Christian Spiritual Counseling

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Program for Christian Counselors: Christ, The Paradigm for All Christian Counselors

Posted on by Dominick Flarey
This video covers AIHCPs program for christian counselors
This video covers AIHCPs program for christian counselors

 

American Institute Health Care Professionals’ insight:

This video who a Christian counselor should emulate.  It looks at three areas of mentorship, truth and charity.

#christiancounselors

To learn more about education in christian counseling, then review the program.  The program for Christian Counselors consists of core courses that cover pastoral, theological, moral, and meditation techniques.  The program for Christian Counselors is an excellent way for ministers to become certified in this type of counseling.

Is Christian Persecution just a ‘myth’?

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Today’s persecution is a clear indicator of yesterday’s persecution

American Institute Health Care Professionals‘ insight:

A good counter to the bogus claim the Christian persecutions were myths.  Also a good look at Islamic persecution of the Church.

Today’s persecution of Christians continue in Iran, Egypt,  Syria, North Korea and many parts of Africa.  The Church is full of martyrs.

#christiancounselingcourses

To learn more about Christian Counseling certification. then please review our program.  The courses in Christian Counseling offered at AIHCP lead one to certification.  By taking the core courses in Christian Counseling, one becomes eligible to become certified.

In the meantime, please enjoy the blog, and if you have any questions, please let us know

Program in Christian Counseling: Pentecost: Common Belief of Protestant and Catholic?

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counselors and Pentecost

This week we celebrated Pentecost Sunday.  What does it mean to Christian Counselors?

For Christian Counselors, one of the most important gifts of the spirit is counsel.  The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, mentioned in Scripture, are individual charisms or gifts given to a baptized individual.  These gifts manifest most notably when the person is born again, or in Catholic terminology, confirmed.

The apostles were the first to receive this gift on Pentecost Sunday.  They awaited the coming of the spirit as Christ had promised them.  Upon reception, they became soldiers of Christ and truly began to carry on the work of Christ in the infant Church.

Protestant Theology

In Protestant theology, the gifts of the spirit are especially emphasized in worship.   Each person possesses a special gift to contribute to the life of the church.  While some branches take this to extremes in cases of tongues and snake handling, most main stream Protestant churches view these gifts in a less charismatic fashion.  In Protestant theology, the reception of the spirit is not confined to a ceremony but is upon belief in Christ as Savior and continues to manifest throughout the person’s life.

Catholic Theology

Pentecost is the birthday of the Church and the institution of the sacrament of Confirmation.  The sacrament is the vehicle for receiving this grace formally.  Through the sacramental grace of the Holy Spirit, the soul becomes a soldier for Christ.  Catholicism also believes that the spirit manifests throughout the life of the Christian.  One minor note is that Catholicism believes that Mary was present during Pentacost, while Protestants differ due to no biblical reference to her presence.  Catholics tend to focus on the tradition of the apostles and early church fathers who state she was there.  This is a minute point and should not be a point of argumentation.

Despite slight differences, both theologies share common features regarding the inner working of the spirit with the soul.  While Protestantism does not have a sacramental formula, it does believe in the coming of the Spirit which in essence is the same ideal found in Catholicism.

 

Let us pray that through the Holy Spirit, all Christians will continue to manifest their gifts as the apostles did on Pentecost.

 

If you are interested in Christian Counseling, then please review the program.  Our program in Christian Counseling is a comprehensive program with multiple courses required for certification.  If you have any interest in learning more about our program in Christian Counseling, then please let us know.

 

Mark Moran, MA

Christian Counselors Can Help With Deconstructing Depression’s Taboos

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The article, “Deconstructing Depression’s Taboos”, by Tim Laitinen states

“We need to bring the dialog about depression and suicide out into the open, instead of staying in the shadows of misinformation.”

American Institute Health Care Professionals‘s insight:

A good article on Christian views on depression and suicide.  Christian counselors can help people through suicide with good pastoral care and training.

The light of Christ has power to penetrate the roots of depression.  While we are not denying the need for licensed clinical aid as well, one still needs a focal point to find joy and meaning.  Christ can be that joy.  Christians counselors can help people find Christ in their heart.

