Biblical and Christian Counseling in 90731: San Pedro, CA.

A Christian Counselor is different than a counselor who is a Christian. Counselors are taught to not push their faith or value system on clients. That means that even if your Therapist is a Christian, you may not be getting Christian Counseling unless you ask for it! For those who choose to have their faith applied throughout counseling, Christian Counseling offers Bible based, spiritual solutions to emotional and relational difficulties. The faith-based therapist doesn't just quote Scripture or judge sin. The Christian counselor will ask questions, offer insight, and explore possible outcomes based on the leading of the Holy Spirit, the client's life circumstances, and proper doctrine.

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.

I am passionate about helping people discover self-acceptance and internalize God’s grace. I specialize in helping people who struggle with never feeling quite “enough" and are bombarded with an inner critical voice of shame. Self-compassion, self-acceptance and joy are available. "The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God's eyes, called the Beloved from all eternity and held safe in an everlasting embrace... We must dare to opt consciously for our chosenness and not allow our emotions, feelings, or passions to seduce us into self-rejection". - Henri J. M. Nouwen

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.

As Christians, we are called to live a life of greatness. With that, we face a multitude of social, emotional, mental and spiritual challenges. My approach to Christian Counseling is simple: "...be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." -Romans 12:2 NIV. In our work together I want to help you become all that God has made you be, in every facet of your life (family, friends, career, etc). Part of the work is seeing where God is uniquely calling you, the other part of the work is seeing what God is calling you out of (aka. understanding what is holding you back). If you're ready to renew--take the first step and reach out. I'd love to meet you and see how I can help you in your journey.

Faith and spirituality can provide comfort and meaning to those guided by their beliefs. I was raised in a Christian household myself so I have an appreciation for the values instilled by religion, the importance of tradition, and the strength of community. My approach to counseling is humanistic and welcoming of all spiritualities. Though I do not incorporate any specific pastoral counsel, I encourage my spiritual clients to draw on their beliefs during the counseling process.

Our deepest wounds are often those that are at the hands of another person. Human brokenness is the root of our need for redemption. This holds true in therapy and growth work as well. When we encounter our deep wounds, we encounter our need for our Big God. Here, we are able to reconcile the broken our hurt parts of our ourselves. Dr. Vanes been a pastor's wife for 15 years and is trained in integrated counseling with Masters degrees in Theology, Clinical Psychology, and Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Master's in Clinical Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific Universality. Jace Draper is an LMFT with an MA from Azusa Pacific.

I am a Christian therapist and I am more than happy to integrate Bible-based counseling with the traditional therapy process. For the Christian individual or couple, we can explore how your faith in Christ impacts your goals and decisions, whether or not you are drawing upon your faith as a resource, and what the Bible says about your concerns. Christian therapy is different than pastoral counseling or lay counseling. My educational degrees, training, and years practicing psychotherapy are combined with Biblical principles to assist you in your path to healing.

Dr. Parke is a Christian psychologist who works with teens and college students; she considers her work as a psychologist a calling from God. She sees therapy as "soul care" and seeks to cooperate with the Holy Spirit during sessions. Clients in Christian counseling with Dr. Parke benefit from a therapeutic style that is warm, conversational, and peaceful. Rather than giving you easy answers, counseling focuses on asking questions to deepen healing, develop character, and nurture your relationship with God. Dr. Parke explores what your preferences are with regard to integrating scripture and/or prayer into therapy and involves these in the counseling process accordingly.

As a Christian, I believe the body, mind and spirit are interconnected and effect the way one understands & interacts in the world around them. Often I am asked the question, "what makes one whole?" my answer is both personal & Biblical. We are created body, mind & spirit. each must be regarded as important components of human existence, yet often the spirit is not discussed. I have the distinct honor and privilege of being on this path with my clients who desire a more biblically based approach to growth.

Share the understanding of your treatment in the context of a Christian life. Finding high level, specialty treatment for anxiety, panic, and phobia disorders is difficult enough. It can be nearly impossible to find it with a counselor who shares a Christian approach to life. At OCAC, we are blessed to share these opportunities with individuals seeking them, and we are even more blessed to see people find freedom from their disorders. Average treatment time is 14 weeks. Help awaits.

My doctoral studies at Biola University, working at various Christian counseling centers, and teaching at Christian universities have combined to help me understand and appreciate how psychology and theology are intimately connected. Often times our experience of God is intertwined with our experience of others, and both need to be explored and understood simultaneously. Even if your current struggles seem unrelated to your relationship with God, you may still seek a place where your faith is an integral part of your healing. I have extensive experience counseling those with psychological and/or spiritual concerns, so my clients do not have to sacrifice or ignore any part of themselves.

Working with a higher power or a belief in a higher power can be a powerful tool in the therapeutic process. My approach to counseling incorporates an understanding and respect for the role that faith and spirituality may play in an individual's life. We will work together to explore how your beliefs can be integrated into the therapeutic process and utilized as a source of strength and guidance. Together, we will address the issues that bring you to counseling and develop a personalized plan to achieve your goals and improve your overall well-being. Whether you are seeking support for personal growth, coping with difficult life transitions, or healing from past trauma, I am here to provide