As mental health providers who are Christians, our goal in the therapy room is to love and empower you, not to pass judgment or persuade you to our specific beliefs.
When in doubt about differing beliefs or lifestyles, we err on the side of love and understanding. We believe that every person is of great value and worthy of respect, regardless of their past or present life circumstances.
Tulsa Christian Counseling: Spirituality Is An Important in Therapy
Many people who identify as Christians struggle with mental health problems but don’t seek therapy. There are many reasons for this, including the belief that if they should not struggle with depression, anxiety, worry about chronic illnesses or pain, insomnia, or substance use. Many Christians worry about seeking counseling for their teens if they are struggling with depression, anxiety, or bullying, or if they need family therapy to get their family to get along better. Christians often worry that their mental health provider might not have the same core values. Or the belief that a counselor is going to treat them in a way that is inconsistent with what the Bible says, is not going to incorporate prayer in counseling or does not view Christian faith as important.
As mental health providers who are also Christian, we understand the struggles of having faith and dealing with the difficulties in life. For many people, their Christian beliefs and the relationship they have with Jesus Christ is one of their most important relationships, and it directly impacts their choices and values. Many times, a person who is a Christian wants to talk to someone who understands and values their faith, and who can speak the “language” of their faith. For the person who wants to incorporate Christian counseling in the treatment of their mental health, I’m delighted to provide this. For the person whose Christian faith or Biblical teaching is less, or not at all important in daily life, I am equally happy to provide therapy services to effectively treat insomnia, depression, anxiety, or to cope better with an illness or injury. I am always respectful of the different beliefs and will never push my beliefs, whether Christian or not, onto the person sitting across from me.
What Is Christian Faith Counseling Is Like at Tulsa Legacy Counseling Service?
For the person who identifies as a Christian and wants to incorporate faith, prayer, or Biblical teachings into their mental health treatment, we honor those values and needs. We frequently ask clients at the beginning of treatment if they would like one of us to pray aloud before our session begins. When we are asking about important relationships in your life, we will ask about your relationships with God and Jesus, as well as your church family or spiritual small group. We will discuss how your Christian perspective is tied into your adjustment to physical illness, depression, anxiety, insomnia, or pain. You will understand how your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and spiritual beliefs influence your choices and if those choices line up with your values. You will develop effective ways to manage your mental health and relationships using psychological science and Biblical truths such as prayer, gratitude, and accountability.
Growing in Faith and Spirituality Through Mental Health Therapy
Trees have deep roots that hold them in place, strong trunks that withstand the weather, an adequate amount of bark to protect them, and branches and leaves that provide shelter, food, and beauty.
The tree is a great metaphor for describing life: the ups and downs of faith, and the ups and downs of our mental health.
Trees can represent the various seasons of life. There are times when we bend, perhaps a lot, due to the “weather” of life, and times we feel solid and strong despite the “weather” of life. There are times when our branches are barren, and other times when they are blossoming. There are times that our branches and leaves need to flourish, and times when we need pruning. There are times when our roots are “infected” and we need to be transplanted into healthier soil, and times when we can be thankful that our roots spread deep and wide to hold us in place.
Our goal at Legacy Counseling Service is to provide counseling to teens and adults in the Broken Arrow and Tulsa area to help you connect with your roots so that you will feel solid and strong, despite the difficult weather, and to help you blossom to your fullest potential.
Call Christi, our intake coordinator, at 539-777-1129, to schedule your appointment today with Dr. Leedy, Cindy Fugatt, LMFT, Sandy Stone, LPC, Dr. Donita Smith, Ph.D., LPC, Abby Simpson, LPC, or Shonn Broyles, LPC.