Christian Spiritual Counseling

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Lent Beyond Tradition and Christian Counseling

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling Should Prepare the Faithful for Lent

Christian Counseling sessions should prepare souls for Lent.  The Church has set aside a special time for Christians to prepare themselves for the Resurrection of Christ. Far from merely just a historical memorial of an event, it is a living tradition where the Mystical Body of Christ together as one unit, spiritually renewing itself in union with its head, Jesus Christ. While the event in question happened two millennia ago, one still can simultaneously reflect on Christ’s death and carry one’s own cross. This is the supernatural mystery of Lent because one’s sacrifice escapes the temporal prison of time but is offered to God in one clear precise eternal moment. In this way, while reflecting on a historical event, one still, within the eyes of God, can participate and offer his or her consolations to Christ as he dies for mankind. So one does not weep for Christ’s death in the past but weeps in the present with Mary and the Holy Women.

Lent in this regard is a reflection of the past but also a spiritual exercise of the present which is offered to an eternal God who is not bound by time. Christian Counselors should emphasize this aspect of Lent as a time to offer oneself to Christ and console Christ in his darkest moments. One during this time should take up his or her cross and carry it up Calvary with Christ via sacrifices, fasting, and virtue building.
Christian Counselors during this time should encourage Biblical study time where the story of Christ and his passion is meditated upon. In addition to Scripture, one should also partake in a deeper prayer life. Catholics should partake in the Stations of the Cross, make frequent confessions, and visit the Eucharist. Protestants also can partake in various Lenten traditions in their own home or church.
Christians in general, should also work beyond the mere required fast days and individual sacrifices, but also work on a particular virtue they would like to cultivate. Through a thorough examination of conscience, one should be able to identify the core element of one’s spiritual life that needs addressed and focused upon. In addition to this, one should not only work on oneself but also apply the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy to one’s fellow man via good deeds of compassion and love.
The purpose of Lent while reflective on Christ’s passion is also a reactive time where one living in the present offers contrition to God and reparation via spiritual rebuilding and good works. This goes beyond mere rituals of abstaining from meat on Friday but involves a living and interactive faith with God that is fed by love and not habit. Lent is not about who can fast the most or not grumble about fasting but is a time to suffer and later resurrect with Christ. Without this love, abstaining from meat is merely a foolish ritual with no true meaning.
Christian Counseling should emphasize these elements to all spiritual children and should help and guide others in making the best out of one’s Lent. As a Christian counselor one can not only help a person understand fasting but also help someone build sanctity and a better relationship with Christ through prayer, virtue and charity.  If you are interested in becoming a Christian Counselor, please review the program.
By Mark Moran, MA

Ignatian Fasting and Christian Counseling.

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

How Christian Counseling Can Use Ignatian Ideals

Ignatian spirituality can also be applied to the Lenten season or the Great Fast. St. Ignatius in his “Spiritual Exercises” laid out important guiding principles in proper fasting.

St. Ignatius points out that there is interior fasting which deals with the formation of moral character and exterior fasting which deals with sacrifices and penances of a bodily fashion. This exterior fasting is a result of the interior fasting and yearning of the soul to show penance.
According to St. Ignatius, denial of superfluous things is not fasting. Fasting does not include giving up special treats, but is a sacrifice that revolves around ordinary things that we deal with everyday. This is not to devalue sacrifices, but it is important to delineate between exercises in temperance and true fasting.
St. Ignatius listed three primary ways one can fast. The first he listed was food intake. In this, Ignatius reflects the values of the Church and its mandates for denial of meat and other meals during a proper fast day. The second type of fasting deals with denial of sleep. Sleep deprivation or removing basic comforts for sleep are encouraged for those who wish to fast this way. However, St. Ignatius emphasizes that one should not eliminate sleep if it hurts one’s health and prevents them from functioning in one’s daily duty. Finally, St. Ignatius stated that temporal suffering can be applied as long as it does not permanently harm the body. Examples of sack clothe that are hidden underneath one’s clothes is a perfect example for this.
Ultimately St. Ignatius believed fasting was meant to show Christ how much we love him and how much we wish to carry our crosses with him. St. Ignatius felt that such fasting would benefit the soul by teaching it mastery and discipline over the passions. He also saw fasting as important for petition and reparation for sin.  Christian Counseling sessions should also utilize these concepts.
by Mark Moran, MA

