A Story of Hope and Healing
A 10-year-old boy came to Catholic Charities Counseling Services for a severe phobia that disrupted his life. The counselor began by teaching coping skills and helping him recognize his body’s distress signals, but the phobia persisted. After understanding his background and finding no traumatic cause, the counselor suggested EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to address the deeper issue.
During an EMDR session, the boy was encouraged to identify a guardian, and he chose Jesus. He reprocessed by visualizing Jesus with him, especially while confronting his phobia.
“I could see him smiling more during the processing, sitting up in his seat, and looking proud,” said his counselor.
His mother reported significant progress, and by the end, he imagined Jesus destroying the phobia, which has not returned. For this client, working with a counselor to integrate faith into therapy helped him overcome his fear and achieve lasting healing.
