Christian Counseling
Kids, deadlines, responsibilities, a little quiet time… it’s a lot!
You’ve read the scriptures and know that Jesus promised “abundant life,” but is this rat race what he meant?
You’re hanging on for another day…
“If I can just make it to the weekend.”
But even on the weekend, there is no rest.
Reacting to one thing, then another, getting up from the dinner table to take that phone call…
“My partner won’t be happy, but I must take this call.”
You’re running so fast that you cannot stop.
“Because if I did, it might all fall apart. And who can I talk to about all I am feeling, and will it really help?”
You know the promises but feel down and worried.
If you love God, you aren’t supposed to be depressed – but when you’re honest, all you feel is down.
“Fear not,” but right now, your mind is full of worry and anxiety.
You’ve tried to get rid of it but can’t.
“How do I make sense of this relationship in light of what God would want me to do? Someone in church leadership said I shouldn’t divorce. How in the world do I work out who God called me to be?”
Who can you trust?
How will a counselor respond to my faith?
Will the counselor ignore it? Dispute it? Judge me?
Can I be real without being judged because I live on different assumptions?
As a follower of Jesus and a counselor, I have wrestled with these questions. I needed to take the answers that psychology proposes and run that through my lens as a follower of Jesus.
A major step in this journey occurred during my year at Denver Seminary. I have also been on this journey for the past 30 years of thinking about and wrestling with what it means to be an emotionally healthy follower of Jesus (thank you, Pete Scazzero).
We are in this boat together – this is not my first rodeo.
I help Christian adults who are struggling…
… with what it means to follow Jesus in the modern world. We connect to your values and emotions and learn Christian mindfulness.
Clarifying your values…
Sometimes, the path in following Jesus is murky and unclear. My partner had an inappropriate relationship with someone else… what should I do now?There are moments when there are no pat answers and a clear path. And my experience is that God is faithful.
In our work, we start with the question, “How do I live a rich and meaningful life which aligns with Jesus’ call to abundant life?” You will clarify who is most important to you and how you might move toward this. Your faith will be honored and supported in our work together.
Taking care of yourself emotionally…
I believe we can only be as spiritually mature as we are emotionally mature (and vice-versa). To live a spiritual life with vitality, we must take care of our emotional selves as we grow in Christ. Engaging and naming your emotions helps you know yourself and God in a richer, more vibrant way.
Your level of spiritual maturity can never rise above your level of emotional maturity. It is not uncommon to come across individuals in Christian circles with very low emotional maturity (even though they hold themselves spiritually mature). This is an artifact of our western culture. It’s how we have been trained (many of us have come by it, honestly) – Faith, Fact, and then Feelings (thank you, Hannah Whitehall Smith).
While I don’t propose putting our feelings in charge of our lives, it is important that I can notice, name, recognize, and be aware of what I am feeling. Further, if I am disconnected from my emotions, it is very difficult to be connected to God. It is time that we help your head and your heart align in connection with God and his callings on your life!
Practicing Christian mindfulness…
Centering Prayer is one of the tools I have been practicing for nearly a decade. This is a Christian Mindfulness practice that has been around for centuries.
Our meetings can start with a brief period of Centering Prayer and spoken prayer, which is a reminder of God with us (Emmanuel) in this moment.
An authentic relationship with God, others, and yourself…
That’s what you get as you grow through your counseling experience.
I invite you to work together as your guide and fellow pilgrim!
Are you ready for a more vibrant and connected life?
When you’re ready to start that journey, call (832) 831-0178.