Author: Dominick Flarey

Extraordinary and Saintly Love in the Desert of Sinai and Training in Christian Counseling

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Training in Christian Counseling: Holy Nun of the Sinai Encompasses Christian Compassion

Obeying Christ’s command to see him in all, Sister Aziza fulfills Christ’s promise and fulfills Christian Compassion.  This saintly nun’s burning love for Christ goes out to the least of her brethren, especially runaway migrants from human trafficking gangs that plague the Desert of Sinai.

It with such admiration, that all Christians should imitate Sister Aziza in caring for those who have no where else to hide from unjust persecution.
If you are interested in Christian Counseling Courses, please click here and review the program.  Our training in Christian Counseling includes core Christian Counseling courses that are required for certification in Christian Counseling.

Mark Moran, MA

Hypnotherapy and Other Aids for Stress

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Before Trying Medication, Try Hypnotherapy And These Steps to Reduce Anxiety

When you are dealing with anxiety, the world is a scary place. It can be difficult to take a walk to the corner store, socialize and sometimes, even get through a day at the office. The following article will offer ways of dealing with anxiety that can help you to live a happier life by controlling these debilitating issues. In addition to hypnotherapy and other remedies for stress and anxiety, below are a few examples from everyday life that can help.  Ultimately, we want to control our own emotions and sometimes we can, but if not, medication or hypnosis may become one’s only alternative.  Still using hypnosis in conjunction with natural strategies may be the best fit.
1. Those who suffer from anxiety should really look at themselves in the mirror and ask themselves “what steps should I take in order to deal with anxiety.’ Ask what changes you can reasonably make in your life to make it more manageable. This will allow you to feel more in control of yourself.
2. Try to go on a diet. When you eat healthier, your mood starts to build up and this can prevent you from becoming anxious. A lot of times, people become full of anxiety when they haven’t been treating their bodies to healthy foods, so try and eat a bit healthier.
3.Don’t forget to play. With the hustle and bustle of your busy life, taking the time to play a sport, a game or an instrument might seem frivolous. Taking an hour to let your hair down and have fun can do wonders for your stress and anxiety levels, though.
4. Exercise is also one of the best things that you can do to help eliminate any anxiety that you feel. When you exercise, your body flushes out all of the toxins from the inside out, which can improve your body functionality. Exercise at least one hour per day to improve the way that you feel.
5. Keeping yourself busy can really help reduce anxiety. Sometimes, simple tasks, such as, washing the dishes or raking the yard, will help you stay busy. Most people have more than enough to do, so get excited about just a few projects that will keep you smiling.
6. Learn to laugh and laugh often. Laughter is one of the best ways to release tension and to produce the endorphins that make you feel good. Laughter releases the tension in your muscles that builds up and makes your anxiety lose the grip that it has on you. Learning to laugh at the little stresses in life makes them fade away, instead of allowing them to build-up into a full blown anxiety attack.  Find some reasons to laugh at the world. You can watch a funny movie or television show and this will also take your mind off of any worries you might have to deal with. So find a comedy on the television, sit back, and do not forget to let out those laughs.
7. Don’t be afraid to seek professional help if anxiety is interfering with your ability to function. Anxiety is a common and treatable ailment and there are numerous sources you can depend on for advice and help. Doing nothing can lead to increased anxiety and other things like depression and health problems.  There are also many herbs that you can research, if you want to control your anxiety. Some of them include passionflower, chamomile, kava kava, and St. John’s Wort. However, prior to taking anything for your anxiety, including herbal remedies, it is important that you consult with a medical professional.
In conclusion, stop being a victim of your mind. You are the primary controller of your feelings and thoughts. While this may seem common knowledge, humans are always forgetting to take control of their mind, and instead, let it control them. You are the driving force in your mental approach and attitude towards problems. Create a positive way of handling situations.
As stated earlier, every little thing that you do in life can be influenced by anxiety. If you don’t learn to control it, it will control you. Hopefully, you have found some helpful advice in this article that will enable you to live a more fruitful and stress-free life that is free from the negative effects of anxiety.
Again, hypnotherapy is an excellent route for controlling anxiety, especially if these steps above are not providing enough relief from the symptoms.
If you are interested in hypnosis, please review the program.

