Articles
30 Forgiveness Bible Verses to Help You Forgive
Forgiveness is an important area of healing that counselor’s employ in their work with clients. The extent of the need to ask God for forgiveness for you and for others is a topic of contention and debate. No less controversial is the level of interpersonal forgiveness and at what degrees forgiveness is given and needed. These questions can be answered with a study of Scripture on this topic. Interpersonal Forgiveness Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.– Proverbs 28:13 This verse from Proverbs can be applied to our relationships with others as [...]
The Family Counselor Near Me: Finding A Local Therapist for My Family
Finding a family counselor that suits your family can seem pretty daunting to begin with. There is a lot to think about to make sure that you have the best chance of success in healing. Some people might hesitate to reach out to a family therapist because they don’t know how to find the right therapist for them. Others may have bad experiences with past therapists and are afraid they will encounter someone who isn’t helpful. By the time you are done reading this article, you will be better prepared to start looking for a family counselor who will be right [...]
Comforting Verses for Grief and Loss: A Christian Counselor’s Selection
Grief is a universal experience. Every person will encounter its darkness at some point in their lives. The rough waters of grief are unforgivingly harsh and demanding. Its current carries you away to uncharted waters. Life is no longer the same. You feel lost and confused. You feel trapped by the waves of sorrow and depression. You feel drowned by fear and anxiety. Maybe grief’s coldness has shocked and numbed your system. Perhaps you are angry with God for allowing this traumatic loss to happen to you. As you navigate grief, I want to encourage you to connect to the heart [...]
What the Bible Says about Divorce and Marriage
This is Part 2 of my article regarding what the Bible says about divorce and marriage. In this article, I will dive deeper into the nature and purpose of marriage. Marriage: The Sacred Promise Between a Man and a Woman It is important to understand marriage as a covenant. Marriage is an agreement between and man and woman to cherish and uplift each other no matter the circumstances. This pledge is made between two human parties in front of the Lord. I have evoked those wedding vows on the day that two became one. There is an indicative in scripture regarding marrying [...]
How Play Therapy for Children Can Make a Lasting Impact on Your Child
What is play therapy for children? Isn't it just playing? How can that make a lasting impact on my child? Play therapy is playing with your child, yes – but it’s not justplaying. Play therapists use play in many different forms as a tool and treatment modality when conducting therapy with children. A child learns about, observes, and processes the world they live in through play. For children, playing through issues is the equivalent to talking through issues for adults. A child interacting with a therapist through play is the equivalent to an adult engaging with a therapist through conversation. By [...]
What Does the Bible Say about Marriage and Divorce?
What does the Bible say about marriage and divorce? In this first article in this two-part series onmarriage and divorce from a biblical perspective, we’ll look at God’s plan for marriage as well as two concessions the Bible gives for divorce.God’s plan for marriageAs a Christian Counselor, I get many questions about marriage and divorce, specifically regarding what God intends in marriage and when is divorce an option. Before looking at divorce allowances in Scripture, let us examine God’s plan for marriage.So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created [...]
The Secret Superpowers of the Adult ADD Brain
The Diagnostic and Statistics Manual 5 of the American Psychiatric Association identifies two primary types of ADD/ADHD. The first type is associated with experiencing symptoms of inattention. For adults, 5 out of 9 symptoms are required to know you have issues with inattention. These inattention related symptoms are things like missing details when writing, difficulty remaining focused during long conversations, issues with meeting deadlines, a mind that seems elsewhere when being spoken to directly at times, often losing things, being easily distracted by things in the environment, forgetfulness in daily activities, or trouble with repetitive boring tasks like completing forms. The [...]
Two Amazing Stories of How Christian Marriage Counseling Really Worked
As a marriage counseling professional, it is my pleasure and privilege to work with couples on a regular basis. Here are two amazing stories of how Christian marriage counseling really worked. Please Note: Names have been changed to protect the redeemed. The Bob and Sandy Story Bob and Sandy were in the midst of a very tumultuous time in their marriage. They had met when they were in their early twenties and had gotten married after roughly three years of dating. While they were dating they broke up a couple of times. During one of these times, Bob had a short [...]
Don’t Tough It Out Alone: Thoughts on Grief Counseling …
…the experience of loss itself does not have to be the defining moment of our lives. It is not what happens to us that matters as much as what happens in us. – A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss by Jerry Sittser Those aren’t merely words in some random book to me. Jerry Sitter’s book on grief and loss has particular meaning for me because I was there. I saw his loss first hand. I was a student at Whitworth College in the Fall of 1991 when tragedy struck Jerry (a professor, advisor, and mentor of mine), his [...]