Christian Counseling and Key Fasting Concepts

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling and Key Fasting Concepts

Christian Counseling sessions should pinpoint key elements of fasting.  The purposes of fasting involve a few key concepts. One of the first concepts is that fasting teaches the body self control and spiritually discipline. The second concept is that it is a form of prayer to God where one can offer reparation for sin. The self denial is the sacrifice to God.
When one fasts, it is a personal gift to God. It is not to be advertised or applauded but kept secret. Christ taught that one is to fast in private and keep clean and fresh appearances so that one’s neighbor cannot see the fasting. Christ promises great rewards in Heaven that are beyond the extoltation of man.
As stated in other papers, most fasting regards ordinary things that are beyond the extra. St. Ignatius gave reference to this and laid out the ground rules in his Spiritual Exercises where fasting can involve physical penance, eating or sleeping. On the other extreme, the simple daily offerings of St. Theresa the Little Flower give a host of examples of how one can offer the smallest sacrifice to God during one’s daily duty.
If you are interested Christian Counseling Certification, please review the program.
By Mark Moran, MA

Lenten Ideals: True Lenten Remorse and Christian Counseling

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling can use the story of Judas and Peter as excellent ways to show how a Christian shows true remorse

 Palm Sunday emphasized the joyous proclamation of Christ as king, but like many who initially accept him, many later deny him.  The Jews who adored him, one week later scorned him and the many apostles who proclaimed their fidelity to him, denied him only days later.  In our Lenten sacrifices, do we later fall from grace and deny or betray our lord after the end of Lent?  Can we truly say we take our palm branches to the foot of the cross as did Mary, John and the Holy women?
It is probably so that many of us are not like Mary, John or the Holy Women, but do fall to the lures of this world.  Our concupiscence and fallen nature, only so easily fall to the pleasures of sense.  Our wills so strong one moment, befall to the temptations of this world and the devil.  It would not be surprising if many of us did fail in some of our Lenten promises and at times did not fulfill one’s obligation.  It is human nature to fall, but we are not defined by our fall but how we pick ourselves up.  Christians will sin and fall but through the grace of Christ, one can exhibit true Lenten remorse.   Christian Counselors can help one find this.
True Lenten remorse is having hope and faith in Christ that he will forgive us when we fail him.  This involves removing one’s pride and placing one’s hope in Christ’s deepest love for us.  Falling while never good is important because it helps us understand our weaknesses but it also helps us realize how much we love Christ and wish not to fall again.  In this way, we should contrast two forms of remorse found during the Holy Week and Passion of Christ.  They are the way of Peter or the way of Judas.

The Way of Judas

The way of Judas after his betrayal of Christ did exhibit true remorse.  After his betraying kiss to our Lord, he felt deep guilt and intense sadness.  He threw the pieces of silver at the chief priests and cursed them for their action.  However, instead of seeking out our Lord or his mother, he fled the city and without hope and full of despair hung himself.  Do we ever feel that we are unworthy of Christ’s love to such an extent that we would flee his love?  This is obviously not true Christian remorse for it lacks two things.  First, faith in Christ’s love and second, a lack of hope that leads to despair and never allows for contrition.

