The discussion on counseling will cover two weeks. In today's episode, Part 1 on counseling, I start by giving a bird’s eye view of the different kinds of counseling that is available in both the Christian and secular community.  I talk about price, credentials, availability, and what kind of confidentiality you can expect amongst the different counselors.  I talk about mental health professionals that specialize in a specific area and why that may be beneficial to you.

I discuss how counseling is a relationship where you have a say in your care. You and the counselor get the freedom to communicate your needs.  You are not “stuck” with a counselor that isn’t working for you.  You have the freedom to discontinue working with them if they end up not being a good fit. I talk about how you can communicate your needs with a secular counselor to facilitate a relationship that helps your needs get met in a way that aligns with your faith. 

I end Part 1 addressing some of the all-or-nothing statements regarding counseling. These statements are harmful and may keep someone from getting the care they need to be safe, live a better quality of life, or even stay alive.

Part 2 will air next week, June 4th.

I am not a mental health professional, but I am a suicide attempt survivor and speak from first-hand experience of living with a mental illness called Bipolar Type II. If you are having an emergency, please call 988 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Information on this podcast is not to be taken as medical advice or as a replacement for professional care but is for educational purposes only.

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