If you are interested in learning more about the program in Christian Counseling, then please review the program.

#christiancounselingcertification

See on www.crosswalk.com

Christ’s Ascension: What does it mean for us?

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling Certification: The Ascension of Christ and How Christians Perceive it

For the longest time, Christians believed Christ would return soon.  After his departure, the perscutions of Rome waged on without mercy.  Christ did not come.  Then the fall of Rome and the barbarian invasions which led to the dark ages in the West befell Christendom, still Christ did not come.   Famous dates have come and gone, still Christ has not returned.  What does the Ascension mean to us as we await his return?  How should Christian Counseling address it when someone is always talking about the future instead of focusing on the present?

Does it mean we are to continually await doomsday prophesies of supposed “prophets” like in the recent year?  How many actually feared the date 2012 or felt our Lord would return?  Christ was quite clear that only the Father knows the day and hour.

When Christ gloriously ascended into heaven, body and soul, he left the pilgrim Church with leadership and on Pentacost, the Holy Spirit.  The last two-thousand years have not been about Christ rescuing us from the world but teaching us patience to exist in it.

The patriarchs of old waited eras for the Messiah to come, so shall many of us await his return.  Whether it is tomorrow or another thousand years, we as Christians know he will return, but in the meantime, we must live our faith and care for the issues that plague us today instead of window watching in a hope of his return that we may not see in this life time.

Ultimately let us take consolation in the Ascension, for Christ has given us a chance to mend his garden and expects us to show great returns–for the day the master returns to it, he will expect great things.  Will we have great things to show him?

If yoyu are interested in Christian Counseling Certification, then please review the program.  By taking the required courses, you can become eligible for the Christian Counseling Certification.

The Endangered Arab Christian by Fiorello Provera – Project Syndicate

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The article, “The Endangered Arab Christian”, by Fiorello Provera states

In the wake of the Arab Spring, Christian communities across the Arab world have been facing a surge in discrimination and violence, driven primarily by Islamist militancy and the rise of political Islam.

American Institute Health Care Professionals‘ insight:

The persecution of the Christian Church continues, especially in the Middle East…in Egypt, Syria, North Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia and other so-called tolerant Islamic countries.  Arab Christians need our prayers.  We must remember that the age of the martyrs is just beginning.  A new era of persecution of our Christian brethren has begun.

#christiancounselingcertification

To learn more about our certifications at AIHCP, click here

Our Christian Counseling Education Program requires completion of basic core courses.  After completion of those courses, one is eligible for certification within the Christian Counseling Education Program

Thank you for your interest in the Christian Counseling Education Program and please let us know if you have any questions.

See on www.project-syndicate.org

Like Lydia, Do We Share Our Home with Christ?

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling: Story of Lydia

As the Resurrection season continues, the Church reads from Acts of the Apostles.  One interesting story of relation to us is the story of Lydia.   Christian Counselors should utilize her as an example of Christian action.

Lydia upon hearing the words of Paul was moved by the Holy Spirit.  She invited Paul and his companions into her home and worshipped with them.  The faith of God in Lydia was manifested by her works of charity and her action.

As within the early Church, today, we must take action.  We must, like Lydia, give ourselves to Christ and aid those in ministry.  We must share our talents, time and possessions for the overall Church.   The Church, in micro, exists in the home and then spreads into its larger form from church to church with Christ as the head of all.  Still, the smallest actions sometimes have the greatest value.  This is what we learn from Lydia.

We can also learn that we need to give our home completely to Christ.  Spiritually invite him into your home.  Many consecrate their home to him or portray his image throughout the home.  What Christian home is it, without images of our Lord?  We enter into so many homes and see designs and fine furniture, but no image of our Lord.   If you want peace in your home, you must invite the Lord into it.  Images, pictures and statues are excellent way for our physical senses to share in the same union with Christ that our spiritual senses already share.

If you are interested in learning more about Christian Counseling, then please click Christian Counseling Education Program.

