Ep 42 – The Truth About EMDR and Trauma: A Faith + Science Approach with Tina Smith

Welcome back to Holistic Health with Melissa, where faith, science, and whole-person healing come together for women ready to step out of survival mode and into the freedom Jesus intended. Today, I'm joined by the incredible Tina Smith — licensed social worker, psychotherapist, certified EMDR therapist and consultant, author, and founder of both a thriving counseling practice and a nonprofit providing subsidized long-term care. Tina is also the heart behind Sword and Grace, a coaching space helping women leaders reclaim their voice, heal old wounds, and stand strong in their calling. In this powerful conversation, we unpack: • how neuroscience affirms scripture and reveals God's design for healing • the truth about EMDR and why it is not New Age, witchcraft, or hypnosis • why trauma gets stored in the nervous system and how the body holds the score • the misconception that "just pray harder" is the solution to trauma • why Christians often fear somatic work and how understanding the body actually deepens faith • how God uses relationship, safety, and connection as part of the healing process • the shame Christians carry when healing doesn't come the way they expected • practical ways to understand triggers, stress responses, and God's design for emotional restoration If you've ever wondered how faith fits with trauma therapy, EMDR, the nervous system, or somatic healing, this episode will feel like a deep exhale. You were created to heal — and today's conversation will show you how. To connect with Tina: Coaching for Women at www.swordandgrace.org Purchase Book at https://a.co/d/2LbEkZ7 To join the next free 3-day Mind-Body Healing Workshop: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/MindBodyHealingWorkshop Ready to heal anxiety using science, scripture, and somatic work — without pills or protocols? Apply for a free clarity call: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com/discovery-information-form