Christian Counseling Montebello, CA. Find a Christian Therapist Near You.

I've been following Jesus for over 30 years. I'm not about Bible-bashing or quoting Scripture you already know ("Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.") with the belief you should just be able to do it because it's in the Bible - if you *really* love God. But instead I show my clients how they can live out what God and the Bible have to say about their life and relationships in realistic ways that you can actually do. My clients learn to personally experience the love, grace, mercy, gentleness, self-control, kindness, compassion, peace, and forgiveness, the Bible promises - and how to offer these experiences in their relationships with others.

Very often negative thinking, anxiety, depression, trauma, broken relationships and anger can get in the way of God’s plan for us to live wholly and fully. For those seeking a faith-based alternative to traditional therapy, Christian Counseling provides a safe, non-judgmental setting where you can wrestle with life challenges, while having the added support of exploring scripture and bringing it to bear on your current struggles. Whether you are seeking to discuss your faith in depth, or simply want peace of mind in knowing that your therapist “gets” your faith, I would be honored to help guide you on your journey to a fuller understanding of your challenges and how you can best meet them both as a human being and a person of God.

The presence of God in therapy can be experienced when there is a more direct and open dialogue. As we become more present to each other a sacred space is created. The "space between" where we meet each other and the possibility of the Divine presence. This healing presence has power to transform you and your circumstances. As the philosopher Martin Buber once said,"Religion is Presence."

My personal approach to counseling is grounded in my own personal faith. God has a process from taking us from broken and hurting and redeeming us through a beautiful transformation experience. As believers we trust in the process of how God uses real people and relationships to help us heal. There is a plan and purpose for your life, together in the safety of the session we can create goals aligned with God's will.

I offer this service to inter-faith marriages (Judaeo-Christian) True spirituality expresses itself in the deepest and most profound aspects of our lives, that which affects us in the depths of our personal existence. Both in terms of the communities of faith to which we belong and the personal beliefs to which we are committed, we are guided and informed by the sacred values and spiritual teachings of our personal faith. As such, faith can be a foundation element of the help offered in therapeutic work. For whatever is important in determining the path of one's life must also be reflected in the practices of one's therapy.

I am a professional therapist who knows the importance of living my life according to my role model Jesus Christ. I have had my share of troubles in my life and have found that talking to someone who has valuable scriptural knowledge that I trusted and respected made a significant difference in my life. Combining my Christian Worldview with the principles of psychology provides help to those who suffer and want to be respected for their Christian beliefs, it is my desire to help you to trust God and His help in our work together.

Christian Counseling is important when seeking growth in the faith as followers of Jesus Christ in a therapeutic setting. By the use of counseling and connecting to the scriptures or prayer therapists can encourage the client not only during their current life challenges but in future stages of life after treatment has been successfully terminated.

I specialize in counseling for Christian married couples, specifically those of the LDS faith. Using a faith-based therapy model, I am able to meet clients within their own belief system and help them navigate the challenges of it while tapping into the goodness it provides them. This is particularly helpful for clients who are navigating sexuality and intimacy issues.

In Christian life, the goal is to become more real; more fully all you were created to be in relationship to God and to other people. I will help you access all that is available to you in the Christian faith that can help you in your journey and relationships. Whether you struggle with faith itself, trauma, relational conflict, or other life issues, I provide a safe environment for you to struggle and be authentic without fear of judgement. I also support you in maintaining your autonomy and freedom of choice in your decisions. I draw on the wealth of psychological knowledge in the Christian faith and in psychology and science to help you become a healthier, more fulfilled relational being.

Some persons are concerned that couples counseling or psychotherapy may challenge their faith and they want to work with someone who supports, understands and even shares the importance of faith. Dr. Brainerd also holds a Masters degree in Christian Theology along with his doctorate in Clinical Psychology and not only values faith but can also help with persons who have found that sometime in their life, religion has hurt them.

I do not specialize in treating Christian clients, however I do work with Christians whose background in line with teachings of tolerance. I deal with Christians who are struggling with sexual and/or gender identity issues. I provide a safe, non-judgmental space to explore one's beliefs in God, the church, and their sexual identity or gender identity. I am have worked with these issues for over 25 years and identity issues are a specialty of mine. I am also a specialist and certified expert in the treatment of childhood abuse, trauma, sexual abuse and sexual trauma of males and females. I offer both individual and group therapy along with a variety of different approaches. I CAN HELP!

Every therapist at La Vie is a Christian and many of our therapists have advanced degrees in Theology and have spent years integrating the best of psychological research with sound Christian principles. We affirm the importance of faith in living healthy lives and welcome open conversations about this in therapy. Our approach to counseling from a Christian perspective has been so well received that Dr. Baker's book, "Jesus the Greatest Therapist Who Ever Lived" has sold over a million copies worldwide.