Christian Spiritual Counseling

Other resources:

Christian Counseling Ceritfication Training: Christian Education and the Rights of Parents

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling Certification Training: Christian Education and Teaching Children

One of the most prominent rights of parents but least utilized is the right to educate.  Only recently with the emergence of Home Schooling in opposition to secularism in schools has the issue become not only a moral one but a legal one. Christian Education is an extremely important part of child development that starts in the home.

Christian Counselors and the church must always stand and defend the inherent and God given right that parents have as the primary educators of their children.  Through the grace of the Holy Spirit, parents have a super natural assistance to raise their children that no other person can claim for their child.  Furthermore as the parents, it is their obligation before God to raise them as good people.  Only the parents will stand before God and be judged for the raising of their children.
At the most primary level, the parent is responsible for teaching their child about God.  It is the duty of the parent that the child learns of Christ, his church and scripture.  It is the duty of the parent to ensure that the child is baptized and attends Mass or Church services.  It is the duty of the parent to raise that child according to the precepts of Christ no matter what anyone else may do or say.  This is the serious nature of parenting that many secular parents neglect.
Obviously, parents also have the moral right to educate their children beyond the mere theological.  The Church has triumphantly stood behind the Home Schooling Movement in defense of the right of the parents to educate their children.  While states have attempted to restrict this, one cannot deny the illicit nature of this.  When the state attempts to restrict a parent’s right to educate, it is over reaching its legal boundaries.  Recently, state laws have retreated as the Home Schooling Movement has become more organized and legally represented.  This is good news for parents who choose to exercise their right.  Unfortunately, some countries go well beyond their rights and indoctrinate children against their own parents.  This truly puts things into perspective when analyzing American issues with worldwide issues.
If the parents decide the primary education of their children should be transferred to a school, then it is their obligation to monitor the teaching at the school.  It would be immoral from parenting standards to turn a blind eye to one’s child’s education.  It is the duty of parents to review curriculum and to be central figures in the child’s education.  This not only ensures the child’s welfare but also speaks volumes to the various teachers that the parent is a part of the child’s life and will play a shared role in child’s education with them.
Christian Counselors should emphasize to parents that they need to recognize their moral responsibility before God to raise and teach their children.  Christian Counseling sessions should point out that teaching one’s child is an everyday affair, even if the primary teaching is done at a local school.
If you are interested in Christian Counseling Certification Training, please review the program.

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

Christian Counseling is at Odds with Moral Relativism

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling Versus Moral Relativism

Christian Counseling seeks the truth in all solutions.  A Christian Counselor never sends a person down the road of least resistance but down the road of truth.  The objective reality of a

binding truth in all moral decisions is the moral compass a counselor uses when directing people in a decision.  Christian Counselors, and especially Spiritual Directors, have a grave responsibility to help form good moral character.  When dealing with Moral Relativism , one is confronted with a secular and atheistic philosophy that challenges the very essence of truth.
Subjective Moral Relativism teaches that moral decisions have no true bearing and are either right or wrong dependent upon the view of the person.  This treacherous slope of immorality places man as the source of authority over his own actions and dismisses a universal and binding moral law founded by God.  Hence what is right one day may be wrong another and what is wrong today may be right tomorrow.  With this ideal, the only source of power is retained in various social constructs that have no true moral authority but only power of authority in the present moment.
As a Christian Counselor, one should employ various philosophical arguments from Socrates and his disciples regarding universals and other ideals of objective truth.  The use of natural theology may be well used here since many who are plagued with moral subjectivism are not Christian.  However, those who are Christian can be quickly shown the error of their ways.   One objection which can be utilized is the issue of slavery.  Within a relativist philosophy, the majority rules and there is no true right or wrong.  Hence how can one condemn slavery or even the Holocaust?
The ultimate question regarding those who practice the morality of Moral Relativism is if they choose it out of philosophical pride or merely laxity.  Do they seek to escape authority and convince their own souls they are innocent and just in their immoral decisions?  Christian Counseling can address these issues and attempt to discover the moral pathology that is causing a clearly erroneous philosophy.
If you are interested in Education for Christian Counseling Certification, please review the program.
By Mark Moran, MA, GC-C, SCC-C

Counseling for Good Decision Making

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Ignatian Ideals for the Counseling of Forming Decisions

