"We are more sinful and flawed than we ever dared believe, yet more loved and accepted in Jesus than we ever dared hope.”
Tim Keller
MY FAITH IS IMPORTANT TO ME. WHAT DOES CHRISTIAN COUNSELING LOOK LIKE?
I am also a Christian, and my faith shapes the way I view and practice counseling. God is the ultimate Counselor, and He is the one who brings healing, change, and growth. I believe God uses counselors to help people experience the freedom, love, and joy He offers. Sharing openly about your faith and your feelings about God is not only helpful but vital. I create a safe space for you to talk about all aspects of your faith journey--the good and the not so good--as well as where you’re headed and where you want to be. I rely on the Holy Spirit to guide and lead me so that our work together will reflect His purposes for your life and ultimately His Kingdom.
Jesus, our Hope
As Christians, we have a GREAT hope in Jesus. He is our Living Hope (1 Pet 1:3), our Wonderful Counselor (Is 9:6), our Helper (Heb 13:6), our Advocate (Jn 16:7), and our Comforter (2 Cor 1:3-5). There is no situation that is too big or impossible for him.
Jesus sees you. No tear, pain, disappointment, grief, sorrow, or suffering goes unnoticed. I love this excerpt from Proverbs 31 Ministries:
"In Psalm 56:8, God reminds us He is intimately concerned with every aspect of our lives. God doesn't judge whether our sorrow is 'valid.' But because of His compassion, He catches every tear that is shed. It doesn't matter how big or small, trivial or important, the sorrow might be. He is present with every tear shed, and we can count on Him to collect them. No matter what sorrow we face today, we can have confidence God cares."
Jesus loves you. Sounds cliche, huh? You probably learned this truth in Sunday school, but do you really believe it? According to Henri Nouwen, the core of the spiritual battle is whether we can trust the voice of Jesus who says, "I love you. I knit you together in your mother's womb." Multiple times a day we are faced with attacks on our identity. It is only when we are rooted in our Belovedness as children of God that we can believe that we are enough. We don't need to earn his love or approval. His love is not earned or deserved; it is to be received.
Are my problems & pain a result of sin?
The Gospel preaches grace and truth. However, most of us have been taught mostly about truth. The part about grace is largely missing. You may feel shame and judgment for experiencing anxiety, depression, relational conflict, or other struggle. You may wonder if your problems and pain are a result of past or current sin.
Some of the condemnation you feel may be self-inflicted or placed on you by others. Some of it may come from a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of Scripture.
In our sessions, we will talk about your struggles and how you have come to view them. You do not have to feel shame or judgment for them. If you have been told “to not be anxious” or “just pray”—I’m so sorry!
Struggling with anxiety or any other problem does not mean that you have sinned or that you are sinning. I would love to help you understand your struggles and point you back to what Scripture really says so that you can experience freedom and joy.
This does not mean that life will be free of struggles. On this side of earth, we will experience suffering. But be encouraged! God uses our pain and suffering to refine us and ultimately to bring glory to his name.
Your struggles are an important part of your story and God’s story!
"Life is an opportunity to become who we are, to claim the truth of our Belovedness and intergrate it into the reality of our being."
Henri Nouwen
let's walk toward hope
together
