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21 Good Vibes

Looking for in a Grace-Based Therapist

September 14, 2021 by AChuckAllen

by Julie Homrich, LPC

So you’re a follower of Jesus and you’re looking for a therapist.  You want someone who can both understand the source of your healing (God) but also empower you and operate from a professional perspective. Here are three things to look for in your search:

1. A grace-based Christian therapist values scripture… but does not weaponize it.  The use of scripture in counseling is meant to be helpful to the client.  Unfortunately, some well-meaning counselors tend to use scripture as a way to feel helpful themselves, throwing Bible verse bandaids on deep wounds that would be better served through more expansive spiritual and psychological surgery.  This leads clients to question the power of scripture because sometimes the solution is scripture AND counseling. 

Scripture is a very important piece of healing as a believer.  However, out of their own human desire to feel helpful and give answers, it can be tempting for helpers to repeatedly share scripture as a way to limit the pain instead of entering into the full, messy, sometimes unpredictable process of deep healing with the client. Ultimately, it’s important to seek the Holy Spirit in reflection to determine the right time for sharing scripture, the appropriate time to listen, and the right moment for psychological intervention.

2. Grace-based Christian therapists understand the difference between the source of healing and tools used in the process of healing. Secular counseling identifies the source of all healing as self-actualization. Grace-based counseling understands that we are co-creators in change, being prompted by the Holy Spirit and choosing to follow those leadings with the steps needed for psychological change. Secular counseling identifies an individual as body, soul, and spirit. Grace-based counseling does the same, but highlights the Holy Spirit’s power within us, redeeming and renewing our lives toward healing. However, both forms of counseling highlight that change is a choice, and faith-filled individuals must choose daily to unite their will with God’s will for their lives.

3. Grace-based Christian therapists seek to become aware of their tendency to engage in spiritual bypassing.  This is a term taught in many counseling programs, including faith-based ones. Spiritual bypassing is a “tendency to use spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep or avoid facing unresolved emotional issues or psychological wounds” (John Wellwood). We all have a tendency toward spiritual bypassing because, as humans, we have an innate aversion to discomfort.  If a Christian Counselor tells you that your pain is a result of a “lack of faith” or that you just need to “pray more”, you are entering a spiritual bypassing experience.

Spiritual bypassing is, at its core, a defense mechanism, and all defense mechanisms are utilized as a way for us to keep emotional distance from pain or discomfort. The antidote to spiritual bypassing is spiritual embodiment, inviting Jesus into our pain instead of trying to explain it away without experiencing it.  In some cases, it’s hard to heal when you can’t feel, and Jesus models this for us as He entered into our human experience fully to redeem us from it.  We can invite Him into our pain, and struggling doesn’t make us any less of a Christian.  

If you’re looking for a trained professional to help you find a therapist who meets the above recommendations, take our simple, free assessment at http://www.clearpathcounseling.org. You’ll be connected to a professional who can help you determine what your counseling needs are and who is poised to meet them.

Julie

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Filed Under: 21 Good Vibes, Emotional Health, grace, Leadership, therapy, Uncategorized Tagged With: anxiety, Emotional Health, Kindness, Mental Health, Peace, Personal Development, Spiritual Growth

21 Days of Good Vibes Day 10

July 19, 2017 by AChuckAllen

Good Vibes Week 2.001


Download 21 Days of Good Vibes Day 10:
21 Days of Good Vibes Day 10 [pdf download]

DISCOVER, EXPERIENCE AND SHARE GOOD VIBES!

Seek a place of quietude and gratitude. Focus your heart and mind on the Divine, read His Word, learn His Word, express our gratitude, bring our prayers to Him, and engage in serving people in need. Here are today’s GOOD VIBES:

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.” —Edward Mote

DAY TEN

Read Ephesians 5:1-2
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

Understand:
Walk in love. These three words inspire, stirring us to love others with the love we received from Jesus. But the apostle Paul didn’t stop with inspiration, he moved on to instruction. And then, to strengthen his instruction, Paul pointed us to the individual who can be an example for us – Christ Jesus is our model for what walking in love looks like.