St. Ignatius in his Spiritual Exercises focuses on many spiritual dilemmas and decisions.  In particular he emphasizes the importance in making good elections or decisions.  A critical

element in Christian counseling and spiritual counseling is helping others form good life decisions.  These decisions may range from vocational life decisions to everyday life decisions.  Regardless of the magnitude, St. Ignatius believes decisions should be made carefully and deliberately when they involve the life of the soul.
As a Christian Counselor it is important to help a spiritual child find peace and resolution in a decision but the process sometimes can be a heavy burden especially when the decision can have so many ramifications upon oneself or others.  In these difficult times, St. Ignatius laid out a guideline to help others form good decisions or elections about their life.
The primary theme in any decision according to Ignatius is that the end serves the ultimate purpose of salvation.  If the decision contradicts the laws of God or endangers one’s eternal salvation, then that decision must be aborted.  Christian Counselors should only lay out options that correlate with scripture and the moral law of God.  If the decision corresponds with this or at least is neutral in value, then one can begin to evaluate the various options.  Christian counselors should help one weigh the various options with all the benefits of one versus the other.  In some extreme cases, the person may have to experience the various alternatives to see what best fits for him or her.  One should be encouraged to pray to the Holy Spirit for wisdom in these times of uncertainty.
St. Ignatius also points out what conditions point towards a positive election.  The first instance is if God divinely intervenes.  He used the case of St. Paul to help illustrate this.  St. Paul’s conversion and life choice to serve Christ was a wise and correct choice because Christ himself intervened and pushed St. Paul towards the proper decision.  Another example for spiritual certitude is if the person has commited enough time to prayer.   In addition to this, the person should possess adequate knowledge and experience with the situation to form a decision.  Finally, when one is free from the noise of spirits or other internal confusion one can make a clear decision.   This spiritual tranquility is needed because one cannot form a good decision if his or her conscience is in doubt or is hampered by the noises of the evil one.
In finalizing one’s decision, St. Ignatius also offers this good advice.  One should be able to imagine the choice chosen being applied to another.  If the choice can be willed to another, then it potentially can be applied to oneself with at least a positive moral value.  One should also be able to feel no regret if this choice was made on one’s death bed and finally one should feel no regret if this choice was made before the final judgment of Christ.  If any of these choices cannot be seen as positive for these events, then they should be avoided.
With these ideals in mind, Christian Counseling emphasizes the importance of making good choices with clear conscience that corresponds with the teachings of Christ.  Some decisions however present issues that are beyond bad and good values but carry a neutral value.  In these cases, the soul must search deeper in prayer and meditation and seek the will of the Father in determining the outcome.  These solutions are not found easily but through time and spiritual soul searching.
If you are interested in Christian Counseling Courses, please review the program. Those who are interested in becoming a Christian Counselor, can review the program.

America’s Christian Symbol

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Symbol of America

While it is true our constitution does not endorse one religion over another, one cannot deny the imprint of Christianity upon the history of America and the importance of it in the life of Americans.  While immoral laws pass and the idea of God is attacked, the will and desires of the people is truly seen in this soon to be constructed 700 foot cross which is a true Christian symbol of our country.

It is good to know while the vile attacks of atheists attempt to mock Christian belief with ignorant roadside signs that hovering high above them is the symbol of truth via the soon to be constructed 700 foot Branson cross.

If you would like to learn how to become a certified Christian Biblical Counselor, then please review.

If you are interested in the truth of Christ and Christian Counseling, please review click here.

Agnosticism and Christian Counseling

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling and Agnosticism

Christian Counseling with an Agnostic can be a challenge because an Agnostic does not share the core faith as a Christian.  Agnosticism while not denying the existence of God, questions the existence and is skeptical of any truth and finds truth in a cafeteria of philosophies that suite him one day and un suit him the next day.

