Biblical and Christian Counseling in North Oakland, Oakland.

I grew up in the Christian tradition and am comfortable working with people who find their faiths important to them (both conservatives and liberals). Prayer can be a powerful way of strengthening who we are psychologically. Many couples with a religious tradition find that praying together is another way of being intimate and setting intentions together. We can have empowering relationships to religion and spirituality and we can suffer from oppressive views of ourselves due to religious and spiritual abuse. If you are questioning your faith, sometimes it can be helpful to learn how to hold onto the blessings and the Grace and not "throw the Baby out with the bath water".

While most Christian Counselors pride themselves on how many Scriptural passages they can recite and how many links they can make from the Bible to psychological disorders, the Christian-centric work of Grey Matters International, Inc.is grounded in one principle: truth. For us, the work is more about truth and transparency of Christ's message and working on the natural laws of accountability and decision making that evolve from that. If one honors God's natural laws of reaping and sowing around the decisions one makes, one is indeed living Scripture to its fullest. We prepare the brain to better maximize the spiritual realities of Christ's words. Contact kevin@kevinflemingphd.com

While most Christian Counselors pride themselves on how many Scriptural passages they can recite and how many links they can make from the Bible to psychological disorders, the Christian-centric work of Grey Matters International, Inc.is grounded in one principle: truth. For us, the work is more about truth and transparency of Christ's message and working on the natural laws of accountability and decision making that evolves from that. If one honors God's natural laws of reaping and sowing around the decisions one makes, one is indeed living Scripture to its fullest. We prepare the brain to better maximize the spiritual realities of Christ's words. Contact kevin@kevinflemingphd.com.

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'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.

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.

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, we learn about the importance of religion and spirituality in the lives of our clients. I treat clients of all faiths and backgrounds and do not specialize in one particular faith. Instead, I am open to my clients teaching me about their beliefs and the important role that faith plays in their lives. From the very first session, I will ask about your religious practices, if there is a faith community that is important to you, as well as determine if there is room for growth in this area. Some people find their closest friends and family in faith communities, so having a therapist who understands this is a vital piece of the therapy experience.

While I do not bill myself as a Biblical Counselor, I do use a lot of wisdom from Jesus and the Bible as well as wisdom from the Eastern traditions, in a non-denominational transpersonal practice. To me life and relationships are spiritual journeys to be explored and mastered. Traits such as humility, surrender, gratitude, service, devotion, awe, and mystery are integral to my methods and style of doing therapy and couples counseling.

I pray in my sessions. I begin and end every session with prayer. In addition to the Biblical guidance I use my education and professional training to help individuals, couples, families, children, elderly to reach their potential and their desired goal. I give my clients scriptures that help them in the area that they struggle with. Through prayer people are set free.

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.

Prior to my professional training as a therapist I have always appreciated the connection of spiritual values and practice with our health and well-being. I am a Presbyterian pastor, a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, and I have provided counseling to people from a variety of religious backgrounds for over 30 years. I understand the power of scripture to provide fresh insight into chronic problems, and the power of prayer to move us toward healing. I respect the spiritual life of my clients and I am skilled at using this resource in the counseling relationship.

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.

"Not of this world," often found in the logo NOTW, is a common phrase many Christians identify with. There is a lot of truth to this given the teachings of Jesus Christ. In our culture, we are taught to produce, rush, ignore our feelings/truth, and say "Yes" when we really mean "No." According to Christian principles, love, trust, surrender, and forgiveness should be the norm in one's life. Unfortunately, we have all suffered wounds from our families as well as other relationships making it impossible at times to adhere to these principles. Counseling can enable us to reconnect with God in a way that fosters healing, clarity, and authenticity.

In Christian Counseling with me, you will experience a safe place to be heard, understood, and coached by a psychologically trained fellow believer. I will guide you on your healing journey using Christian principles with the ultimate goal being more meaningful connection with your higher self, other people, and the Holy Spirit. By having Jesus’ teachings be the framework during therapy, you will be better able to release your pain to God and move toward a stronger faith, freedom from difficult emotions, and more satisfying Christian relationships. Please feel free to call me with any questions or to schedule an initial appointment.