Conquering Marital Problems
Christian counseling places a great deal of value on the sacrament of marriage. When a couple enters a marriage, they are making a commitment to love and honor one another for life. In the Christian faith, divorce is not seen as an option, so couples are encouraged to work through any problems together in marital counseling, rather than giving up on their marriages.
The truth is, many problems can occur in a marriage. These problems can, in effect, have a serious impact on the relationship. Some common marital issues include infidelity, communication problems, loss of intimacy, addiction, and conflicts. Therefore, the purpose of Christian counseling is to help couples repair their damaged relationships.
Coping with Parenting Challenges
While gratifying, raising children is not easy. As a parent, you will experience many ups-and-downs, joys, and frustrations – that’s normal. In fact, there may be times when raising your child is extremely challenging, which is where a Christian counselor can come into play.
He/she can guide you on your parenting journey. However, if your parenting challenges are more in-depth or severe like mental illness, physical ailments, learning disabilities, bullying, eating disorders, and/or developmental challenges, you may be referred to a therapist or psychiatrist. Christian counseling can also be very beneficial when you are unable to identify what your child needs or if you become overwhelmed by the responsibilities that accompany parenting. These counselors can teach you techniques that will help you deal with parenting pressures.
Support For Mental Health Conditions
Having a mental illness is hard enough without having to deal with it alone. Counseling helps those with mental illnesses by providing them with support and an outlet to express their feelings.
It is important to understand that people who suffer from mental illnesses – i.e. depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, often have lower self-esteem and self-acceptance, than those without mental illnesses. With Christian counseling, you learn how to accept that you are a Child of God – just like everyone else. It is this understanding that provides you with some much-needed comfort and solace when you need it the most.
Recovering From Grief & Loss
The death of a loved one is heartbreaking, and the grieving period can seem never-ending. But, for many, this is the time they lean most heavily on their faith to help them get through this taxing time. However, sometimes the grief is just too deep to find the Light of God.
Sometimes the surviving loved one becomes “stuck” in a phase, during the grieving process – a stage that feels impossible to move past. In these cases, Christian counseling helps the bereaved accept the loss, remember and honor the loved one, accept reality, and heal from the pain.
Healing From Substance Abuse & Addiction
Seeking help for addiction requires courage. But, admitting that you have a problem with drugs, alcohol, and/or gambling is often the first step in receiving the help you need to turn your life around. Once you admit that you need help, a Christian counselor can provide you with the support you need to kick your “habit.” Moreover, Christian counseling can help you unearth deeper issues that could be contributing to your addiction like childhood trauma, sexual, physical, or emotional abuse, and/or low self-esteem.
During Christian counseling sessions, you learn just how important and valuable you are in the Eyes of God. You also learn that you have the strength to overcome your addiction. Furthermore, Christian counselors teach you techniques that can help you turn towards your faith, instead of illegal substances or destructive behaviors, when life becomes overwhelming or unbearable.
Strengthening Your Faith & Improving Your Relationship with God
In today’s fast-paced, materialistic world, it’s easy to lose sight of your faith and become “caught up” in the daily pressures of life. With all of these stressors, your faith can get pushed to the side. However, it is during these high-pressured times that you need your faith more than ever.
Christian counselors understand these challenges and are able to help you reconnect with God and your faith. Moreover, they can teach you practical tools that you can use when you lose touch with your faith and become lost.