Healing of Memories?

[Ian Gentles]

I hear a bit every now and then about spiritual healing of memories, and this often seems to have to do with memories burried in deep subconcious.
Is there such a thing, ministry? or is it all a load of rot?

[Bill Evans]

Dr. David Seamands, affiliated with Asbury Theological Seminary, has written in this area. I believe his signature work is called Healing for Damaged Emotions, but I believe there is also one called Healing of Memories. His work is referenced by a writer in the charismatic circle who has developed a concept he calls "Theophostic Ministry." I claim no expertise in this area. I do know that there is a lot of controversy in counseling circles about doing therapy for repressed memories. An untrained therapist could have some undue influence on a client's ability to recall memories of events that never really happened. The risk of doing this has kept me as a therapist from doing any work in this area with my clients.

[Gina Stevenson]

Dr. David Seamands, affiliated with Asbury Theological Seminary, has written in this area. I believe his signature work is called Healing for Damaged Emotions, but I believe there is also one called Healing of Memories. His work is referenced by a writer in the charismatic circle who has developed a concept he calls "Theophostic Ministry." I claim no expertise in this area. I do know that there is a lot of controversy in counseling circles about doing therapy for repressed memories. An untrained therapist could have some undue influence on a client's ability to recall memories of events that never really happened. The risk of doing this has kept me as a therapist from doing any work in this area with my clients.

Aside from that charismatic person, whomever it may be, who "referenced" Seamands in his own writing, I will say that Seamands books have helped. Don't actually recall his talking so much re "repressed memories" as those that are still there, affecting one's life. Working through them helps ... and then, to be able to move on, his follow-up book to Healing for Damaged Emotions is entitled Putting Away Childish Things ... growing up ... past ... beyond those things that had so affected one that they had a hard time at one time with this "putting away" and "growing up."

{tho' we all know, too, we don't want to "grow up" too much ... needing to let our "inner child" out to play ... have fun ... now & then, too, eh! :basic05}

PS * Ian, it seems as tho' you and your family have been through so much the last several years that David Seamands books [no, they're not "rot" or "far out" but sensible ;)] might be a good pair to pick up & "chew on."

blessings on you & Christine & your clan

[Ian Gentles]

Aside from that charismatic person, whomever it may be, who "referenced" Seamands in his own writing, I will say that Seamands books have helped. Don't actually recall his talking so much re "repressed memories" as those that are still there, affecting one's life. Working through them helps ... and then, to be able to move on, his follow-up book to Healing for Damaged Emotions is entitled Putting Away Childish Things ... growing up ... past ... beyond those things that had so affected one that they had a hard time at one time with this "putting away" and "growing up."

{tho' we all know, too, we don't want to "grow up" too much ... needing to let our "inner child" out to play ... have fun ... now & then, too, eh! :basic05}

PS * Ian, it seems as tho' you and your family have been through so much the last several years that David Seamands books [no, they're not "rot" or "far out" but sensible ;)] might be a good pair to pick up & "chew on."

blessings on you & Christine & your clan

Never sure we can fully put away, as for growing up, we are always kids? Surpressed memoroes i beleive in, esp childhood trauma!

[Gina Stevenson]

Never sure we can fully put away, as for growing up, we are always kids? Surpressed memoroes i beleive in, esp childhood trauma!

Yes, I do believe, as you say, in "suppressed memories" ... those too painful to be kept in 'current storage/recallable' space. However, I do believe, too, that one must be careful/knowledgeable in dealing with this sort, as Bob mentioned.

As for "always kids?" Of course! You love playing on that golf course, don't you, Ian? :basic05

[David Parker]

I recall that Ruth Carter Stapleton (http://www.answers.com/topic/ruth-carter-stapleton) (Jimmy Carter's sister) ministered in this area too. A quick search shows that she wrote a book titled The Gift of Inner Healing (http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000ON6TZ8/ref=sr_1_olp_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200357957&sr=1-3) in 1976.