When dealing with an Agnostic, one must understand the primary issue affecting him.  This issue lies in the sole issue of faith.  The Agnostic does not possess the theological virtue of faith.  He is subdued with doubt and second guessing and is constantly in search of stable ground.  His intellect or reason refuses to release the will to jump forward into the unknown.
When dealing with a lack of faith, one must attempt to build a logical ground work for the intellect to find some sense in the article being analyzed; Once the philosophy is understood, the intellect then can decide if the ideals presented or within credibility or not.  Ultimately, reason can only take one so far. One must assent to the grace of the Holy Spirit to receive the faith necessary to believe.  Why?  The answer is simple.  The simple finite mind cannot comprehend the majesty of God and only through the release of reason can the certainty of faith sweep within the soul.  Man cannot save himself and must release himself to God.
This is the paradox of the Agnostic.  He does not possess faith but also is afraid to accept faith.   The impediments to this may result from pride in reason or a sincere fear of the unknown.  As a Christian Counselor, it is important to identify what is preventing the Agnostic from embracing faith.  In Christian Counseling, various discussions can lead one to discover whether the Agnostic suffers from pride or fear.
Ultimately everyone’s choice lies in free will and if the intellect and will refuse to accept a logical argument then one will not be open to conversion.  Of course there have been cases, especially in the case of St. Paul, where the Lord manifests himself beyond any reasonable doubt, but for most, our Lord proclaims, “Blessed are those who have not seen, yet still believe”.
If you are interested in Christian Counseling Courses, please review the program.  Christian Counseling courses consists of core ideals that better train the Christian Counselor in the areas of pastoral care, theology and moral counseling.

The Christian Family and the Role of the Man

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The role of the man in the Christian family

The Christian Family is constantly besought with a variety of ideals that transgress the natural order of marriage.  Modern secular society presents numerous views of what a family should be or look like all the while distorting the gender roles of husband and wife.  These distortions come from a variety of gender stereotypes and immoral ideals that corrupt the natural dignity of masculinity and femininity.  With these things in mind, it is important to note that the spiritual nature of humanity corresponds with its physical gender.  The nature of man is not composed of merely one element, but two.  This inseparable nature of soul and matter is only temporarily torn via death as a result of sin.  Through this, the spiritual energy of man saturates the matter with all of its gender-like qualities.  Hence a man is man and a woman is a woman at one’s most center core.  A man and woman’s role within the family is then not based on social constructs or biological needs but at a deeper level that defines masculinity and feminity.

Within Christianity, these roles are clearly defined in marriage.  In another article, we looked at the role of woman in marriage, in this article we will look at the role of man as husband.  Christian counselors should take care to direct men to become good husbands that correspond with Christian morality.  The first and foremost concept is the divine command of Christ for husbands to love their wives as Christ so loved his Church.  This is not a small matter but one that correlates with a love that can lead one even to death.  Such love does not seek to dominate or abuse, but to cherish and love.  The husband loves his wife as his own flesh, hence two become one.
Another characteristic of man in marriage is his role of authority.  It is true that women are to obey their husbands.  This is clearly mentioned in Paul and explained in my other article.  The authority of husband over wife, however, is not arbitrary.  It coincides with the divine precedents of law and ultimately love.  The love of a husband for his wife will never allow his authority to become abusive or illegitimate.  It is also important to note that this authority is an authority of order not necessarily an authority over every single aspect.  As one flesh, decisions are still joint but the voice of authority is proclaimed through the husband as a visible source.  The wife, while never unequal, is the whisper behind her husband’s proclamation to the rest of the family.
Another characteristic is the element of strength and defense.  While stereotypes do place emphasis on the husband as the breadwinner, one cannot deny that some of these ideals do correlate with the evolutionary need of man to defend.  It is man who is blessed with strength to hunt and defend his woman.  Obviously these ideals evolved naturally but as a father and husband, these views also correlate with the spiritual nature of the family.  The father is the spiritual head and should be the source of discipline and strength, while the wife becomes the source of security.
The Christian husband should respect his wife, protect his family and guide them in prayer.  He should emulate the meekness of St. Joseph and always seek to put his family before himself.  This is the nature of a father and husband.  Christian counseling sessions with couples should emphasize the need for men to show this strength but also to have the gentleness of St. Joseph. In essence, as the mother teaches her children how to be good women, a father becomes an example on how to be a Christian man.
Christian Counseling is an excellent source for married couples to discover their roles in marriage.  Ultimately, it lies in the emulation of the greatest Christian family, which is the Holy Family.
If you would like to become trained in Christian Counseling, then please review the program.

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

Counseling Those Through the Guilt of Abortion

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Counseling the Guilt of Abortion

The guilt a parent feels after abortion is immense.  In counseling, one needs to not only

address the spiritual guilt but also help the person emotionally overcome the physical and social trauma of the realization one’s child was killed through one’s own doing.  The article below reviews the guilt of one woman and how she fought through this guilt to ultimately find forgiveness in the Lord.

