504-353-WISE (9473) [email protected]

CHRISTIAN THERAPY

New Orleans, LA

Thrive, From The Inside Out

Get resources to think and feel healthier,

while deepening your faith and relationship with God

My Faith Disclaimer

My Christian faith is the central most part of my life. My relationship with God means more to me than anything, but it hasn’t always been that way. Because of that fact, I recognize that each one of us is on his or her own journey, ranging from being close with God to not believing in Him at all.

It is never my place to judge another person or their beliefs, and I will not impose my own on you. But if asked, I will be open about my faith as well as the certainty that I by no means have it all figured out. In fact, the more I learn, the less I know! I will never intentionally force those beliefs on another person.

My goal is to encourage you to ask questions and seek answers, offer a safe and nonjudgmental environment to do so, support you wherever you are in your life journey, and celebrate the progress you make towards your goals.

If you are interested, please continue to read more about Christian therapy to see if it is right for you and if we might make a good team.

 

What Is Christian Therapy

Christian therapy (also called Christian integration), in its simplest form, integrates the Christian faith with the principles of psychology to develop systems and practices for understanding and helping people.

It is an honor to have worked collaboratively with so many individuals to establish a holistic and inclusive process of articulating concerns, recognizing barriers, removing roadblocks, and progressing into a place of healing and wholeness.

By combining best standards of practice in modern clinical psychology with foundational Christian precepts, Scripture, and biblical teachings, I can help you identify and change unhelpful, imbalanced thoughts, moods, and behavior patterns.

Through therapy, you can trade negative and irrational beliefs, attitudes, and habits for ones that are healthy, adaptive, and in line with God’s thoughts, intentions, and will for you and your life.

 

Learn How To:

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Reinforce your mind, heart, and faith, making all of them healthier

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Gain relief from anxiety, worry, depression, overwhelm, stress, and discouragement

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Deepen your faith and your walk with God

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Cultivate greater peace and joy

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Gain clarity, resolve issues, manage stress, and enhance your existing coping skills

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Build up internal strength, perseverance, and resilience

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Reap greater satisfaction , purpose, and meaning in your work, home life, and relationships

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Widen your reach and broaden your impact on the world around you

Reasons People Seek Christian Counseling

I see many Christian men and women struggle with the same concerns and issues that prompt anyone to come to therapy (for more information please visit the Treatment page).

But more specifically, as a believer you might seek a Christian therapist because of the importance your faith holds in your life. It permeates every facet of our day – family, work, relationships, self-esteem, and how we react to and manage circumstances in our lives.

Having a therapist who shares the same faith and belief system opens the door to authentically integrating that into treatment in a way that often accelerates the therapeutic process while at the same time can help you deepen your faith and become closer to God.

Common concerns that prompt people to seek Christian counseling include, but are not limited to:

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Stress, anxiety, or depression

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Questions about faith

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Feeling disconnected from God, or feeling like you have drifted from your beliefs

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Adjusting to life changes or transitions

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Unforgivenesss, bitterness, or anger related to past hurt or mistreatment

What Does Christian Therapy Look Like?

I approach therapy largely from a cognitive-behavioral framework. I believe that, for the most part, what we think (thoughts and cognitions) drives our emotion and mood (e.g., sad, happy, angry, worried), and that our mood then guides or fuels our behavior (what we actually, physically do). So the best way to treat a negative mood (e.g., anxiety, depression) is at the thought-end and behavioral-end.

I strive to meet you where you are – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. From there, we will work on identifying unhealthy, inaccurate thoughts about yourself, your future, and the world around you, and then learning how to reframe or restructure those ways of thinking to be more adaptive, positive, and constructive. I will also educate and support you in making healthier decisions and choices in your daily functioning, from sleep hygiene to nutrition to better self-care, based on your identified goals.

As a psychologist who is also a Christian (the two are not mutually exclusive), I approach work with other believers from a bio/psycho/social/spiritual standpoint, considering our spiritual health as equally important if not more so than the other three areas (also not mutually exclusive). In Christian therapy, I utilize the principles, beliefs, and actions that are at the core of the Christian church, independent from doctrinal and denominational differences.

Shouldn’t Prayer Be Enough?

Some people indeed believe that prayer is a sufficient method of dealing with life circumstances and emotional struggles. I am not one of them. When stuff goes down, I have an arsenal of strategies to get through it, prayer being a critical one among them. But if I went to my doctor and she diagnosed me with high blood pressure, I want to know all of the ways that I can get relief from this condition and maintain optimal health. This might include changing my nutrition and eating habits, taking prescribed medication, increasing or adding exercise, and managing stress better. All of that is in addition to, not in lieu of, prayer.

While I believe that God is the ultimate healer, I also recognize that the manner in which healing can occur is diverse and dynamic. The same is true of psychological struggles or conditions. You may be able to pray and meditate through one particular issue or situation, while with another you may need to add or increase other strategies: social support, meditation, reading the Bible, self-care, medicine, and/or therapy.

God made doctors and therapists, along with every other profession, for a purpose and intention. For example, many people struggle with a view of God as punitive, rigid, and lacking in grace, forgiveness, or understanding. Therapy can help you find your way to view God as He is expressed in the Bible – loving, kind, forgiving, and longsuffering. Along with prayer, Scripture, support from church and other loved ones, therapy offers a safe and integrated path to healing, renewal, and wholeness.

 

 

 

My Core Christian Beliefs

While this list by no means serves as a summation, I want you to know up front about the core Christian principles that I live by. Again, I don’t expect everyone to agree with or adopt my beliefs, and I only offer them as a means to understand me a little better as a person and clinician.

  1. I believe in the triune nature of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
  2. I believe that salvation is only by God’s grace through faith in Jesus, not by works or our own effort or earning.
  3. I believe that the Bible is the Word of God.
  4. I believe that there are more truths that unite us together in Christ rather than separate us within the Church.

I operate from a Gospel-oriented worldview. Scripture has quite a lot to say about our thoughts, moods, and actions. The Bible can and does guide us in making those critical, ongoing shifts in thinking and behaving, along with many other methods of growth like being part of a church community, devotion, meditation, listening to faith-filled music, and reading great Christian works.

No one is perfect in and of themselves, and God knows that best of all. As believers, we are each going through the process of sanctification (being made holy) through the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, so there is no judgement or condemnation, only room for growth, learning, and closeness with God.

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504-353-WISE (9473)

3536 Holiday Dr, Ste B, New Orleans, LA 70114