[Paula Karr]

There have been times in my life when I WISHED I couldn't remember anything from the time I was 4 until I was 16. But I do. I won't go into the graphic details, but will say only this. When I was 4, my mother married a child molester.

Was I emotionally damaged? Absolutely. Do I still carry emotional scars? Yes. But those scars serve as a reminder to me to be cognizant of behaviors which make me feel uncomfortable. Had I repressed or forgotten those memories, who's to say I might not have allowed that man to have unsupervised access to my own children. So, in a way, I'm glad I never forgot.

But did I forgive? I had to. As my signature line says, "To forgive is to set a prisoner free. It is then you learn that the prisoner was you."

I was at a service once where the subject of healing for damaged emotions was the topic of the sermon. At the end of the service (at campmeeting), all the elders were asked to come forward and stand before the altar. Those in attendance who wished to do so were invited forward to ask one of the elders to pray one-on-one with them, asking for healing of those emotions. It was a turning point in my life. To have OTHERS recognize the pain I had gone through as REAL and HEALABLE was an amazing experience. I believe that service had a lot to do with the progress I've made to this point.

But back to forgiveness. Several years later, I was asked to speak at our church's women's retreat. I asked the Lord what I had to say that would matter to these lovely Christian ladies. He said, "Talk about what you know. Talk about forgiveness." So I did. After sharing some of my own personal experiences (about forgiving others AND forgiving myself), I sang the Gaither song, "Hurt by Hurt." It's a wonderful song about how we build a wall of protection around ourselves one hurt at a time. And then, if we allow Him to, Jesus heals those hurts the same way -- one hurt at a time.

Before I sang, I invited the ladies to write down on a piece of paper the name or circumstance of someone or something they needed to forgive -- including forgiving themselves if necessary. Then, during the song, they were invited to come forward to the fireplace, pray over the hurt, put it in the fire, and accept that by giving it to the Lord, they could now be free of the hurt. Many of the ladies told me that it was a turning point of healing in their lives. (To God be the glory.) I really feel that one of the reasons I went through my horrible childhood was so that I could say to others in emotional pain, "I know how you feel."

God is so good. He has given me so much. I still wish the little girl inside of me hadn't been through all those horrible things. But that little girl DOES love going to Disneyland and turning from 61 to 8 when she goes through the gate!


Paula

[Rance Gould]

Aside from that charismatic person, whomever it may be, who "referenced" Seamands in his own writing, I will say that Seamands books have helped. Don't actually recall his talking so much re "repressed memories" as those that are still there, affecting one's life. Working through them helps ... and then, to be able to move on, his follow-up book to Healing for Damaged Emotions is entitled Putting Away Childish Things ... growing up ... past ... beyond those things that had so affected one that they had a hard time at one time with this "putting away" and "growing up."

{tho' we all know, too, we don't want to "grow up" too much ... needing to let our "inner child" out to play ... have fun ... now & then, too, eh! :basic05}

PS * Ian, it seems as tho' you and your family have been through so much the last several years that David Seamands books [no, they're not "rot" or "far out" but sensible ;)] might be a good pair to pick up & "chew on."

blessings on you & Christine & your clan


Ian, I have to say AMEN to all that's been said about Dr. Seamands books. He is a great Christian writer. I loaned a copy of his "Healing of Memories." to a dear lady at our church who had been sexually abused. When she returned the book she thanked me and said the book was a great help to her.

[Gina Stevenson]

That Healing of Memories must be yet another one that I've not seen since going through those first two books of his re the subject. If it's as good as the other two, I'm sure it's also a great help.

[Barbara Moulton]

Wanted to clarify that I agree 100% that negative and painful memories are something that can be healed by God.

My earlier post was specifically dealing with my concerns related to bringing "repressed memories" to our awareness.

