Christian Counseling

“I have come that you may have life and have it to the fullest.” -John 10:10

You’re here because something is missing. Somehow, life doesn’t feel whole right now. Perhaps you’re confused and aren’t sure what you believe or what makes sense anymore. It’s confusing. Maybe even empty. You find yourself looking for answers…or at least clarity. But more deeply than that, you find yourself longing for what you hope that clarity will bring – a life of greater meaning, connection, love, fulfillment.

People come often with this kind of restless longing, which gets expressed in all sorts of ways:

“I feel so alone.”

“Conceptually, I think that I’m loved, but I just don’t feel it.”

“Life feels meaningless.”

“I was raised in church, but it just doesn’t feel like home anymore. I don’t know if I can belong in a church if I don’t believe everything anymore.”

“I was hurt by people in my church. How do I move forward?”

“If I’m supposed to have faith, why am I anxious all the time?”

“How could a loving God allow _________?”

“I’m not sure I believe in God.”

If any of these sound familiar, I’m glad you’re seeking support. Your doubts and questions are not only ok…

Your Doubts and Questions are the Doorway!

Whether you consider yourself religious, spiritual, both, or neither, Jesus’s example provides insight:

Depending on the translation and depending on what you consider an “answer”, in the four Gospels, Jesus is asked 183 questions, and he only answers 3 of them. In turn, he asks about 307 questions.

When people asked him questions, he didn’t give them a clear, black-and-white answer. Instead, he’d say things like, “Let me tell you a story”…” Or, “The kingdom of heaven is like…”. Or he’d respond to the question with a question.

These responses were always meant to hopefully break open new perspectives for the people to wrestle with in a new way.

So it is with this counseling space. This counseling space is not a place where you will be told what to believe. Rather, It is a space to journey with a companion as we explore the thoughts, beliefs, questions, and longings you have as you seek a life of greater meaning and fulfillment!

What is “Faith” after All?

I’m afraid many of us have been handed this image of faith where we are just supposed to take the black-and-white truths we were taught at age 7, agree with it, never wrestle with it or think about it in a more gray, nuanced way, just grit our teeth through any questions or doubts, and hang on to those “truths” until the day we die.

Many of us have never felt permission to wrestle with God, wrestle with our religion, wrestle with the mysteries of the universe. This is terribly unfortunate and even ironic, particularly for those of us raised in the Jewish or Christian traditions, as the ancient name of Israel means “wrestles with God” or “strong against God”. As the story goes, it is the name given to Jacob after he wrestles with an angel of God. It is the whole archetype of the ancient Jewish people, so often doubting, wrestling with God.

That doubting, wrestling, seeking is necessary for us in order to have a healthy, mature faith, one that is truly our own and that we are not just clinging to because we think we are supposed to.

Unfortunately, “faith” can often be used to mean believing with unwavering certainty in a bunch of doctrines that can be such a head trip and that may or may not resonate with us.

But faith is not certainty. Faith is filled with some measure of doubt, and that is ok.

The opposite of faith is not doubt; the opposite of faith is certainty. If we are absolutely 100% certain about something, then there is no room for faith. There’s no need for it! Faith is hoping and trusting in something that we cannot be certain about.

How Spiritual Counseling Can Help

After receiving a Masters degree in Pastoral Studies, enjoying 13 years in ministry, and completing a Masters degree in Counseling, I am passionate about blending the wisdom of religion and psychology as I walk with people in their journey.

If you come seeking spiritual counseling, then this will be a space where we will freely explore what you believe. And we will explore how what you believe impacts your desire to live the meaningful, fulfilling life that deep down we all long for.

Find a Meaningful, Fulfilling Life

At some point, many people find themselves asking, "What is it all for?" If you find yourself struggling to find meaning in this life, you don't have to walk down that road alone. Reach out today to schedule your appointment.