Author: Dominick Flarey

Loss of a Pet: Elderly and Pets

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Elderly and Pets

In many cases, the loss of a pet can be an extraordinary pain for an elderly person.  This is especially for elderly who have lost many family members and their spouse.  In many cases, the pet was probably the last attachment they had in the world.
The loss of a pet in these cases needs to be treated more seriously.  Counselors need to pay special attention to the elderly.  Without something or someone to care for, the elderly can fall into depression or lose the will to live.
If the elderly person is healthy enough, a new pet or a hobby should be sought after.  Constant care and diligence is needed by counselors in the care of the elderly in these cases, unfortunately, time and manpower sometimes is not enough for these unfortunate lonely souls.
Pet loss can be in some cases the final blow to their well being but with someone who understands pet loss and has the ability to help heal the wounds, then perhaps the person can find some identity in this loss and rebound from it.
If you are interested in Pet Loss Grief, please review the program
Mark Moran, MA, GC-C, SCC-C

Problems of Addiction

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Substance Abuse and Addiction

The struggle with addiction is an uphill battle. Asking for help is not always easy because getting the help you need is often overwhelming. A substance abuse counselor will talk with you, so you won’t feel like you’re all alone. They will ask questions and find out what causes your addiction. The problems of addiction are the withdraws, the dependence and the strain it puts on your life. Locating the root cause of your addiction is necessary for long-term recovery. Treatment facilities are also available, and the staff is on call to help you every step of the way. Once you are abstinent from the substance, they will teach you how to stay sober. The substance abuse counselor will explain what behavior you should avoid. You may need to undergo radical changes in past behaviors and/or associations with friends. The recovery will take some effort on your part, but you will be happy you stuck with the program. There are other substance abuse patients who can relate what you are going through, and they can provide moral support.

If you know anyone reaching out for support with their addictions then you should find a way to get them the help they need.  Many communities and churches have support groups like AA and other guided groups to show people that they do not need to have their lives ruined by substance abuse.    For more information on becoming a substance abuse counselor please check out our site.
Bruce Gideon

The Term Substance Abuse

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

What Does Substance Abuse Include?

The term “substance abuse” covers a very wide range of disorders. The most prominent examples are related to the abuse of illegal drugs, or the misuse of legal substances such as glue or aerosol gases. However, actions such as the use of steroids by those engaged in sports also comes under this broad heading, as does the use of an otherwise legally and socially accepted substance in a way that can cause harm to the user or society, for example, drunk driving. Since a large proportion of abused substances are addictive, it is important to understand the options available to try to resolve the problem. The suitable treatment regime will differ from person to person, and should be drawn up by, or at least with the help of, an expert in the field. In some cases, a “talking treatment” such as cognitive behavioral therapy may be recommended; in others, the emphasis might be on the use of medication.    the term substance abuse
James Gordon

How A Certified Christian Counselor Can Help People Find Peace

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The Peace of God

The evil one utilizes confusion, chaos, anxiety, and uneasiness to torment the soul.  The negative energy of a situation, occasion or person can cause massive distress to the soul.  The soul as it attempts to flee is bombarded with these feelings to prevent spiritual growth and reflection.  These distractions from spiritual union with God lead the soul into a valley of tears where it focuses on meaningless things.  The soothing words of Christ are a distant echo as the soul struggles with needless things.  The focus of the soul is lost and in these cases counseling is needed sometimes to help the soul find its interior peace.
The words of Christ to Martha come to mind.  Martha was so concerned with trivial things during our Lord’s visit that she even became angry with her sister who dedicated the visit of the Lord to him only.  Christ reprimanded Martha for her frustration with her sister and told her that her sister had chosen the more important route.  How many times are we distracted by such menial things when our Lord is right before us?  How many times do we allow trivial things to upset our interior peace and allow Satan to cause distress and frustration in our daily life?
As Christians, we must retain our focus on Christ.  A Christocentric lifestyle is essential to interior peace.  This lifestyle reminds one of the insignificance of other things to the spiritual realm and how only a Christocentric lifestyle can give true peace.  While we exist in the world and commit to the daily duty and crosses that come their way, we must see their spiritual value as well.   We are as like a ship at sea amidst the turbulent sea but yet still aware of upcoming remain shoreline.  Our life on earth is full of important things but when needless things disrupt or take away from the peace of Christ, we need to regroup, refocus and find an oasis of peace in the eye of the hurricane.
The devil will attempt to disrupt this peace at all costs.  Peace is the spiritual water where virtues find their nourishment.  When peace is disrupted, virtues cannot grow and chaos and confusion sweep in harming the spiritual garden and uprooting the virtues that grow there.  It is amazing how subtle and inventive the enemy is.  How many times has our spiritual peace been disrupted by a traffic jam, long light, or inconsiderate driver?  What of individuals?  While Christian charity is always important, Christ does not expect us to deal or accompany individuals who corrupt our peace despite all our efforts to rescue them.  What of our daily duties?  Do we allow our crosses which are gifts to perfect us to become curses that corrupt us?    So many times, impatience leads one to anger and one’s peace is disrupted and frustrated.
For those who have found inner levels of peace and abide in the deeper mansions of the soul (St. Theresa of Avila), peace can still be stolen by the enemy.  How many are tormented with the littlest deviation from the will of Christ to the point it becomes an obsession to never fall or sin.  Instead of professing hope and faith in Christ, some religious become scrupulous and obsessive about every small action they commit and in this way the evil one steals the very peace our Lord is giving them.
With these things in mind, a Certified Christian counselor can see the dangers that chaos and confusion has in the inner life of their spiritual children.  One should identify the chaos and confusion that exists within the problem and find remedy for that chaos.  Spiritual prayer and meditation that brings peace should be utilized in sessions to help calm the inner anxieties of the soul.