Certified Christian Counselors: Champions of the Children Against Abuse

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Certified Christian Counselors and Reporting Abuse Within the Church

As cowards hide within the inner sanctuaries of the church to prey upon the innocents, we can see the plans of Satan to destroy the Church.  However, the words of Christ echo that the “gates of Hell shall not prevail against it”.  While these agents of Satan corrupt the hierarchical aspect of the Church, it is the role of the laity to help reform this branch of the Church Militant on Earth.   Certified Christian Counselors can play a special role as a mediator between clergy and laity in helping ministers, priests and also victims of sexual abuse.

Conflicted Emotions

Many times conflicted emotions can arise over the scandal that has struck the Church.  On one hand, many have been taught to trust and love the Church and have seen it as a holy Mother, while on the other hand, one is completely disgusted and distraught how the shepherds fed their little lambs to the wolves.  Yet, one should never feel conflict towards an institution when it contradicts the needs of humanity.  One should never feel conflict when wolves in sheeps’ clothing need to be removed from the fold.  And one should never feel conflict when innocence and trust is grossly destroyed.
Does this mean one should turn on the clergy?  Does this mean the holy priesthood and ministries of pastors are to be totally thrown away?  Do not think for a moment that as a physical and earthly institution that the church cannot be corrupted.  While it is preserved by the Holy Spirit in matters of faith and morals, the weaknesses of the Church are found in its broken members.  On earth the Church militant is open to sin.  The institution itself, while divinely inspired, nevertheless is made of sinners for the conversion of sinners.  Only within the Church Triumphant, or heavenly court, where the Mystical of Body of Christ lives in glory, is it free from corruption or the stain of Satan.  With this understood, we cannot dismiss the role of clergy or their important role in the Mystical Body of Christ on Earth.  However, we are called to root out the agents of Satan that hide in it.
One must realize that the earthly institution of the Church with its organization is merely a temporary mission in a heathen world.  It pales in compassion to the basilicas of heaven.  As pilgrims in an unholy land, we must understand that the Church was founded by Christ to baptize and feed our souls.  The institution, however, is not the complete church, but one aspect of it.   The Church in its entirety, at least on Earth, is comprised of all clergy and laity.  In this regard, when one considers loyalty to the Church, do not see the organization, but the Mystical Body of Christ and one’s faith in Christ.  One is not to defend the Church, but one is to defend one’s faith.  One is not to bend their knee before clergy, but only to Christ.  While many of the clergy may have become corrupt, or have hidden perverted monsters within their fold,  one cannot become like atheists or haters of the faith but become like Christian soldiers!  St. Catherine of Siena understood this.  While not priest or bishop, the Holy Spirit guided her to Avignon to admonish the Pope for leaving Rome.  And indeed the Pope did return to Rome!  One must remember that the laity represents the “church” as much as the clergy.  So to understand the church as merely men in funny hats is incomplete.  The Church is much more than that and the evil actions of politician priests and perverted men should not be seen as the Church.

Hence as Christians, we should not feel conflicted or betrayed by the true essence of the Church but by the current corrupt regime in the institution.  While the double piercing of our hearts bleed from the pain of the children and the disgrace of the priesthood, we must first protect the children.  In our protection, we must not seek to destroy the church but reform it.  We must realize that the Church is a tool to our salvation, not our salvation.  Only Christ is that.  Realize that Christ himself denounced the Pharisees of his day and would do no less in his condemnation of the putrid actions performed by his priests and ministers who supposedly represent him in the modern world.
There should be no conflict within a believer between punishing evil men of the  Church and one’s obligation to protect children.  The Church metaphysically is spotless, but evil men are not. As Christians, we should without limit, pursue and destroy their presence in the Church giving these roaches no place for shelter and exposing them for what they are.  For did not Christ say to those that harm his little ones that it would be better that they never been born or have a mill stone tied around their neck and to be cast into the sea?  Harsh words from our Lord, but words that show his conviction against the satanic agents that corrupt innocence.

