Christian Counseling and the Relief of Having a Safe Space

When you’ve been hurt, it takes time and healing attention to nurse those wounds and feel restored. That hurt can come in the form of a significant relationship such as a marriage falling apart, the loss of a loved one, dealing with a mental health condition like anxiety or depression, setbacks like a cherished dream failing, and so much more. Christian counseling can help.

We are not always equipped to deal with the situations we come across in life. When crisis hits, we are at our lowest, and often the least capable of handling the complex thoughts and emotions that follow. One of the ways Christian counseling helps is that it provides the safe space you need to process these emotions, and you can walk the journey with a compassionate professional who understands what you’re going through.

How Christian counseling works

Counseling pairs you with a trained and licensed mental health professional who has expertise in handling particular areas of concern. Through the training that your counselor receives, they learn how to discern the dynamics that are at play when a person is grieving, or in a marriage that is on the rocks, or as a person battles depression and the unhelpful thoughts their mind is generating.

It’s one thing to understand a situation and what is going on. It is quite another to know what to do about it so that the issue is resolved successfully. Your counselor is also trained in various therapeutic techniques and how to apply them to a given situation to provide meaningful relief. Your counselor will speak to you to understand your unique story and to draw up a treatment plan to help address your most pressing concerns.

You are the one who must initiate the counseling process by finding a counselor who will come alongside you to address your concerns. If you decide that you need the help of a counselor, you can then set about finding the right counselor for you. Counseling is a combination of science and art, and you’ll find that you resonate more with one counselor’s approach than another.

By asking your prospective counselor questions such as what their approach is, and whether they make use of resources rooted in the Christian faith tradition, if that is something that matters to you. You can also ask questions about how many sessions they anticipate it will take to complete your treatment plan, and what it will cost. When you find your counselor, you can begin your journey toward healing and wholeness.

Counseling sessions are typically around an hour long, and you meet with your counselor once a week for several weeks, depending on what your concerns are and their complexity. The counseling space is confidential, non-judgmental, and safe.

You can express yourself freely with your counselor as you build rapport and work through your concerns and questions. They might give you exercises to work on at home to develop certain skills.

The issues it addresses

Christian counseling addresses a wide variety of concerns. In some cases, you may be seeking counseling not strictly for yourself, but because you want to be equipped to help a loved one as they work through some things. Christian counseling compassionately addresses issues as diverse as:

• Eating disorders.
• Body dysmorphia.
• Depression.
• Anxiety and anxiety disorders.
• ADHD.
• Substance abuse and chemical dependence.
• Anger issues.
• Grief and loss of a loved one.
• Divorce.
• Marriage and family concerns, including infidelity, blended families, and family conflicts.
• Gender identity.
• Sexual orientation and sexual identity.
• Loneliness.
• Stress.
• Domestic and other forms of abuse.
• Managing life transitions such as retirement, entering menopause, or making a significant career change.

You should ask up front, but your counselor should have training and experience in the services that you need. That way, they can provide you with the help you need from an informed and wise perspective.

The benefits of Christian counseling

When you decide to go for Christian counseling to address matters that are pressing to you, there are several benefits. For one thing, getting professional help means that you can find informed answers and a treatment plan that will effectively address your concerns.

Your counselor will use evidence-based therapeutic techniques to help you process your experiences and emotions, as well as cultivate new habits of thought and action.

Additionally, some issues are difficult to discuss with family or other loved ones in your life. In situations such as where there’s emotional or physical abuse, a counselor can be an independent third party who can help you work through what’s happening.

They can be a safe space when you have none in your life, and you can speak frankly with your counselor about what you are experiencing, as the counseling space is confidential and non-judgmental.

Christian counseling uses resources such as Scripture, prayer, and wisdom derived from the Christian faith tradition in combination with therapeutic techniques that other mental health professionals use. This means that you can integrate your faith journey into your overall well-being so that you receive emotional, mental, and spiritual support.

You don’t have to walk alone in whatever you’re dealing with. You can reach out to us today at Redlands Christian Counseling to begin addressing your concerns and questions. Your counselor in Redlands, California can give you the relief of having a safe space you can turn to as you effectively begin dealing with issues that are hindering your enjoyment of the things of life.