So many times we lose our focus and take our eye off the ball.  When we see ourselves losing track of the finish line, we should ask ourselves does this particular incident affect our overall goal of salvation?  Are we merely children playing with our rattles, unaware of the splendor and joys outside our play pen or crib?  I suggest we put down our “spiritual rattles” and not be consumed with such infantile concerns and maintain our focus on Christ as did Mary, the sister of Martha.
May the peace of our Lord be with you this day.
If you are interested in the Christian Counseling Program, please click here.
If you are interested to learn how to become a Certified Christian Counselor, then please review the program.  For those who wish to learn how to become a Christian Counselor, one will find the information needed.
Mark Moran, MA, GC-C, SCC-C

Holistic Health Care: Top 50 Healthiest Foods

Posted on by Dominick Flarey
A basket of blueberries
Blueberries are the summer super food!

Holistic health care suggests trying these 50 super foods for a healthy diet.   With 50 items to choose from it is easy to design a wide range of meals that are healthy and taste great too.   For the full list please read below:
From Huffington Post

Top 50 Super Foods From Holistic Health Care

The article, “Healthy Food: 50 Of The Best In The World”, by Laura Schocker

Each month at HuffPost Healthy Living, we compile lists of the most in-season, fresh superfoods — this June, for instance, we celebrated figs, zucchini and apricots, among others. But these monthly articles got us thinking — what are some of the healthiest foods generally, despite the season?””

For the full list please go here.

With everything from tuna and salmon to plenty of vegetables you can see how you can eat healthy and keep up with your holistic health care diet.

A bunch of foods that are healthy for you
How many of these do you work into your daily diet?

If you are interested in learning more about holistic nursing then you should go to our website for more information.

Counseling for Perfect Contrition of One’s Sins and How to Become Certified in Christian Counseling