[John Rivas]

Hi Ian - There is freedom from those conscience and unconscious memories. Through prayer, meditation, and books like those recommended from others. In addition, from my own experience, I found a specific type of therapy to be especially helpful, it’s called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

EMDR integrates elements of many effective psychotherapies in structured protocols that are designed to maximize treatment effects. These include psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, experiential, and body-centered therapies. EMDR is an information processing therapy and uses an eight phase approach.

During EMDR, I visited those memories in the past and related present experiences in brief sequential doses while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus. Then I was instructed to let new material become the focus of the next set of dual attention. This sequence of dual attention and personal association is repeated many times in the session throughout the eight phase process.

Let me know if you want any additional information.

John

[Bill Evans]

EMDR is a form of therapy that must only be administered by those who have specific training in it. There is a training program for certification as an EMDR therapist. It is also a form of therapy that is not a "one size fits all" form of treatment. It has been demonstrated to be very effective with those who would truly benefit from it.

[Ian Gentles]

Wanted to clarify that I agree 100% that negative and painful memories are something that can be healed by God.

My earlier post was specifically dealing with my concerns related to bringing "repressed memories" to our awareness.

I did see your point, bringing something to surface that mercifully our minds have buried, could hurt an awful lot, and lead to more trauma.

[Ian Gentles]

Hi Ian - There is freedom from those conscience and unconscious memories. Through prayer, meditation, and books like those recommended from others. In addition, from my own experience, I found a specific type of therapy to be especially helpful, it’s called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

EMDR integrates elements of many effective psychotherapies in structured protocols that are designed to maximize treatment effects. These include psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, experiential, and body-centered therapies. EMDR is an information processing therapy and uses an eight phase approach.

During EMDR, I visited those memories in the past and related present experiences in brief sequential doses while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus. Then I was instructed to let new material become the focus of the next set of dual attention. This sequence of dual attention and personal association is repeated many times in the session throughout the eight phase process.

Let me know if you want any additional information.

John

I have heard of it, but scarcely available here!

[Ian Gentles]

EMDR is a form of therapy that must only be administered by those who have specific training in it. There is a training program for certification as an EMDR therapist. It is also a form of therapy that is not a "one size fits all" form of treatment. It has been demonstrated to be very effective with those who would truly benefit from it.

I have heard it is especialy helpfull with Post Traumatic Stress?

[Barbara Moulton]

I have heard it is especialy helpfull with Post Traumatic Stress?

Now...here is where we get to the heart of the matter.

Ian, at the time of the terrible bombing in London, when you were keeping us up to date on what was happening and all that you were doing, I was deeply concerned for you.

I was concerned that, when it was all over, you could face a form of Post Traumatic Stress. I prayed that you would have the help and care you needed for your recovery afterwards.

From my point of observation however...it appeared that the time when you needed help the most was when a distance seemed to open up between you and those who needed to put that help in place.

Being somewhat aware of all that you have seen and experienced I think that yes...there may be some deep value for you in finding someone who would help you with these memories which are remaining with you.

Blessings and love,
Barbara

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Hi Ian - There is freedom from those conscience and unconscious memories. Through prayer, meditation, and books like those recommended from others. In addition, from my own experience, I found a specific type of therapy to be especially helpful, it’s called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

EMDR integrates elements of many effective psychotherapies in structured protocols that are designed to maximize treatment effects. These include psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, experiential, and body-centered therapies. EMDR is an information processing therapy and uses an eight phase approach.

During EMDR, I visited those memories in the past and related present experiences in brief sequential doses while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus. Then I was instructed to let new material become the focus of the next set of dual attention. This sequence of dual attention and personal association is repeated many times in the session throughout the eight phase process.

Let me know if you want any additional information.

John

EMDR was used quite extensively on survivors of the OKC bombing and many of the rescue workers with great success. Therapists who were trained in this method of release were sent to OKC and some worked there for a month or longer. This method also has many 'cousin' therapies and most are based on forms of energy techniques. Quite successful!

