As I’ve grown on my leadership journey I realize how much courage it takes to get help when you’re going through something on an emotional, mental, spiritual, or moral level. First you have to deal with the embarrassment of going through whatever it is, and if you’re in a word of faith community, you automatically feel like your level of faith is being audited. After your faith is attacked it can go one of two ways:
1. “Maybe I need to have more faith… Did I have it in the first place?”
2. “If I can’t understand this faith stuff then what's the point in having faith at all?”.
If you’re in a leadership position opening up becomes even more awkward because you know some of your status is on the line. Things we try to hide eventually surface (Luke 12:2-3) and what may have been solved with some counsel and a brief hiatus can become the end of your career. We’re taking the stigma off professional counseling in the faith community. It’s my belief that the Church is in a “health revival” in all areas (spirit, soul, body). We must be intentional in these areas to continue to represent Jesus well as we serve Him.
Michelle Gonzalez Segundo is a 3rd year student with Regent University pursuing a PhD in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Ecclesial Leadership. She is certified with the Texas Dept of family & Protective Services in Trauma Care, Sexual Abuse, Aggressive Behavior Management, and Human Trafficking. She’s also a TX licensed foster parent to at risk teenage boys and an ordained minister. Michelle and her husband of 19 years reside in South Texas with their two children. She enjoys coffee, music, Texas football, family, and all things cooking and baking!
Lacey Henderson is a Texas native. She has a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from The University of Texas at Arlington as well as a Music Therapy degree from Sam Houston State University. She has over 10 years experience working in mental health. She currently resides in New York City where she works full time as a social worker and counselor. In addition she is involved with her local church in NYC.