The Way of Peter in Christian Counseling

The way of Peter was also true remorse but differ ultimately in its end.  Peter triumphantly proclaimed he would never deny our lord, but only after things became difficult, did fear and human weakness overcome him.  He fled our lord in his darkest hour and denied him three times.  This denial of our lord was realized as the cock crowed twice.  In this moment of intense guilt and pain, Peter wept bitterly.  However, unlike Judas, Peter would again rise.  He felt horrible about his denial of our Lord, but instead had faith in forgiveness and pushed forward to new spiritual heights as the first leader of the early church.  He would even later validate his intense love for Christ via his own crucifixion, which he suffered upside down out of respect for Christ.
Beyond Peter, we also see the remorse of the apostles.  Did not the apostles also proclaim their fidelity to Christ but to only fall later?  Their spirits were strong but their flesh was weak.  One can see their failure as many of them fell asleep as Christ sweat blood in the garden.  Their ultimate failure is later seen as they fled the garden in fear of the soldiers who came to apprehend Christ. There after they would remain hidden until Christ’s resurrection.  All would eventually suffer martyrdom and vindicate themselves before Christ with their ultimate gift, their lives.  Only St. John would escape martyrdom because only he stood at the foot of the cross and experienced his own spiritual martyrdom of witnessing his lord die.
Christian Counselors should emphasize the importance of true remorse of Peter and the apostles who later died for Christ.  Their failures and fall from grace are all examples to us.  We too can fall but also be given another chance to show Christ our love for him.  The way of Judas prevents one from showing true remorse and growing from one’s fault.  In contrast, through the way of Peter, we can share the pain of the apostles in that we too fail Christ, but we can also share in their joy when we show remorse and grow from it.  If you are interested in the Christian Spiritual Counseling program, please click here.

By Mark Moran, MA

Training in Christian Counseling: Christian Family: Marriage

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Training in Christian Counseling: Christian Counseling with Marriage

The Christian Family as the first cell of society finds its conception in marriage.   This is why Christian Counseling must emphasize the importance of proper marriage preparation counseling.
It is interesting to note that even at the purely social level, marriage formed a social constraint for the formation of society and the bringing of order at the micro level.  Yet this natural social evolution had deeper yearnings at the center of man’s soul.  The yearning for spiritual communion took this merely social institution to a level that also satisfied the spiritual and theological needs of man.  Within the spiritual structure of humanity, the Mystical Body of Christ found marriage also as its most intimate cellular level where a man and woman took a vow before God to love each other and remain faithful.  Through this intense love, two became one and an unbreakable bond was created that transcended the societal order.

This sacred institution received it distinctive Christian mark via Christ at the wedding feast of Cana where in Catholic theology, it became a sacrament.  Protestant theology while not proclaiming the institution as a sacrament, nevertheless, shares a common belief that marriage is sacred and carries a serious bond.  Christian counselors find themselves in difficult situations when attempting to preserve these bonds of matrimony.  Various marital issues erupt that threaten to tear the very fabric of the union.  With such a heavy burden, Christian counseling must establish first and foremost the sacred nature of matrimony.  With this ideal in place, issues of finance, career, children, infidelity, or other selfish motives can hopefully be overcome.
In addition to dealing with an already existing Christian family, Christian counselors also deal with soon to be Christian families.  A Christian counselor during premarital or pre-Cana sessions, must evaluate the maturity and spiritual lives of the man and woman who are to marry.  During these early sessions, one should become acquainted with the future spouses and review their spiritual, financial and career goals.  While love is important, it is imperative to illuminate possible differences prior to vows and to help the future couple understand the problems they may face.  Other issues of importance include faith, the raising of children and ideas on what marriage is.
Most importantly, the counselor must emphasize the theological importance of the sacrament and ascertain if both parties understand the bond that will exist.  Obviously after various sessions, the counselor becomes more aware of the couples maturity, understanding of marriage and if their goals correspond.  During this period of time, the couple may also become more aware of any differences they may have previously dismissed.
Ultimately in the end, it is the couple’s love that will define the marriage. If true love exists, all problems can be overcome, especially if the couple dedicates their union to God.  Men should emulate St. Joseph, while women emulate Mary.  The couple should to the best of their abilities imitate the ultimate paradigm of the Christian family; the Holy Family.
Christian Counseling whether it is in the previous phases of marriage, or during the union, need to address issues but within a light that emphasizes the truly unique Christian character of marriage.

