[featured-image link=”null” link_single=”inherit” single_newwindow=”false” alt=”christian counseling”]123rf.com[/featured-image] I recently completed an interview for several of my graduate students about my perspectives on the integration of faith and counseling. I think my answer to one of the questions is something some of my readers might appreciate. Question: How do you distinguish between secular counseling, Christian counseling, pastoral counseling,Continue reading ““Christian” and “Counseling””
Tag Archives: counseling
The Reality That Is Making Me More Liberal (theologically)
[featured-image link=”null” link_single=”inherit” single_newwindow=”false”]123rf.com[/featured-image] People who don’t work with people day in and day out, in the trenches of their lives, can afford to philosophize about people, to make up abstractions, and talk about the rightness/wrongness of people in philosophical terms, holding people up to their abstractions and deciding who fits and who is lackingContinue reading “The Reality That Is Making Me More Liberal (theologically)”
Things You Should Know About Therapy, prt. 2
Therapy may often feel ineffective When you go to counseling, chances are good you will expect it to be something other than it is. Some people expect very little to happen. Others expect it to “fix” their problems. Many people think therapy is about getting “advice.” But therapy is unique. It’s not like talking toContinue reading “Things You Should Know About Therapy, prt. 2”
Five things to do when you enter counseling
I have written posts previously about counseling myths, how to spot a bad counselor, and my “full immersion” approach to counseling (as a client). In this post I want to help you get through the first few weeks of counseling. 1. Celebrate what you have done, and keep at it Once you have taken thatContinue reading “Five things to do when you enter counseling”
A (Virtually) Guaranteed Way to Save/Improve Your Marriage
Photo courtesy of Gregory Jordan, under Creative Commons License Marriage research has come a long way in the last twenty years. Therapists used to try to save marriages by helping couples improve their communication and conflict resolution skills. Indeed, this is still what many therapists are doing to help marriages improve. The problem is, weContinue reading “A (Virtually) Guaranteed Way to Save/Improve Your Marriage”
Three ways to enhance your marriage without going to counseling
Keeping a marriage healthy isn’t that difficult. Counselors get paid a lot of money to help you do this, but there are many things couples can do for free or very low cost that will make a big difference. Here are my top three. 1. Buy John Gottman’s book, The Seven Principles for Making YourContinue reading “Three ways to enhance your marriage without going to counseling”
Truly transformational counseling, prt. 2
Today I want to give you the last five of ten questions and issues you may end up considering in counseling that is deeply transformational. 6. Where is God in the darkest, nastiest places in your life? We know God is with us, so wherever you are, God is there too. But what is GodContinue reading “Truly transformational counseling, prt. 2”
Dealing with pain
I have a group of fellow pastors I meet with once a month for breakfast. We socialize and talk shop, but mostly we just hang out. That’s right. We hang out. It’s not usually very “spiritual.” It’s not usually what a person might expect from a group of pastors hanging out together. No one bringsContinue reading “Dealing with pain”
Temp Arbor 