This article is from the 700 club and is written by Julie Blim.  It is entitled, “Mother Finds Forgiveness After Secret Abortion”

“Secrets make you sick, and this secret was killing me,” Christina Ryan Claypool admits. “I worked in ministry, a Christian TV ministry, and I didn’t want people to know. My mother didn’t know. My best friends didn’t. No one knew.”

To read the full article, please click here

Counseling those who have taken the life of their own child is a difficult thing and it involves compassion, understanding and wisdom.
If you are interested in the Christian Counseling Program, please click here.
If you would like to learn how to start taking Christian Counseling Courses, then please review.

Christian Counseling and the “Challenge” of Atheism

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling against Atheism

Christian Counseling with Atheists or those who reject the existence of God is a difficult task because one does not have a common ground to build upon.  Both philosophies stem from very different ideals.  Where the Theist finds existence to be a product of God, the Atheist finds it to be a happen chance of nature, while where the Theist finds objective morality in God, the Atheist finds subjective morality in himself.

In dealing with an Atheist, Christian Counselors must first identify an Atheist’s mindset.  First and foremost, Atheism is a materialistic and humanistic philosophy that puts man at the center of everything.  It is truly the manifestation of the serpent’s temptation to Adam and Eve that “you will be like gods”.  Second, an Atheist is under the illusion that Theists come from a medieval philosophy devoid of reason and science.   In the Atheistic mindset, they are the modern man, equipped with the logic and science.  This image must be shattered in open debate and counseling.

A Theist and Christian must utilize sound logical philosophy and present science not as an enemy of faith but as a partner in truth.  Unfortunately, one cannot use sacred theology to counsel or debate an Atheist because they do not believe in it. Hence the necessity of good natural theology that finds logic and truth in man’s natural reasoning is necessary.

From this, one can utilize ideas on the Natural Law and other objectively binding ideals.  One should also be encouraged to use the philosophy of Socrates and his students in portraying the ideals of goodness and universality.

In regards to God, the Thomistic proofs for the existence of God are excellent sources.  These

include such arguments as cause, motion, and gradation. Also the Ontological Argument of St. Anselm can be applied in these cases, as well as later arguments of Design.

The Christian Counselor in the modern era must not only be equipped in counseling strategies but also be an excellent defender of the faith.  Christian Counseling must be apologetic in nature if it hopes to be beneficial when it comes under philosophical attack.

If you are interested in the program, please review the Christian Counseling Courses.

If you would also to learn how to become a certified Christian Counselor, also review.

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

Spiritual Direction in the Examinination of the Conscience

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Ignatian Spiritual Direction in the Examination of Conscience

In Spiritual Direction and Christian Counseling a critical way to help one determine one’s

primary sins and failings is via examination of conscience.  This technique of self evaluation is an important Christian tool in preparing one, if Catholic, for Reconciliation, or for a variety of other spiritual exercises that aim towards Christian perfection.  This article is in relation to Ignatian Spirituality  and will focus on the methodologies of St. Ignatius Loyola in examining one’s conscience.
In the First Week of the Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius focuses on cleaning one’s soul from malice and sin.  His approach is methodical, intense and detailed.  It can be likened to that of a physical diet or physical fitness plan but for the purification of the soul.  In it, St. Ignatius points out the particular examination and the general examination.  We will briefly look at both.
The start of the particular examination coincides with the start of the day.  In corresponds with the morning offering as one offers his or her day to God.  The morning focus should pin point what particular vice one wants to work on and avoid.  Around Noon, one should document in a notebook his progress.  For the particular day, the top line represents the first half of the day and the second line represents the second half.  One should number the amount of times one has failed the first half.  In the evening, one would also document the number of failures during the second half of the day and compare if there has been progress.  During the day, St. Ignatius also encourages one when they do fail to gently touch there breast in contrite remorse and say the name of Jesus.  This procedure continues throughout the day and following weeks with documentation from hour to hour, day to day and finally week to week.  This intense documentation trains one to constantly focus on the removal of the vice, noting failures and successes.
When focusing on the overall day and not just the particular vice in question, St. Ignatius recommends three categories of contemplation.  First one should reflect on one’s thoughts.  Did one deflect sinful thoughts?  Was it a struggle to do so?  Second, one should reflect on words.  Were the words said against God or creature?  Were the words in private or public?  Finally, one should reflect on all deeds.  He simply points out that one should correlate all actions with the Ten Commandments and see if the deeds of the day contradict God’s law or not.
In general examination, one is not focusing on a particular vice or documenting one’s daily spiritual progress but reviewing the overall activity of the soul.  In this case, the penitent should first thank God for all blessings and ask God for the grace to identify vice and correct it. The penitent should then give an itemized account of one’s actions day to day and week from week if possible.  Of course all actions are placed before the criteria of the commandments.  The final two stops involve an act of contrition for pardon of past sins and a firm resolution to amend one’s life.
Christian Counselors can help spiritual children conduct these exercises of self examination.  As a  counselor one must look at the person with kindness and understanding void of judgment or condemnation.  The role in Christian Counseling is to find improvement in these exercises and bring forth spiritual health and remove spiritual vice.
Also if you would like to learn how to enroll in a Christian Counseling Certification Program, please review it.