The Christian Counselor and Reporting

With these ideas discussed and a proper understanding of what the Church is and what is not, how does the Christian Counselor emerge as a reporter in these cases.   First, the person who relays this information to you will undoubtedly feel conflicted.  The priest or minister seems like a beacon of holiness and above reproach.  The victim will feel like no one will believe him.  It is important to open  your arms to them and believe them.  If no one believes them they will fall into a deep pit of despair..  It is important to accept their cross and carry it as your own.  Second, do not be surprised if men in power use that  power for manipulation.  For most molesters, it is about power over the victim.  A priest or minister can use that power to dehumanize the victim.  They can make the victim feel like the molestation was the victim’s fault and that the victim is dirty.  Third, they can terrorize the victim with threats.  Such threats can include curses, or promises of Hell if they speak about the molestation to anyone else.
Once these things are told, it is the Christian Counselor’s duty to report this to the authorities.  Many dioceses or church structures suggest reporting to them.  They take the report, assign it to a committee and notify the authorities.  They then suspend the priest or minister while the investigation takes place.  I suggest notifying the authorities on your own, and then if you feel obliged, to notify the particular church government.  If it is small non-denominational community, then one only has the civil authorities to turn to.  Due to the Catholic Church’s lack of good faith the past Fifty years or so, despite promises of reform, I would not trust their inner workings and notify the civil authorities first.
This does not mean that certain bishops are not good men who will do what is right and punish these evil men.  It does mean though that past administrations may have secrets and corruption that no one wants exposed or seen by civil authorities.  These politician bishops will have much to answer to Christ but unfortunately we can no longer trust the institution of the Church and its clergy when it comes to temporal and civil matters.

What Afterwards for the Child?

After reporting, continued counseling will be required for the child, however, in some cases if Traumatic Grief or Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome persist then a Christian Counselor should work in union with an LPC.  The child will have to become numb to the images that flood his or her head and aided in facing the horror of molestation.  Years of therapy are sometimes needed that remove guilt, shame, anxiety and premature sexual awareness.

As a Christian Counselor, with permission from parents, it may be wise to instruct the child about the beauty of sex and how it is God’s gift.  One needs to repair the sexual image that was corrupted by the molester and Satan.  This perversion of something beautiful could haunt the child his whole life and create  pathological issues regarding their future sexual life.  Hence there is an extreme importance in teaching the child a Christian understanding of sex and how God intended it to be used as a beautiful gift.
Ultimately, the child should be made to feel guilt free and able to face his or her fears.  One needs to take the past and all its pain and incorporate it into a healthy present.  We, as counselors, cannot erase what happened, but we can help the victim understand and grow from it.  In this way, a healthy adaptation can be produced within the person.  The scars will remain, but a healing and new found strength will also manifest.
If I may close an example from nature.  I bought a Eastern Red Bud Tree for my front yard.  It was a young tree with a thin trunk that was as wide as its only two branches.  A strong wind came one day and knocked it down.  It could never stand straight again.  With no hope in sight, I attempted to prune it down but it accidentally snapped.  All that remained was a stick in the ground about six inches high, split down the middle.  Before the end of that Summer, the tree started to regrow branches from the barren and thought to be dead trunk.  I was amazed and gently tied and fused together the trunk’s split.  The next year it grew new branches.  Finally after another Summer of growth, it hovered over fifteen feet high.  Recently this Spring, it actually bloomed for the first time and in the later months of this Summer has grown over Twenty Feet.  Yet the scar at its base is still there as a reminder to me of what happened to it.  This extraordinary revival of a tree is but a small ability when compared to the human soul that is infused by grace and cared for by its heavenly Father.  Allow yourself as a  certified Christian Counselor to become one of the Lord’s tools in regrowing these young souls so that they again bloom a spiritual flower of innocence.

Mark Moran, MA

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross and Learn How to Become a Christian Counselor

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

We Must Have One Cross With Christ

 

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross is on September 14th.  This great feast commerates the rediscovery of the Holy cross by St. Helen, mother of Constantine, in the Fourth Century.  Stories retold tell of the miraculous nature of the cross when it was discovered.  Of the three crosses that were uncovered, only the third cross miraculously cured the sick in Jerusalem.  With such certitude, the cross was exalted and eventually found its way to Rome as one of Christendom’s most precious relics.

The Cross and Us

The cross of Christ became the instrument and means to Christ’s death.  Through that death, came life and this symbol of death became also a symbol of life.  As Christians, St. Paul tells us that we are crucified with Christ but will also rise with Christ.  How are we crucified?  We are crucified by accepting our own crosses in life and uniting them with the suffering of Christ.  In this way, our wills conform to Christ, and our crosses become one.