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

When Contrition Becomes Perfect

The state of contrition in which the soul no longer fears punishment but is genuinely hurt by the simple fact sin offends God is called perfect.  This form of perfect contrition does not come naturally but only through a relationship with Christ.  This relationship seeks out Christ for his own sake.   In seeking out Christ, a dualistic relationship forms between the soul and Christ.  First a relationship that acknowledges Christ as its king.  Christ is seen as part of the Trinity, and as that, the Creator of the universe.  In this regard, the soul trembles in holy fear of offending so awesome a Being and King.  While initially this contrition is of fear, it can also be of a loving fear that one would offend one’s holy Majesty via sin.
Yet beyond the grand image of God as the uncaused cause or as an omnipotent and omniscient being that we should tremble before, Christ allows a second relationship to develop that involves a real personal relationship.  It reveals the fatherhood of the 1st Person and the brotherhood the human nature of Christ bestows upon us.  In this personal relationship, God interacts with us as a being that can be hurt.  Before, the Incarnation, God could only be “offended” via the injustice of sin, but through the incarnation, God can now suffer and be affected by our actions.  In this, our love becomes deeper and more personal and the contrition likewise becomes more personal.  Through our sins, we are now hurting God who has put on flesh to save us.  God feels rejection and abandonment through the Incarnation and opens his loving and sacred heart to us.  As in all loving relationships, the gift of love involves risk because it opens oneself to hurt and betrayal.  When we sin, we hurt and betray our Lord.  Through our sins, we scourge him.  Through our sins, the weight of the cross becomes unbearable and finally through our sins, we nail him to the cross.
When one experiences sorrow and pain after sinning because they realize they are crucifying Jesus, then they experience perfect contrition.  In this contrition, the person furthermore hopes to never sin again and also finds a deep pain when they see others offend God.
As union becomes more intimate with the Divine, these secrets are more perfectly revealed and as the soul exits the embrace of its beloved, the soul mourns the sins of the world as if pierced itself.  The love can become so burning that the soul wishes to suffer anything it can in union with Christ for reparation.
This intensive union brings the soul to states of happiness but also intense sadness. This union comes with its scars especially in a fallen world.  Unable to be completely absorbed via the beatific vision, the soul can still experience separation from the beloved and also feel the pain the smallest sin can cause God.  In this way, those who experience perfect contrition and form a higher union with God become pilgrims in a vast wasteland.  However, they find great joy in this journey because they realize they can help bring others to love God and offer up their own trials as well.
As counselors, we can always encourage perfect contrition via pious writings about the passion of our lord or reflections on sacred images that depict Christ’s death.  One should also encourage those who are struggling with temptation to imagine the face of Christ being slapped every time they enter into a sinful action.  Some fear temptation so much, that they would wish Christ to completely remove the occasion or temptation but it is through one’s victories over temptation that one gives Christ the greatest joy and satisfaction.  When one falls, they must get up again and offer tears and sorrow to their best friend and God.  Religious counselors need to emphasize this type of sorrow to their spiritual children who have offended God.

In conclusion, What is true love for God?  Imagine if you had a friend who was about to do something for you that would cost him everything.  His love for you is so great he will risk it all, but as a friend, you block his path and forbid him to carry on in this endeavor.  So should be the love one has for Christ when reflecting on his suffering.  While always grateful of the redemption and knowing we need it to be saved and share heaven with our beloved, can we honestly say to Christ, as he sweats blood in the garden, to “walk away” because we cannot bear the thought of one we love to die such a way—even though it will cost us everything?  If we could say that, then we truly understand love.
If you are interested in Christian Counseling Courses, please click here.
If you are also interested in how to become certified in Christian Counseling, then please review the program.
The process to on how to become certified in Christian Counseling is a simple process that involves completing the core courses.  After completion of those courses, those seeking to learn how to become certified in Christian counseling can become eligible.

Mark Moran, MA, GC-C, SCC-C

Certified Biblical Counselors Need to Emphasize the Forgivenss and Mercy of God

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

God’s Forgiveness Is Infinite And Counseling Should Emphasize That

“Lord forgive them for they know not what they do” echo in history as the most merciful prayer a man can give to his persecutors.  Of course, Christ was not only man, but also God.   From these words, we can conclude the mercy of Christ is beyond the depths of the sea and more infinite than the stars of the night sky.
The whole of the Trinity and within in each distinct person exists a perfect love that emits forgiveness for any who seek it.  The history of God’s forgiveness is traced through the Torah as God forgives Adam to the last days of Israel.  His forgiveness only needed to be sought to be found.
In the New Testament, the 2nd Person becomes flesh not only to love us more intimately but to redeem us from sin.  Not only does God forgive us for our sins but sacrifices himself on the cross via Christ.  This is beyond forgiving but actually suffering the offense that one forgives.
Hence it is a great insult to our Lord when one falls into the depths of despair and hides from God’s love.  Yes the shame and guilt of hurting someone we love should sadden our heart.  It should also make us feel extremely guilty that our sins have slapped Christ in the face.  Yet despair, especially that of Judas, insults the great mercy Christ has for his children.  Instead, no matter our offense, we should seek contrition and forgiveness as Peter did, weeping bitterly yet understanding the infinite depth of mercy Christ has for us.  In time, we too will be able to offer up reparation for the one we love so greatly, Jesus.
When dealing with those in despair it is important to note that these poor souls are truly saddened by their sin but their sadness prevents them from seeing the love of God.  Whether it is pride to seek forgiveness, lack of self-worth, or lack of hope in God, one must realize that the whispers of Satan are preventing them from finding reconciliation with God.  Religious counselors  should work through this psychological barrier and open the hearts of those in despair to Christ’s mercy.
In place of the deceiver’s whispers, Certified Biblical Counselors and Christian counselors should remind people of God’s great love in the story of the Prodigal Son or the mercy Christ offers in Reconciliation to those who seek his mercy and love.  The reality of God’s love is so simply yet terrifying.   As creatures, God invites us into his heavenly palace.  There we should tremble before the Creator of the Universe, yet in the same breathe, our Heavenly Creator greets us as a loving father who allows us to run and play in his Imperial Palace without fear of rebuke.  How wonderful to know that such a powerful being is also so merciful and giving!