On the cross, Christ presented Himself to God as an offering. Paul adds it was a “fragrant offering,” a phrase that appears forty times in the first five books of the Old Testament. The Lord’s sacrifice was pleasing to His Father and was accepted as the means of being made right. When a Christian identifies with Christ in His death, the believer’s life becomes an acceptable sacrifice to God.

Real love—Christ-like love—makes sacrifices for the good of others and the glory of God. This kind of costly love has a sweetness to it that others find attractive and encouraging. This love not only smells good, but it sounds good as well. There is something uplifting about being around people who have a song in their heart and encouragement on their lips. You notice these rare individuals and appreciate them because they are so refreshing to be around.

A life that is like the love of God, will be a life of love. Love is the essential mark of the Christian’s character. Our model for love is Christ Himself. Because He laid down His life for us, we are to love others to the point of the sweet aroma of sacrifice. He now lives in us and through us, and that is why we are able to imitate Him and resemble Him.

“Lord, teach me to walk in love—staying close to You—so that Your presence will be a winsome aroma and a sweet song of worship to those around me. Amen”

I am grateful for these three things today:

1. _______________________________

2. _______________________________

3. _______________________________

Today’s reading taught me: _____________________________________________________________________________.

Today, I am praying for:

1. _________________________________

2. _________________________________

3. _________________________________

Today, I will serve: ____________________________________________________________________________________.

See you back here tomorrow for another DAILY GOOD VIBE!

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Filed Under: 21 Good Vibes

21 Days of Good Vibes Day 8

July 17, 2017 by AChuckAllen

VW BUS VIBES.001

Download Day 8 of 21 Days of Good Vibes:
21 Days of Good Vibes Day 8

 

DISCOVER, EXPERIENCE AND SHARE GOOD VIBES!


Seek a place of quietude and gratitude. Focus your heart and mind on the Divine, read His Word, learn His Word, express our gratitude, bring our prayers to Him, and engage in serving people in need. Here are today’s GOOD VIBES:


“Occasionally in life, there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.” ― Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

DAY EIGHT


Read 1st Peter 3:10-12 For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, 11 and he must turn away from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it, 12 because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their request. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

Understand:
Today’s passage isn’t playing around. The tongue – our words have great power. They can speak truth and life and they, just as easily speak deceit and hate. Apart from the power of the Divine at work in your heart, you cannot tame your tongue. Isn’t it interesting how the words immediately following the statement about our words (tongue) speak of turning from evil and turning our hearts toward peace? That is because of verse 12. The Lord desires to hear us call on Him and Him alone for strength, might, power and peace, Today, call on the Lord. Allow Him to direct your steps and control your words!

I am grateful for these three things today:

  1. _______________________________
  2. _______________________________
  3. _______________________________

Today’s reading taught me:

_____________________________________________________________________________.

Today, I am praying for:

  1. _________________________________
  2. _________________________________
  3. _________________________________

Today, I will serve:

____________________________________________________________________________________.

See you back here tomorrow for another DAILY GOOD VIBE!

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Filed Under: 21 Good Vibes, Uncategorized

21 Days of Good Vibes Day 7

July 16, 2017 by AChuckAllen

more good vibes


Download Day Seven of 21 Days of Good Vibes:
21 Days of Good Vibes Day 7

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Filed Under: 21 Good Vibes, Uncategorized

21 Days of Good Vibes Day 6

July 15, 2017 by AChuckAllen

gvsurf

Download Day SIX of 21 Days of Good Vibes:
21 Days of Good Vibes Day 6

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21 Days of Good Vibes Day 5

July 14, 2017 by AChuckAllen

gv


Download Day Five of 21 Days of Good Vibes
from Sugar Hill Church & Pastor Chuck Allen:
21 Days of Good Vibes Day 5

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Filed Under: 21 Good Vibes, Uncategorized

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