Christian Counseling
If you consider yourself a Christian and want your counseling sessions to provide for your spiritual needs, I hope this section will help you know who I am and what I have to offer.
If you are from another belief system or unsure of your beliefs, I want to assure you that my services would honor you with the respect you deserve. I am comfortable working with people not wanting a spiritual emphasis. You can just let me know that up front. However, if you want inclusion of spiritual practices in counseling sessions that are from another faith tradition, I am not able to meet those needs. There are many fine therapists who will be a better fit.
I did my post-graduate work at Western Evangelical Seminary, which is now a part of George Fox University. My official Masters degree is Christian Counseling Psychology, so my training qualifies me as a Christian Counselor. When I first began counseling, there was caution about even bring up anything of a spiritual nature. It wasn’t politically correct. Now, everyone is talking about spirituality. Only, spirituality has many very different meanings in today’s culture.
We are all spiritual. Just as we humans are physical, psychological, and social beings, we are also spiritual. So, I think it is critical that we recognize and care for the needs of all those aspects of ourselves to be healthy and whole. My Seminary training had a lot of challenging theological classes. I especially remember the challenge of the Theodicy question: If God is good and all powerful, why is there so much suffering in the world? Since most people come to counseling because they are suffering, you can see how important it was for me to wrestle my sense of understanding for that tough question! I even took Greek so I would have a better understanding of word meanings in God’s Word. But, as much as I value my Seminary training, I have to admit counseling sessions aren’t a format for showing what I know. The educational background contributed more to who I am and who I am becoming. It’s most important to me that my Christian clients see me as an authentic believer in Jesus.
There is so much to accomplish in a counseling session that I don’t think it is the place for what is better provided elsewhere. If a client has troubling theological questions, I hope they will feel free to ask me. I may know of a good book to recommend. Yet, I’d never feel comfortable discussing topics of theological debate. There are appropriate boundaries for counseling. Sessions should focus on relief of symptoms and steps toward healing.
I want clients well tied in to a loving Church family where they hear good Biblical messages and get solid scriptural teaching. I want them to have a Church home where they feel belonging in the fellowship. If they don’t, we can address any problem issues and work toward a good resolution. In sessions, I will use appropriate scripture verses as a part of treatment. The Bible excelled at Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) 2000 years before Aaron Beck or Albert Ellis! Scriptural imagery is a powerful therapy tool. And of course, I love to pray for people if they are comfortable with me doing so. It’s such a comforting way to end the session.
I always appreciate good, direct, honest communication. If I ever offend anyone in any way, I want to know about it. Too many people have suffered what I call spiritual abuse: perhaps well intentioned, but coercive and intimidating none the less. I desire to live by the ethics of Jesus—to treat others as I want to be treated, to be kind, caring, and compassionate. Our deep sense of our spirituality is the most intimate, vulnerable part of us. That trust must not be betrayed. Hope and help for healing come through relationship with Jesus Christ.