It is also extremely important to realize that while the Jews and Romans were the physical means of Christ’s death, it was actually our sins that bore the weight of the cross on Christ.  In this way our own sins became tied to this crude piece of wood in a deeper metaphysical way than one can ever imagine.  The weight of the cross bore the offense of every sin past, present and future.  Yet our Lord endured its weight for the salvation of our souls.
Like Simon of Cyrene, will we help our Lord carry the cross?  Like John and the Holy Women, will we follow Christ to Calvary?  Like Christ’s holy mother, will we spiritually die with Christ?
We must answer yes to all these questions.  We must accept our crosses, unite them with Christ and carry them to our own Calvary.
If you are interested in Christian Counseling Courses, please review the program.  If you would like to learn how to become a Christian Counselor, then please also review the program.  There is information that can show you how to learn how to become a Christian Counselor.

Mark Moran, MA

Their Death Will Never Be In Vain

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

AIHCP Takes Today To Remember Our Fallen On 911

AIHCP would like to offer its prayers and love to the families who lost loved ones in the 911 attack over ten years ago.  We pray for those who suffered from the crash in PA, the assault in NYC and the strike upon DC.
On this solemn anniversary, we pray for the living and the dead who experienced this assault on our country.   We also would like to give thanks to those who offered their lives in defense of our country after this assault.  Your efforts and sacrifices will not be in vain.
May God bless America
AIHCP
To review our programs, please click here

Christian Counseling Certification: Discipleship Video

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling Certification: Are You A True Disciple?

If you are a true disciple of Christ, then Christ is not just Sunday conversation but a reality in your interior and meditative life.  Furthermore, you seek Christ in everyone and spread his message to everyone.  The video below shows the true nature of discipleship.  Please click on it and share.
httpv://youtu.be/oJWkQ9UP_m8

If you are interested in Christian Counseling and Discipleship, please review the program and click here.
The Christian Counseling courses in this program help qualified professionals become certified as Christian Counselors at AIHCP
AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification is an excellent program to help certified Christian Counselors achieve recognition in their practice.
The Christian Counseling Certification program consists of core courses.  After completing these courses one can become certified.  Recertification in the Christian Counseling Certification program takes place after three years.

AIHCP

Knowing When One’s Pet is suffering

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Is Your Pet Suffering?

One of the most painful and grieving things is to see one’s pet suffer.  It is important as good pet owners to notice when our pet is suffering or in pain.  Below is an article with various tips about keeping a better eye on our pets and their physical well being.

If you are interested in pet grief counseling, please click here

Program In Christian Counseling: Spiritual Flowers From Heaven

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counselors Must Understand the Interior Graces of the Soul and How to Discern Them

In previous blogs within our program in Christian Counseling,  we have discussed Mystical Union as described by St. Teresa of Avila.  Mystical Union is the pinnacle of temporal achievement on this earth.  I say achievement only in the sense of what one should strive for in this temporal realm because ultimately Mystical Union is a gift and cannot be earned.  Prior to Mystical Union exists a variety of spiritual graces and gifts that are given to the soul as it progresses towards this union with God.  Unfortunately, many of these gifts at times are hard to discern because of our own fallen nature.  Hence, the interior life of the soul and its many engagements with God can be a confusing to someone without guidance.    and those enrolled in a program in Christian Counseling need to be aware of the interior life of the soul and the many flowers that our Lord can send to the faithful from heaven.

What are Locutions

Locutions are visions from heaven.  Christian Counselors may experience themselves or counsel others who have received them.  The early stages of discernment can be very difficult because the evil one can appear as an angel of light.  Hence great care and prayer must be undertaken when analyzing such visions.  Furthermore, some people are subject to states of dementia and may need psychological help.  St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross all give detailed accounts on these types of visions.  Another excellent source is Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange’s classic, “The Three Ages of the Interior Life“.

Assuming the locutions are from God, we will continue in the types of locutions which God can graciously give his children.  The first type is a corporal vision in which our senses indeed partake in the vision.  These are found throughout Scripture and in the life of the saints.  Sometimes, one only hears the supernatural words transferred by the angels.  St. Luke records this in his Gospel when the angel spoke to Zachary.
Different from corporal visions are imaginary visions and words.  These graces from God are felt by the spiritual faculties of our soul alone.  They can happen when one is awake or asleep or in meditation.  While physically unheard, they remain perfectly distinct and stem not from our own will or imagination but from an external source.  They are also engraved upon the soul and can be recollected through meditation and prayer.  If someone is experiencing Imaginary words, it is good for Christian Counselors to judge the fruits of the words and how the words effect the peace of the soul.  If from God, only good fruits and peace will follow, while if from Satan, only evil fruits and distress.

