Receive Guidance from a Biblical Perspective
Christian Counseling White Bear Lake, MN / Christian Counseling Duluth, MN
Christian Counseling for all Minnesota
Therapy for those desiring Christian Counseling
At North Woods Christian Counseling we are able to work with clients from a variety of belief systems. However, we find that many of our clients seek us out precisely because of our ability to provide Christian Counseling. Therapy is a relationship of trust, and it is difficult to build this trust if you know the therapist sitting across from you doesn’t understand the greatest source of strength and hope in your life. We know talented, compassionate therapists who reach roadblocks with their clients specifically because they cannot relate to their faith. Christian clients who work with us take comfort in knowing that we will not be hostile to their worldview, but will instead acknowledge it as an incredible resource for healing and transformation.
While we are confident in the work we do, clients also seem to appreciate our recognition that success in therapy is not all up to us. We routinely pray that God’s will would be done in therapy, and that God would be the one guiding and directing the process. As conveyed so well in the Serenity Prayer, there are things we can control, and there are things we must simply place in God’s hands. While this relinquishing of control can feel scary, it can also be incredibly freeing! Filled with hope, we are reminded that God truly cares for the everyday struggles we face and is intimately involved in the process of healing. We don’t claim to have all the answers about why God seemingly answers some prayers and not others, and we don’t always understand God’s timing. However, we believe that God is good and is in control. It is not uncommon for our therapists to pray for clients during therapy sessions, and those who ask for this as part of their process find that it brings a kind of depth and perspective to the process that cannot be found in a secular setting.
While we will inevitably hold theological differences with each of our clients during Christian counseling, we know that the common faith we share far outweighs these differences. We strive to help each client who sets foot in our office to feel at home, regardless of their denominational background. Because truth matters, we acknowledge that religious teaching and tradition is important. However, we also find that getting bogged down in denominational debates is usually counter-productive in therapy. Thankfully, in this setting we have discovered that peripheral differences seem to take a backseat to what matters most. In therapy, we usually find that these differences fall away as pain is shared, trauma is healed, and relationships are restored. Beautifully, this all happens against the backdrop of a shared belief in a God who continues to love, save, heal, and transform lives. A God who is with us in the trenches.
As it is written the the book of Galatians, “There is no longer Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:27-29). In our sessions, we feel this oneness, this camaraderie with our clients. Clients can take comfort in knowing that we believe in one God…Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that God’s Word is revealed through Scripture and brought to life by the power of the Holy Spirit. That we trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, as the one who died for our sins on the cross so that that we might have everlasting life. He is our Lord, our Savior, and our God, the one who gives us hope. Without Him we would be lost, but with Him we have eternal life and freedom! Each day we stumble, but we strive to follow Him, remembering the good news… “For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift from God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Our clients also know that we take God’s Word very seriously, believing that it is inspired and authoritative. We believe it is God-breathed, yet also recognize that it is easy to take out of context. Truth exists, but due to our sinful nature it is not always easy to grasp. In a room full of faithful Christians, one would likely find many interpretations of the same Bible passages! We all have lenses by which we view and interpret Scripture. North Woods Christian Counseling was founded on the long-standing belief that Holy Scripture is revealed to us through “Law and Gospel.” We understand that God’s gift of divine Law in Scripture (10 Commandments, etc.) serves to not only reveal our sin and our need for God’s mercy, but it also gives us instructions for how to live better lives and love one another. This being said, we understand that the Bible is not primarily a rulebook. Rather, it is a love letter from a gracious God. As such, we do not use a cookie-cutter approach to incorporating the Bible into therapy. As Christians our faith flows naturally from who we are. Biblical insights and principles are revealed naturally, because they are part of the fabric of our being. They are the foundation of our lives, and the truth we strive to foster in our families. If one were to do a survey of what Scriptures come up most often in our office, the most common references would certainly be to God’s promises, and specifically to the hope that we have in Jesus Christ…The one who is the way, the truth, and the life.
While we acknowledge our deep thirst for the good news of the Gospel, our experience also tells us that people cannot always be rushed to hope. Sometimes being able to sit with grief, pain, anger and doubt is a necessary step on the journey of healing. There is room for these emotions in our office, and we remind people that the Psalms are full of questioning and lament. In fact, Jesus Himself experienced what it was like to feel rejected and alone on the cross, crying out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” In our office there is room to explore this pain as well. We’re all in the same boat here. You don’t need to get “cleaned up” before you come to see us. Wherever you are at in this journey, we will do our best to walk with you, believing that you are a treasure in God’s sight. We believe that God has a plan for you, that He loves you dearly, and that by God’s grace, healing and transformation is possible.
Therapy for those not desiring Christian Counseling
In His ministry, Jesus had a way of meeting people just where they were at. He showed radical love, acceptance, and forgiveness to those the religious authorities wrote off as “sinners,” and this grace set them free. In therapy, we strive to display this grace to our clients, regardless of their religious background. Please know that despite the name of the agency, one does not have to be a Christian to see us. In fact, our codes of ethics forbid us from discriminating on the basis of religion. If you don’t happen to share our faith, you can be assured that you will be respected and treated with the same dignity as anyone else that sets foot in our office.
All this being said, because what we believe directly impacts our emotional well-being, we will inevitably have questions about your worldview. We may also challenge any beliefs that we suspect may be causing you distress, as we would with any client. We are confident in our ability to convey acceptance and care to each of our clients. However, we are honest enough to know that true objectivity is elusive; that our worldviews inevitably inform our work as therapists, even when not engaging in “Christian Counseling.” Our faith in Jesus Christ is the guiding force in our lives, and therefore cannot easily be compartmentalized. If one of us has the privilege of working with you and our system of belief seems to interfere with your progress, we are hopeful that it is something we can work through together. However, if our therapy style or worldview proves to somehow be incompatible with your goals and beliefs, we will support you in finding another therapist that is a better fit. Wherever you find yourself on this journey, we would be honored to work with you.