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

Christian Family and the Special Role of the Woman

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Role of Women in the Christian Family

Society has imprinted many roles of women in marriage.  Even evolutionary theory has   speculated about the natural need a woman has for protection and in turn the care she

supplies and returns to the man.  Christian marriage and the structure of the Christian family does not reflect social and biological roles but concerns itself more with the roles a woman plays from a spiritual aspect.  Secular roles and obligations differ with traditions and time, but Christian ideals are constant since they reflect the values of Christ.
Christian counseling needs to emphasize the proper roles of women in marriage that transcend social norms or prejudices.  First and foremost, man and woman are made one in marriage.  Since they are not two but one flesh, they inherently share in common authority.  While modernists and enemies of the faith hope to condemn scripture as patriarchal in nature, one cannot dismiss the reality that scripture teaches mutual respect between man and wife.  Merely the fact that one shares one flesh is enough to propose an equality of woman and man in marriage.  Without this understanding, the role of a woman in Christian marriage is forever destroyed.  The role of a woman in Christian marriage cannot be seen as inferior or unequal to that of the husband.  This is not Christian theology and is not the nature of the sacrament.
The second role or characteristic of women in marriage stems from Paul’s writings.  A definite order in Paul is being laid down in which the woman is to obey her husband.  While initially this seems very patriarchal and contrary to our first premise, one needs to fully understand the nature of this role of obedience.  If one reads further, Paul also tells husbands to love their wives as Christ so loved the church.  In this regard, the love of a husband correlates with the love of Christ.  Christ’s love of the church ended in death and self sacrifice.  Christ did command, Christ did teach and Christ did lead, but his commands were never contrary to one’s dignity, health, or salvation.  In fact, Christ’s orders are that of a loving father and do not transgress one’s free will or choice.  With this in mind, when Paul speaks of wives obeying their husbands, it is apparent that he is implying obedience for the sake of structure and in major issues that involve the sake of the family.  Does this imply the wife has no voice?  Does Christ not listen and love?  He takes into consideration our wants and desires.  Hence, this obedience is a healthy obedience that cannot be misquoted by some radicals to include subjugation of women.  Any form of subjugation would distort the true nature between obedience and love between husband and wife.
The third role is motherhood.  Only a woman can be a mother and with that comes innate qualities that no man can ever replicate.  We have heard of phrases that include a mother’s touch, or a mother’s whisper.  These elements are true.  Social constraints create images of the man as bread winner and the woman as homemaker and one cannot deny that there is some spiritual connection to these roles as well.  While these roles can be adjusted to financial and economic times, the fact remains that women have a spiritual nature that encompasses compassion, care and emotional security.  In this regards the mother becomes the heart of the home and the voice of reason.  Her love binds the family together and her sweet whispers calm all turbulence.  Her fidelity and care to the family make her the cornerstone for the families well being.  She is the sanctuary.
The final characteristic of women in marriage is Marian.  The woman as heart of the family takes upon a Marian role.  As Mary served as the binding force in the Holy Family and raised the infant Jesus, so wives today must also emulate Mary.  They must serve as the heart of the family and serve as role model in Christian purity and grace for her husband and children.  When others falter, she must be the center of prayer and guide the family through spiritual storms.  While this role can be said for both man and woman, it is only a woman that encompasses a serene emotional faith that can mold a family together.
When Christian counseling, a counselor should avoid stereotypes that are biased and place women in a subjugated state but they should also avoid secular values that pose as liberating.  So many secularists swing from one extreme to another.  Like a pendulum, they swing from subjugation to radical freedoms that betray womanhood and her important role in the family.  As Christian counselors, one must be a champion of woman equality but also emphasize her traditional role in the family without fear of secular outcry.
If you would like to take courses in Christian Counseling, then please review the program.

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