A third type of locution or blessing from God is Intellectual words.  These words are communicated in the interior of the soul.   Many of these ideas are infused upon the soul and become graven into it.  According to St. John of the Cross, there are three types of intellectual words.  The first is Successive intellectual words.  These words come during recollection and are from the Holy Spirit.  Unfortunately, the person can at times deviate from the divine source and begin to subconsciously insert his own ideas or become manipulated by the devil.  St. John of the Cross assures us if successive words come from God then they will only produce in the soul good fruits such as charity and humility.  However, due to the confusing nature, he recommends that people do not pray for them.  The second type of intellectual word is Formal intellectual words.  They are referred to as formal because the soul knows they stem not from its own faculties but from another external source.  These experiences are so fast and quick they are free from illusion since understanding cannot determine where they came from.  However, while the initial spark illuminates the soul, the devil can distort the true meaning within the imagination of the person.  For these reasons, St. John of the Cross recommends that we only take what is sure and the rest hold within until outside counsel guides us.

The most secure form of intellectual words are Substantial intellectual words.  These words change the soul.  St. John of the Cross uses various examples of a soul becoming good at the command of the Lord, or being filled with love in another command.  In the Old Testament, he uses Abraham as an example when the Lord told Abraham to walk before him and be perfect.

God Can Also Shower Us With Divine Touch

A divine touch is a favor that usually accompanies divine contemplation.  It sparks in the soul a deep spiritual arousal of love and charity for God or neighbor.  Some can be so deep that they can imprint themselves upon the soul.   St. John of the Cross cautions one not to seek these sweet favors but to be passively accept them in humility for them.  If one seeks them, then they can fall victim to the traps of the evil one.  Essentially these divine sparks from God are unique to each person and meant for a person’s personal sanctification.
These favors from God however should not be confused with true Mystical Union.  Mystical Union is a state of prolonged contemplation and union while these spiritual favors from heaven are mere instances of God’s grace and love towards us.  Ultimately and most importantly one must understand that these are favors that God grants according to his will and not our own.  They cannot be earned or mystically attained via meditation.  Meditation merely prepares the soul for the possibility of such spiritual encounters that are solely willed by the Father.
If you are interested in learning more about Christian theology or Christian counseling, please review the program in Christian Counseling.  After completion of the program in Christian Counseling, one can apply for certification.

Mark Moran, MA

Doctors need to Help! Substance Abuse Counseling

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Doctors Need to Treat Substance Abuse Better

Substance abuse continues to plague our society and where it can be met on a regular basis is at the doctor’s office.  Unfortunately, many doctors are not well equipped to deal with the issues of substance abuse.  Maybe they should look into receiving an certification in substance abuse counseling?

Sandra Boorman of the “Washington Post” writes in her article, “Few Doctors Know How To Treat Addiction” that certain changes could be on the horizon to better train doctors.

“They are seen every day in doctors’ offices, outpatient clinics and hospital emergency rooms: men in their 50s with bleeding ulcers; young adults pulled from car crashes; middle-aged women fighting a losing battle against chronic pain.”

To read the full article, please click here

With better trained doctors in this area, perhaps the war against substance abuse can be met early.   By working together doctors and counselors can help turn the tide in the war against substance abuse.   Also they will be not only saving lives but helping put families back together as well.

If you are interested in Substance Abuse Counseling, please review our program and click here.
AIHCP

Training Tips for Health Care Life Coaches

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Life Coach Training Tips: Trey Hardee’s Tips for Working Out Efficiently

Trey Hardee, a world champion decathlete is constantly working out and knows what needs to be done.  In an article by Ryan Krogh from “Outside” magazine (July 2012), Krogh lists some important tips from Hardee regarding working out.  Life coaches should also include these training tips.
Hardee encourages these few tips.
1.  Work on both speed and endurance
2. No matter what sport you do, weight training is important
3. Warming up is not just simply stretching but actually warming up the body and preparing it for a workout
4. Water is essential during training.  Drink till your heart is content.
5. Always properly cool down after a work out
6. Theres no such thing as an off day.  On non training days, do things to keep the metabolism up
7. Eating includes high vitamin quality in the morning, high carbs for lunch and protein in the evening to repair muscles.
8. Mentally always set goals.  Long term goals and short term goals.
9. Realize you can never be at your peak perfomance all year long.
For more detail, review the article in the July 2012 edition of “OutSide”.
If you are interested in Health Care Life Coaching, please review the program.

Troy Starks