Thomas has been feeling a sense of guilt recently. He has been feeling depressed about a recent breakup with his longtime girlfriend.
What has Thomas most disappointed is his inability to shake the feelings of sadness. Thomas has grown up with a faith in God. He has always been taught by pastors and other church officials that people of faith should be happy and optimistic about life. That God's love should be enough.
Now, he is not sure what to do. He has thought about trying to see a Christian mental health therapist. But he doesn't know if he can trust it. Plus, shouldn’t he be able to figure this out on his own?
When Devote Christians Come to Therapy...
It is common for Christians to bring some heavy pain into a Christian counseling session with them. It may have something to do with parenting. Or their marriages. Or it could be related to work.
Whatever the reason, there are some underlying emotions of pain that a Christian will often bring into therapy. Here are just a few of those possible painful emotions:
What Christians Bring into the Christian Counseling Session #1 — Shame:
Christians who come into Christian counseling in Tualatin, OR tend to feel deep shame. shame four things they've done. Shame for how they have treated other people. Shame for their thought life.
People who grew up in the Christian faith will often have a strict moral code imbedded inside of their identity. When they fail to live up to that moral code there is a deep sense of shame for that failure. And they beat themselves up because of it.
And instead of the inner freedom that Christian faith speaks to, a person ends up trapped and isolated. They end up feeling judged by others and judging themselves.
Online Christian counseling can help Christians and people of different faiths rediscovered the truths of their identity. It can help them end the cycle of shame.
What Christians Bring into the Christian Counseling Session #2 — Frustration:
Christians may enter into an online therapy session feeling a sense of frustration. This often occurs when life does not unfold in a way that matches what they were taught in their spiritual upbringing.
For instance, when a Christian may not receive an expected outcome, they may begin to wonder why God has not blessed them. Like if a person has been rejected for a promotion at work. Or did not make the varsity volleyball team.
When a sense of justice or fairness is denied, frustration is often the result.
What Christians Bring into the Christian Counseling Session #3 — Low Self-Esteem:
People of many faith traditions are taught that humility is something to achieve. One is meant to think of others more highly than they think of themselves. This can be good in creating a healthy and helpful community.
But it can also lead to people believing that they are not good enough. Or that they don't measure up to others. Or that they are not lovable. Or unworthy of love and admiration.
it is not uncommon for people of the Christian faith to struggle to accept good messages of self-identity. They have a far easier time of listening to the negative self-talk.
Christian counseling in Tualatin, Portland, or Lake Oswego, OR can help Christians discover the beauty found in a positive identity of self. They can claim the truths of who they are. And who they were created to be.
And that can play a huge role in emotional self-regulation.
Needing Christian Counseling Does Not Mean You're Letting God Down
Christians are not anymore immune to the emotional pains or mental anguish than anyone else walking in this world. But they can be pretty good at denying the pain and anguish.
And that doesn't seem healthy.
Restoration Therapy can help people rediscover the regulating truths about who they are. It can help people find a stronger and healthier sense of identity.
And it can help marriages find their identity, as well.
If you are a person of faith, do not hesitate to reach out to a Christian counselor that will help you work through the aspects of your life that you value most.
Begin Online Christian Counseling in Portland, Tualatin, and Lake Oswego, OR Today!
Jason Wilkinson appreciates how challenging it is to find a mental health therapist who is comfortable navigating and valuing a person's faith. He finds value in helping people work through issues of spiritual confusion and trauma. Jason is the owner of Wellspace Counseling in Tualatin, Oregon. Wellspace Counseling serves individuals & couples living in Tualatin, Lake Oswego, and the Greater Portland Metro Area. Wellspace Counseling also offers therapy throughout the state of Oregon through online therapy. When you're ready to support from a Christian perspective, get in touch for your consultation.
OTHER COUNSELING SERVICES
Christian Counseling in Tualatin, Lake Oswego, and Portland is not the only service offered at Wellspace Counseling. Some other services you might be interested in include: Individual Counseling Teen Counseling College and Young Adult Counseling Anxiety Counseling Couples and Marriage Counseling All Services are available via online therapy in Oregon