 

Mark Moran, MA

Keeping Our Conscience Sharp

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling and a Certain and Right Conscience

Christian Counselors need to constantly remind people of sharpening their conscience.  Our consciences can become weak overtime when we are overexposed to secular life and immoral conversation, pictures and friends.

With this in mind, it is extremely important to watch our company and to constantly train ourselves to feel the slightly prick from the slightest sin.  By examination of conscience each night, we can review our daily activity and acknowledge if our actions conformed with Christ.  We should not fall into the despair of scruples, but maintain a healthy reaction to each failure.  In our failures is our human nature and Christ does not wish to haunt us with them but merely to acknowledge them and have a firm purpose of amendment.

It is truly amazing when one begins to realize the “pleasures” of past that are truly seen in their true light.  The will pursues these illusionary goods, as Eve pursued the forbidden fruit.  With a sharper conscience, we are more attuned with the Holy Spirit and his grace.  We are able to detect the dirt of sin and the littlest stain on our soul upsets us.  This is the type of certain and rightly formed conscience we need.

If you are interested in learning more about Christian Counseling Courses, then please click here.

Mark Moran, MA

Nigeria: The Deadliest Place to Be a Christian

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The article, “Nigeria: The Deadliest Place to Be a Christian”, William Stark states

“With countries like North Korea, Pakistan and Somalia topping the list as some of the world’s worst persecutors of Christians, it’s hard to imagine that none of these countries hold the highest Christian death toll.”

American Institute Health Care Professionals‘s insight:

Modern day martyrs defending their faith at the hands of anti-Christ.  This is a sad event of intolerance towards Christians and is very common in Islamic countries, or those countries they seek to overrun.

Nigeria is no different.  Split in two by Islam and Christianity, the Islamic element seeks to destroy the Christian counterpart.

Much prayer needs to be said in these hard times.  The Christians of Nigeria suffer greatly at the hands of persecution and raids by Islamic militants.

If you are interested in taking courses in Christian Counseling, then please review the program.  By taking courses in Christian Counseling, one can become eligible for certification.

#christiancounselingprogram

 

 

See on www.religiontoday.com

Want to Become a Christian Counselor: Where is Our Vocation?

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling: Daily Life is Where We Will Find Our Vocation

So much time is spent in Christian Counseling hoping to discern a vocation.  Should I marry or enter the religious life?  With such uncertainty, counseling can offer ways to find discernment.  The Ignatian model of discernment is an excellent way to discern spirits and vocations, but today, I do not want to focus on aides of discernment.  Instead I would rather emphasize what we already know–that we are called to know, love, serve God and our to love our neighbor as yourself.  No vocation will ever flourish unless we already lead a Christian life.

How much energy is lost over worry?  Uncertainty and chaos are forces of the enemy that seeks to uproot peace and take our mind off our daily duty.  Daily duty is the key of vocation.  What we do on a daily basis is vocation of the present.  God can see our final end.  We are clearly a work in process, but our final spiritual product is not our “vocation”.  Vocation is not a goal at a top of a mountain but is a continual evolving thing with various phases.  So while many seek their vocation they should already have it in their daily life.  As they live their vocation, it will develop and grow through the grace of the Holy Spirit.

So is our vocation complete when one becomes a priest, minister or religious, or if one marries their spouse?  We may see it as final accumulation, but the reality is it has already started and will continue to progress.  That moment is of no greater value in our vocation than today, as we go to work, school, or perform various acts of charity.

What we need to see is that our vocational call is not at a particular moment, but a life process.   Prayer to fulfill one’s daily vocation and unlock what God wants us to do is the key.  St. Teresa the Little Flower emphasized this in her teachings.  She found her vocation in performing the most menial tasks because that is what the day brought.  In fulfilling daily tasks, she fulfilled her vocation.  The same way, our daily lives will unfold to what God wills.  As finite creatures, we cannot see the overall picture and this is why we must trust in the Holy Spirit to guide us each day in fulfilling our daily vocation.

If you are interested in learning more about Christian Counseling and certification, then please review our program.

For those who want to become a Christian Counselor, you can take the required courses to become certified in Christian Counseling.

Mark Moran, MA