One prayer that is extremely beneficial for those who seek mercy is the Chaplet of Mercy.  In a vision, Christ recommended that during the hour of his passion, 3 PM, that this prayer be recited by the faithful.  Christ proclaimed in this vision that he is a God of great compassion and mercy and he is most willing to bestow his mercy upon any who comes before him.   As a God that is all powerful, he is also all forgiving and as his power is unlimited, so is his forgiveness.
In the Chaplet of Mercy, this beautiful prayer is recited:
“Our Eternal Father, we offer the body and blood, soul and divinity, of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and the sins of the world”.
Following this is a repetitive prayer that is recited over fifty times.  This prayer simply recycles the phrase, “For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world”.
During the vision, Christ warned that during this period of time his mercy is free flowing for all, but one day he will return as a God of judgment.  He implored that we all take advantage of his great love for us.
In conclusion, I would like to share a story that I feel should overwhelm one in understanding the mercy, love and forgiveness Christ has for one.  The legend says that St Peter upon escaping the prison of Rome was fleeing the city to its outskirts when he came upon a vision of his Master, Jesus.  Christ told Peter that he needed to return to Rome and face his martyrdom.  If he did not, Christ said he himself would again be crucified for his people.  As the story concludes, Peter immediately returned to Rome and was crucified upside down since he felt unworthy to be crucified as his Master was.  Whether this apparition was legend or fact, it does portray the truth that Christ’s love is so great and his forgiveness so infinite that he would do anything for us.  In this regard, one should find greater shame in despair than in the sin that we committed.  Through this love and mercy, we in turn should seek to avoid sin at all costs.
If you are interested in the Christian Counseling program, please click here.
Mark Moran, MA, GC-C, SCC-C

Health Coach Advice: Workout Recovery

Posted on by Dominick Flarey
A young man obviously tired from working out
Exercising is great but you need to let your body recover too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health Coach Help for a Quick Workout Recovery

The article, “Ask the Health Coach: How Can I Recover After a Hard Workout?”, by Maura Manzo states

“Dear Maura,
For a high-level athlete, how much rest is best after high-impact competition?
~ Kristie (via Twitter)”

For the full answer please go here.

A health coach can be your best friend when you start seriously working out.   Remember you do not have to do it all alone.   There are health care coaches that will do their best to answer your questions and make sure you get the most out of your diet and exercise.

If you feel you would make a great health coach then maybe you would be interested in a health care coach certification?

How Meditation Helps Bring Awareness to Our Lives

Posted on by Dominick Flarey
An old gray tower on a hill
Our mind is like a castle. Meditation helps lower the drawbridge.

How Meditation Can Enlighten Our Lives

The article, “Meditation Tips: Playing Your Part in the Drama of Life”, by Sister Jenna

“Have you ever wondered what this life is all about? What are we really doing with our lives? What are we supposed to be doing? What is our role?”

For the full article please go here.

Still wondering how meditation can help you?  Then maybe you should look into meditation training.   By learning advanced techniques, you will be able to go deeper into your mind and become aware of your life and what truly matters most.

If you are interested in learning more about meditation or take online meditation courses then you might want to check out our website.

Stress Management Consulting: Reasons Why You Can’t Sleep

Posted on by Dominick Flarey
A woman laying in bed unable to sleep
What has you up all night?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What does stress management consulting and restless nights have in common?   Surprisingly they have a lot in common.   Many of your sleepless nights can be directly blamed on stress in your life.    Your daily stress carries on into your bedroom.      What stress causes the insomnia?   Read below to find out.

The article, “How Stress Management Consulting Can Help You Sleep”, by  Sarah Klein states

“With increasingly-troublesome side effects of skimping on sleep coming to light more and more often, it seems we’re starting to catch on to how important solid, regular rest is for our health.”

For the full article please go here.

Now that we identified the stressor we can use stress management consulting to deal with them.  When stress starts effecting our sleep isn’t it time to learn effective ways to deal with stress?   I think many red eyed individuals would agree.

If you want to take online stress management courses to learn some techniques to combat stress then you should visit our webpage.