Hello all! First things first, I’m feeling a bit out of my comfort zone with regard to writing at blog… Never tried to put my thoughts on paper in a public way like this but wanted a medium for you to get to know what I offer, along with my thoughts on particular topics, my philosophy of counseling, and overall opinions on various topics. I want you to get to know who I am as a person, but perhaps more importantly, how I can help you or your family to grow and heal.
Which brings me to my first and most important point… I can’t make you grow or heal. I’ll say that again, I can’t make you grow or heal! There are two fundamental ideas behind these words. First and foremost, God allows growth and change to occur. We can water the flower, freshen the soil, pull out the weeds and thorns that hindering growth, and prune but ultimately God is the way-maker allowing the plant to grow (I’ll come back to this point in a moment). That being said, we as the subject being healed, play a role in that growth and healing process. We can not sit back and allow life to go by, praying for positive mental health while not changing our unhealthy or sinful habits. That would be like, going to the gym and only observing a personal trainer workout for an hour and expect to gain muscle mass. Not gonna happen! To gain that desired physique you must implement the movements learned from the personal trainer and do the work. You must make a commitment to the process of change. Same idea can be adopted when understanding how change occurs through the process of psychotherapy. It will be difficult, it will challenge you, and you might even question the process itself, but if we stay committed to cutting out or changing those negative habits you will start to see fruit.
God allows the plant to grow. This concept takes me back to the first time I heard a John Piper sermon on Romans chapter eight. “The great eight” is what Piper would say about this amazingly beautiful chapter. Side note, if you haven’t read this chapter (or haven’t read it in a while) stop reading this and go to it now! Romans chapter eight discusses how in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). Let’s just stop and expand here. If you truly believe what is written in scripture (and perhaps you are struggling with this idea, you aren’t alone in that) you know that these struggles you face today will not last forever. You know and trust that God, the all mighty, all powerful, creator galaxies will work these struggles for the good.
I’ll end today with an anecdote about myself… My teenage years were a rough time in my life. I was riddled with self-doubt, anxious thoughts, little faith, and my behavior was an affect of these deeper issues. If you would have told me then that 15+ years later I would be helping others to overcome some of the same challenges that plagued my life through the role of a licensed therapist I would have thought you had taken too much communion wine… God wasn’t done with me. He didn’t stop at the rebellious, self-centered 18 year old. God worked that situation for His good and has allowed fruit to grow in my life. I can say that confidently because God is good and all the glory goes directly to Him who gives life.
Love you all! Hope to talk with you soon!
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