - John PiperKnowing God - J. I. PackerAll Things for the Good - Thomas WatsonBook of Psalms

Episode Notes:FaithGod will give you everything you need to complete the work, task, job, etc. that he assigned you to do - not according to your ability, but his ability to work through you.Faith isn't in your ability to do something, but your faith in God giving the work to you. God has given you the assignement; he has called you to do this and he will give you everything you need in order to do this, not because of your own ability, but because of his ability through you. - Shauna Van DykeHeb. 12The faith in knowing that we have a loving father who is using times like these a means to healing our souls. - Jeremy Lelekhardship is usually the primary means that produces faith in us. Mike Van DykeThere is an active and passive reality to faith. Mike Van DykeEmail us at topics@speakthetruth.net

COVID-19 Anxiety & Fear: P2Phil. 4:4-93 fold plan for responding to COVID-19 PrayingThinking biblicallyAnd living biblicallyAnxiety - "its a feeling of worry, nervousness, uneasiness, or distress over a real or a perceived threat." - Shauna Van DykeHelpful ResourcesCOVID - Anxiety Article 

Episode Notes:The hosts start riffing about how COVID-19 has impacted everyone in some measure and trying to find a new normal.Please pray for Jeremy's wife, Lynne as she continues to fight on the front lines here in Fort Worth.Proverbs 12.25 - without a good word ( a word of real hope), how do those without Christ navigate this?There is no neutrality, there has to be something stronger, like faith, to combat the anxiety where it replaces the anxious heart and thoughts.because there is no neutrality in the heart of man, if there is no object of faith stronger than the object of anxiety to cast that out then how can one manage - legitimately.Rom. 8.35-39 - God's promises are objects of faith to cast out the objects of fear and anxiety.Worry assumes the allusion of control on things we aren't in control over. - David Powlison1 Pet. 5.6-10Phil 4.8-9

Episode Notes:"We, in biblical counseling, we do acknowledge that our story shapes our heart. Our story does have a shaping impact on the struggles that we might be dealing with." -Jeremy Lelek, Speak The Truth, EP. 51 Unpacking Diagnoses: Paranoid Personality Disorder (importance of data gathering - context added)DSM Criteria:Pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others such that their motives are interpreted as malevolent, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by four (or more) of the following: • Suspects, without sufficient basis, that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him/her. • Is preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends/associates. • Is reluctant to confide in others because of unwarranted fear that the information will be used maliciously against him/her. • Persistently bears grudges, i.e., is unforgiving of insults, injuries, remarks, or events. • Perceives attacks on his/her character or reputation that are not apparent to others and is quick to react angrily or to counterattack. • Has recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding fidelity of spouse or sexual partner.Biblical Explanation:The Bible is very clear in stating: “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25). Additionally, Paul attributes evil suspicion and strife to those who do not “consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness…” (I Timothy 6:3- 5). With no fear of the Lord in their hearts, these individuals may engage in (Romans 3:18): • Devising wicked schemes in their hearts (Proverbs 6:18) • Having feet quick to rush into evil (Proverbs 6:14) • Bearing false witness (Proverbs 6:19) • Pouring out filthy lies (Proverbs 6:19) • Stirring up dissension (Proverbs 6:19) • Grumbling against others (James 5:9) • Having mouths full of cursing and bitterness (Romans 3:14) • Fearing man and not God (people will see, hurt, or reject me, Welch, 2000) (Proverbs 25:29; Romans 3:18) • Slanderous accusations (Proverbs 10:18) • Allowing a “root of bitterness” to spring forth which defiles many (Romans 12:15) • Bearing grudges (Leviticus 19:18)Resources From Episode:When People Are Big And God Is Small - Ed Welch

Episode Notes:DSM-IV Criteria for “Personality Disorder (general)”Enduring pattern of inner experience or behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual’s culture including the areas of • Cognition • Affectivity • Interpersonal functioning • Impulsive controlThe pattern is enduring and inflexible as well as pervasive across a broad range of personal and social situationsEnduring pattern leads to clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.The pattern is stable and of long duration and its onset can be traced back to at least adolescence or early adulthood.Pattern is not accounted for by another mental disorder.Pattern is not due to direct physiological effects of a substance. American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 2000.Biblical Explanation for: “Personality Disorder (general)”The so-called “Personality Disorders” (i.e. paranoid, narcissistic, etc.) are simply descriptions of long-term behavioral, emotional, interpersonal, and thought patterns developed by an individual over a period of time.The Bible clearly articulates the influence of depravity and sin on a person’s behavior, thinking, and feeling. Therefore the influence of the “law of sin” must be a focal point for individuals citing these labels (Ephesians 2:3).Following the flesh always leads to further corruption, death, and darkness (Ephesians 4:22-24, Romans 8:5).Adams (1979), citing II Peter 2:14, discusses the idea of “habituation” in which sinful patterns spawn (and reinforce) sinful patterns (p. 243).Powlison (1996) highlights the fact that people don’t “have” disorders, they “do” what the so-called “diagnoses” (to the left) describe (p. 3). This is especially so, it seems, as it relates to “Personality Disorders”. This is an imperative conceptualization that will shape one’s approach when dealing with such individuals.Episode Resources:James K.A. Smith - You Are What You Love