If you would like training in Christian Counseling, then please review the program

 

 

Christian Counseling and Apolegetics

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling and the Use of Apologetics

A Christian Counselor plays many roles.  Sometimes his role in counsel is to advice and instruct.  In these cases, the spiritual child may be confused with modern ideologies or philosophies.  Many of these philosophies are contrary to Christian Orthodoxy.  A spiritual director is a sacred calling to defend and define the faith to the ignorant and instruct them in the truth.
With modern ideas of materialism, agnosticism, atheism, secularism, relativism, modernism and other deviant ideologies 

contrary to the faith, society has found itself lost.  With the faith constantly under attack from the outside, many Christians have lost their way without a shepherd.   This attacks from the outside come from many sources.  One can find them from the government, the schools and media.  The numbing of good consciences is the result as blatant sin becomes standard norm.  What was once unspeakable becomes now completely acceptable.  With these shifting morals, one sees morality sliding on a slippery curve of degeneration. 
The attacks do not only come from without but also within.  Scholars deny the faith via modernism.  This hideous assault on the faith hopes to demytholize the sacred nature of scripture and Christ and make it more credible with science.  Priests, ministers, teachers within church circles and other religious have also become infected with this and confuse the laity.
In these confusing times, a Christian counselor must be firm in his or her faith.  They must not only be counselors but also theologians.  They must understand the nature of the enemy of the faith and be well versed in scripture and the various theologies.  They must be aware of current events and how the church identifies them.
Christian Counseling may very well in the future become also a last stand of Christian orthodoxy as modern ideas attempt to destroy the Christian faith.  With such a divine calling, teachers and counselors of the faith should be proud in their profession.  In the next articles, we will review some of the modern ideologies and how teachers of the faith should respond to them when questioned.
If you are interested in Christian Counseling courses, please review the program.

Addressing Teen Issues Through Christian Guidance & Counseling

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling for Teens

 In order to help address the issue of bullying, many teens today are studying to become Christian guidance counselors. The issue of bullying has long been plaguing hundreds of schools and communities across the country. While some bullying can be harmless, there are other cases where bullying has led to serious injury and death. In order to provide bullying victims a place to turn to for emotional and spiritual support, a high percentage of teens today are studying to earn their christian counseling certification. Based on a recent survey, a lot of these bullying cases are the result of kids having no parental support and low self-esteem. In addition to addressing the issue of bullying, other issues these teens hope to address include teenage drug use, unsafe sexual activity, and also the high rate of teenage pregnancies. By having another teen to turn to in a crisis situation, will hopefully help to diffuse some of the current issues teens are facing, especially teenage pregnancy and bullying.

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

Pregnancy and Christian Counseling

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling and Teen Pregnancy

 A young Christian girl who is pregnant needs good spiritual guidance. She needs social support and personal support from the Church and her family. Within that structure comes good Christian counseling from lay ministries or the church itself. This young girl does not need a lecture on the commandments, but needs the charity and love Christ would give her. She also needs the support and advice to avoid the murderous choice of abortion. This is an opportune time for Christian counselors to promote the correct and only option of life. Through good Christian counseling, the girl can be prepared for her future nine months and beyond. This will involve emotional, spiritual and physical care. For more information on Christian counseling, one should consider becoming a certified Christian counselor at AIHCP. Through the courses at AIHCP, one can become certified as a Christian counselor and better prepared to face such dilemmas and difficult situations that Christians face in the modern world.

If you would like to learn how to become a christian counselor, then please review.

Christian Counseling: Lenten themes and Palm Sunday

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

In Christian Counseling or Spiritual Direction, the week prior to Palm Sunday should emphasize a few Lenten themes.

