I Went to Clinical Counseling...

I went to Clinical Counseling…

Maybe you read that “I went to Biblical Counseling” and I did. AND it was really helpful. Quite a few months later I decided to go to biblically-based clinical counseling. Why you ask? I had an event occur in my life that triggered a childhood event that my mind had blocked.

It was like a video playing through the traumatic event.

This memory sent me into regular anxiety attacks and living with a new level of daily stress.

I thought I was crazy. And that’s not a great feeling. All I knew was that I needed a solution. I couldn’t live like this anymore.

So, I ended up seeing a clinical counselor and realizing…it is not scary to go to biblically-based clinical counseling. Actually, I found that they are really nice people with great educations on how our brains work. In fact, the first thing she did was make me realize I wasn’t crazy for reacting to traumatic events the way I was.

My brain was responding to stress because of traumatic childhood experiences. My body was wired to cope with situations and trauma so that it could protect itself. So, I was not crazy?! God had designed me to be able to survive intense situations? Yep. He did. AND there was hope for healing.

She taught me how to have compassion for myself as I healed and worked on understanding situations from a healthy point of view.

She introduced me to 10-minute relaxation videos so I could learn how to relax my body and become aware of tension. (I am hoping lots of Christians start creating these relaxation exercises!)

She helped me realize that while I would have grief from these circumstances- I could still grow.

She encouraged me to recognize and celebrate the effort I put toward healing.

She walked with me through the situations I experienced so that I could begin to go through a new healing in the area of the various traumatic events I had experienced as a child.

So, why am I sharing something so obviously vulnerable?

Because I wanted others to know in their messy journey of healing that counseling is not scary or weird or just for almost-torn-apart marriages. Counselors are people who are pointing us in a new direction. They are helping us to realize why our bodies are responding to stress or trauma like they are and giving us a fresh perspective on it.

I’ve learned how to slow down and have compassion on myself.

I’ve processed old memories.

I’ve decided to take steps to heal from my past so that I can live fully in the future.

For me, the investment in both kinds of counseling has been so worth it.

Clinical counseling with a biblical focus? 100/100 I recommend.

With joy, (yes, still with joy, because God is good and His healing beautiful)

MJ