Rejoicing with you that it was beneficial for you!

Blessings,

[Ian Gentles]

Now...here is where we get to the heart of the matter.

Ian, at the time of the terrible bombing in London, when you were keeping us up to date on what was happening and all that you were doing, I was deeply concerned for you.

I was concerned that, when it was all over, you could face a form of Post Traumatic Stress. I prayed that you would have the help and care you needed for your recovery afterwards.

From my point of observation however...it appeared that the time when you needed help the most was when a distance seemed to open up between you and those who needed to put that help in place.

Being somewhat aware of all that you have seen and experienced I think that yes...there may be some deep value for you in finding someone who would help you with these memories which are remaining with you.

Blessings and love,
Barbara

It is my oppinon, emotionaly, we didnt get help. all police were debreifed, but they forgot us. Mission bless em tried to fit in, and did their best in their understanding, but for some it was too late! So what happens? everyone does their honest best, and folks like me felt flung on the scrap heap!
Let me add, and sorry i can get morbid of it, and not being sensationalist, every day i see a young females foot! :(
Well to be honest, this followed with loss of thousands from bank, probably daughter.





on same night as bombings she took our car and wrecked it. Then in January 2006 she ran away, and took loads with her, including our dog, Then this year, both moms had to be put into homes, then both died.
We getting their by the grace of God!

[Roland Hearn]

I'm not sure that it is at all helpful to generalize from personal experience but here are some observations that I have.

Memories do affect our world view. They have influence on who we are and how we relate to things. The idea of "healing" memories is a bit misleading. The healing that comes is disconnecting our current perception of the world from false ideas that may have been created in the past and which are a part of our memories. Memories are memories, they aren't reality, and the best studies suggest that our memories are usually distorted to some extent.

I have found David Seamands books on healing for damaged memories and emotions (two books) helpful but I would steer away from seeing that as a total solution. I'm not sure he suggests it is.

I am not at all convinced that repressed memories are a valid issue to address. Given the distortion of memories there is no way that a repressed memory can be actually validated but I have a very close relationship with someone that went through a long struggle dealing with repressed memories. We could never be certain what this person was remembering was the truth, they had never remembered these situations before but the truth was it opened an area in this person's life that had never been faced before. Nothing could be done about the "truth" or otherwise of the situation but a lot could be done about the way the events of the past had unfolded to create shaping influences. Today this person still is not absolutely sure of what parts were real, and some where, and what parts were created by a well meaning counselor but the truth is they processed a lot of stuff and moved on. That part was good. If I could go back I would probably encourage that person to insist that the counselor spent less time on the repressed memories and more time on helping shape a healthy self image but the end result was very positive.

As far as I can see the problems are never our memories but our thinking processes as a whole of which our memories can be a part. It is indeed a valuable personal habit to develop a process where we learn to make truthful observations from our experiences, including our past ones. Jesus said you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. I think a lot of bondage that people deal with comes from false evaluations of themselves and their circumstances.

[Ian Gentles]

LOL my old college president said , "If you could remember everything you might be brilliant!"

[Brenda Jackson]

I have David Seamands book Putting away childish things if anyone wants it. I think the last but one chapter is good, about being crucified with Christ but I am not too sure about his method of putting Jesus into the memory for example seeing Him there when sexual abuse took place. I have found that it is through gaining acceptance of myself as an abused little girl was theraputic.

It has been shown that surpressed memories use up our energy to keep them surpressed. I had a lot of memories like this as a lot of my childhood was blank, but I believe that the safest way to deal with the problem is to trust God to bring them up at the right time for us. There were memories that He brought up for me and it is important to re-experience them and deal with them as trauma which means looking very carefully at them even though the instinct is to shy away. It is often recommended that one does this with a therapist but I have never had the luxury of one, God has brought me through the healing process Himself, and I am pleased now because I think that He is the best therapist ever!

