This past year, we have all been thrown into isolation. Introverts, extroverts and ambiverts alike have dealt with spending large chunks of time alone. Being alone and feeling lonely are two distinct things. Being alone in solitude is the circumstance, whereas loneliness describes the unpleasant emotion one may feel while being alone, or even in …
I believe for many people, myself included, the jury is still out on the value of our feelings/emotions. I have sat with many individuals who have shared that their experiences with their feelings have been either avoided, de-valued, swept under the rug, or ignored. I have begun to wonder if society has done humanity a …
Do you ever feel like scripture reading is bland, blank, or boring? Do you struggle to slow down enough with the Bible to engage deeply? What about hearing with both your head and heart – do you find that hard? I do sometimes. I am on a continuous journey of learning how to incorporate Scripture into the counselling …
Apathy can feel like an empty void, and it can come in many shapes and sizes. Disinterest in social interactions. Sleeping in until 11am. A disheveled appearance. Lack of motivation or drive to pursue excellence. Half-hearted efforts or attempts at tasks. A nonchalant attitude towards life and people. Apathy is an easy pit to …
What if I were to tell you that you have worth and value purely because you are a human being made by God – would you believe me? If we were to take a look at ourselves, we would probably find that we have attached our self-worth and value to external sources. For many, self-worth …
I was listening to a podcast from Proverbs 31 Ministries called, “Therapy and Theology: When the Unchangeable Feels Unforgivable.” Lysa Terkeurst and her team were talking about the process of forgiveness and she questioned an old adage, “Time heals old wounds.” She expressed she did not believe that was necessarily a true statement. However, she created a …
As a therapist who works primarily with Christians, and as someone who has served in various ministry contexts – I have noticed a common thread at times throughout our faith communities. There can be a reluctance to unpack, and to grow in knowledge of the Self. There is an unspoken belief which I bump into in various …
At the beginning of the Israelite’s wilderness experience – before the commandments, the calf, the manna and quail – there is the first great obstacle. The Passover has just occurred and the people of God have begun their great migration out of Egypt. I can imagine how they might be, dazed and unsure as they …
I remember hearing someone state that fear and trust cannot co-exist. You will either find yourself in a place of fear or in a place of trust, but not both. I have continued to sit with this and mull it over. As I have continued to wrestle with this thought, I believe it comes down …
Recently I was reading the story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark chapter 4. I have read this story countless times, and can rattle it off in a flannel graph like stills across the fingers of one hand: Scene 1 – Jesus and His disciples get in the boat. Scene 2 – The storm …