Christian Counseling and Palm Sunday Themes

First, one can see the materialistic and worldly ideals of the Jews as Christ enters Jerusalem.   They are expecting a Messiah that will usher in a new golden age for Israel that will relinquish the Romans and raise Israel above all other nations.  The reality is Christ did not come to undo the chains of the Romans but to free the Jews and Gentiles from a greater tyrant whom was Satan.  The spiritual drama that was unfolding was far greater than what the mere eyes of the Jews thought they saw.  Yet the inferior worldly expectations of the Jews would transform Christ from a liberating hero to a despised criminal.  Shouts of adoration would be replaced with curses of rebuke and the cross would replace the crown.
In reflection, one should consider what expectations do we have from this world?  Do we expect a worldly kingdom of riches as the Jews did?  Has the Great Fast purged these worldly desires from our souls or do material goods still dominate the greater good which is spiritual?
If anything, the Great Fast should have in the very least opened our eyes to a deeper reality that is beyond the mere physical world.  The Great Fast or Lent should have deepened our spiritual eyes to see beyond the illusions of this world.  Our fasting and sacrifices should have strengthened our will over our physical urges thus reinforcing the superiority of the spiritual realm over the temporal.  In walking with Christ these Forty days, the palms in our hands should wave in adoration for what Christ has given us spiritually not physically.
Finally, where will we stand at the end of the week?  Will we wave our palms this Sunday and then after Easter return to our old ways?  Will we boast like Peter, and proclaim our love of Christ but then at the end of the week, deny him?  Will we stay awake for that one hour with Christ in the garden, or later fall asleep?  Instead, let us hope that our Lenten gains will not be superficial as the false praise of the Jews, but instead be true and strong long after Palm Sunday.  At the end of Lent, will our sacrifices be fruitless, or will we stand with Mary, John and the Holy Women at the foot of the cross to the very end?

For more information on the Christian Counseling Program, click here.

Christian Counseling Education Program: Christ’s agony in Gethsemane

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling Education Program can give those in grief deep insights by comparing one’s grief to Christ.  In
regards to Christ, the pinnacle of mental human anguish would be to foresee one’s death, especially if that death involved torture and pain at the highest levels. Jesus experienced this intense mental grief to the extent he sweat blood.It was in the Garden of Gethsemane that Christ heroically, in all his humanity, accepted the burden of sin and its cruel bite.The divine nature of Christ foresaw, while the human nature trembled and accepted the horrible tortures of the whippings, thorns, cross and nails that would be instruments in his painful death.Yet within the two wills of Christ blended a perfect harmonious person, one in person, two in nature, but undivided in his acceptance of this pain.This pain that Christ felt in the garden was a true mental torture.He was completely human, not a phantasm, or incomplete shell for the divine, but a human person, free from sin, but nonetheless submitted to the same psychological torture any man would face in such terrible tribulation.In this one must stand in awe of Christ’s heroic personality. In his deepest grief, even as his friends fall asleep for that one hour, Christ prays and accepts his cross, his suffering and his grief as God’s will. He does not flee the scene, use his divine powers, or wager with the Father, but instead heroically and triumphantly accepts the pains and grief he will endure for the love of the world. Within this drama unfolds two equally intriguing elements of Christ’s passion. One is theological and involves God’s plan for the salvation of the world and the other involves the praxis of acceptance and example.

Christian Counseling Implications

The first theological implication involves analogy and pre-figurement. Only scripture in its intricate beauty can parallel two events that were forever bound together. The first is Christ as the New Adam. The Old Adam in the Garden of Eden, followed his own will and befell the temptation of the serpent, or Lucifer. The New Adam in the Garden of Gethsemane, follows the will of the Father and crushes the head of the serpent; with the Old Adam, humanity fell, with the New Adam, humanity was raised.
The second implication is more personal. It does not involve the salvation of everyone but involves individual example Christ gives to one. Christ reveals in his most vulnerable state what it means to accept the crosses of this world and how we must all accept our crosses. No matter what grief or pain may become of it, Christ presents himself as the perfect paradigm and example on how a Christian should and must accept his daily crosses.  Christian Counseling sessions should emphasize this ideal.
This is a bitter sweet reality. Christ’s passion should make us all weep, but unlike a distant deity, Christ is a deity that not only teaches via example, but ultimately sheds his own blood for his people and rises triumphantly. This should give anyone in grief a light of hope that after suffering always comes resurrection.   This ideal should also be utilized by Christian Counselors in their sessions.