I have found for myself, that the healing process does not really get underway until we are in a 'safe' place or in a position to concentrate on recovery. There are Christian groups who specialize in this and one in the UK as well as the US called Celebrate Recovery who will give support and help as one works through their programme lasting a year. I have heard good things about this programme. It is for anyone with emotional problems.

[Brian Blankenship]

I believe that the memory itself doesn't go away, but the pain or the barb of it needs to be redeemed. Seamands does indeed write alot in this area, and I recommend all his books. They are great.

[Jamie Wayne]

My mother, a Charismatic Anglican, who got her Ph.D last, and runs her own Christian counseling office, has been in involved with the healing of memories and "inner healing" for some 20 years.

Personally, I do think that there's something to it...

I think that Brian got it right in the post above mine - there's a sense where it's about redeeming memories. For example, one technique in "inner healing" or the healing of memories uses visualization techniques. Think about pornography, where images can be indelibly etched into ones brain. Now think about sitting at the foot of the Cross and giving the image to Jesus. That means recognizing the image...not denying that it exists in ones mind, and then giving it to the One who can redeem ones memory. Imagine Jesus taking the image, perhaps tacking it to the Cross, or otherwise taking it from you forever.

Can this work? Yup, I think so...but only because God is doing what's being done - not because of some method used by the counselor to "shrink wrap" the situation.

Theologically, there is a strain of though that says that Jesus cannot redeem that which He did not assume; since He assumed a human mind, He is capable of redeeming it.

Regardless, there is something to be said, I think, about being able to give such an image to Jesus for redemption. Some might not want to give Jesus a pornographic picture, but how else is He to redeem ones mind if we are not willing to give up that part which needs redeemed? How can Jesus take the picture out of our mind if we are not willing to show the picture to Him?

Anyway, I'm no expert, but I would like to think that my mother isn't completely a whack-job...maybe a little, because, after all, she is my mother, but I don't think either one of us is totally nuts.

[Gina Stevenson]

Jamie, had to explain that the "funny post" button wasn't for the entire post, for sure ... just that last paragraph. ;)

[Susan Unger]

My mother, a Charismatic Anglican, who got her Ph.D last, and runs her own Christian counseling office, has been in involved with the healing of memories and "inner healing" for some 20 years.

Personally, I do think that there's something to it...

I think that Brian got it right in the post above mine - there's a sense where it's about redeeming memories. For example, one technique in "inner healing" or the healing of memories uses visualization techniques. Think about pornography, where images can be indelibly etched into ones brain. Now think about sitting at the foot of the Cross and giving the image to Jesus. That means recognizing the image...not denying that it exists in ones mind, and then giving it to the One who can redeem ones memory. Imagine Jesus taking the image, perhaps tacking it to the Cross, or otherwise taking it from you forever.

Can this work? Yup, I think so...but only because God is doing what's being done - not because of some method used by the counselor to "shrink wrap" the situation.

Theologically, there is a strain of though that says that Jesus cannot redeem that which He did not assume; since He assumed a human mind, He is capable of redeeming it.

Regardless, there is something to be said, I think, about being able to give such an image to Jesus for redemption. Some might not want to give Jesus a pornographic picture, but how else is He to redeem ones mind if we are not willing to give up that part which needs redeemed? How can Jesus take the picture out of our mind if we are not willing to show the picture to Him?

Anyway, I'm no expert, but I would like to think that my mother isn't completely a whack-job...maybe a little, because, after all, she is my mother, but I don't think either one of us is totally nuts.

This is what I have been doing for the last 2 years. Like layers of an onion, God brings up a wound and guides in a praying of healing. Sometimes though the only thing I can do is just give the pain or the "picture" of the wound to Jesus and tell him I don't want it. This week has been rough as I deal with some of the worst wounds ever [that occured to me]. What makes it worse is that so many around me don't understand how wounds -even that inflicted on me at age 5 - need to be healed, not just ignored.

[Brenda Jackson]

Hi Susan

There is a book called I can't get over it by Aphrodite Matsakis about trauma survivors and I found it extremely helpful in assessing the level of trauma and describing the process of healing, the necessity of protecting oneself from being re-traumatised by people sometimes the ones who try to help or counsellors etc. It really helped me.

blessings
Brenda

[Susan Unger]

Hi Susan

There is a book called I can't get over it by Aphrodite Matsakis about trauma survivors and I found it extremely helpful in assessing the level of trauma and describing the process of healing, the necessity of protecting oneself from being re-traumatised by people sometimes the ones who try to help or counsellors etc. It really helped me.

blessings
Brenda

The book sounds interesting. Thanks :)

[Paul Whitaker]

Dr. David Seamands, affiliated with Asbury Theological Seminary, has written in this area. I believe his signature work is called Healing for Damaged Emotions, but I believe there is also one called Healing of Memories. His work is referenced by a writer in the charismatic circle who has developed a concept he calls "Theophostic Ministry." I claim no expertise in this area. I do know that there is a lot of controversy in counseling circles about doing therapy for repressed memories. An untrained therapist could have some undue influence on a client's ability to recall memories of events that never really happened. The risk of doing this has kept me as a therapist from doing any work in this area with my clients.

I know there are some Pastors who are using the theophostic methods. Some quite successfully.

[Susan Unger]

I know there are some Pastors who are using the theophostic methods. Some quite successfully.

A friend's pastor used this method, and sucessfully. She healed so much with this method that people had problems recognizing her.

I sat in with her and her pastor during the counseling sessions for prayer cover. It was then that I realized that God could actually HEAL me and not just expect to cope with the pain.

[Paul Whitaker]

A friend's pastor used this method, and sucessfully. She healed so much with this method that people had problems recognizing her.

I sat in with her and her pastor during the counseling sessions for prayer cover. It was then that I realized that God could actually HEAL me and not just expect to cope with the pain.

Yes, it's wonderful. God does heal -- still.

[Gina Stevenson]

Hi Susan

There is a book called I can't get over it by Aphrodite Matsakis about trauma survivors and I found it extremely helpful in assessing the level of trauma and describing the process of healing, the necessity of protecting oneself from being re-traumatised by people sometimes the ones who try to help or counsellors etc. It really helped me.

blessings
Brenda

Wondering if this book would be good for someone I know who, taken in my her sister to be protected from previous molestation (stepbrother), was then re-molested by her brother-in-law (forcefully enough, tho' older, that she freaked out). Just today she was telling me how she read the Bible nearly cover to cover, and it didn't make sense ... think she's feeling like, "If God was so loving, why would He allow this to happen yet again!?" Can see her point ... so didn't answer today, figuring it would be best to think awhile on how to answer, rather than spouting off some "canned" answer, like some we've all heard before in various situations.

[Susan Unger]

Wondering if this book would be good for someone I know who, taken in my her sister to be protected from previous molestation (stepbrother), was then re-molested by her brother-in-law (forcefully enough, tho' older, that she freaked out). Just today she was telling me how she read the Bible nearly cover to cover, and it didn't make sense ... think she's feeling like, "If God was so loving, why would He allow this to happen yet again!?" Can see her point ... so didn't answer today, figuring it would be best to think awhile on how to answer, rather than spouting off some "canned" answer, like some we've all heard before in various situations.

Oh, definitely do not want to spout off a canned answer. Keep praying for God to give you the answer.

[Brenda Jackson]

Hi

The book gives a warning at the beginning that those who are suffering from severe symptoms find a trauma counsellor to work with. It also says later on that those with MPD will get more help elsewhere though the book will be of some assistance.

It really goes into trauma in depth and is not suitable for someone young I think. There are some very helpful addresses at the back though. Someone young should be seeing an expert I think.