Catholic Counseling.info

What is Catholic Counseling?

Working Definition

Catholic Counseling is when the therapist and client agree to adhere to Catholic Truths as taught by the Magisterium. The therapist understands the major role that these Truths play in daily living, and has training in Catholic Theology in order to apply them correctly. The client must also have some understanding of these truths or at least the openness to learn them.

These truths will permeate many of the topics discussed during counseling. Catholic resources, books, videos, articles, etc., from other authors that adhere to these Magisterial Truths may be used in therapy.

Catholic Truths relevant to counseling

Scripture and Magisterial Teaching
- The combination of Sacred Scripture and Church Tradition provide a roadmap for making decisions and living life.
The Integration of Body, Mind and Soul
- We are integrated beings; we cannot change just one part, such as the mind, without examining the effect on the other parts.

Articles to read!

The belief that suffering is salvific
- Suffering is not all bad?
Good vs Evil
- Really they do exist
Our Comprehensive List of Catholic Counseling Truths!
- Essential Truths for Counseling! Does your counselor understand these?

What is Mental Illness?

Mental Illness entered the world as a result of the first sin.
Mental illness can result when a person is bound by Satan and his lies he/she holds onto
Mental illness can be "contracted" through genetic and biological factors
Mental illness can develop over time by overwhelming pain caused by exposure to trauma (real or perceived). This pain is exacerbated through unhealthy thinking and behaviors.

What can a counselor really help with?

Healthy vs Unhealthy feelings
Constructive vs Destructive Behaviors
Productive vs Unproductive Thinking

Spiritual Direction vs Counseling

Spirtual Direction strives to bring the supernatural life to a person, therefore it is directed to the directee:

Life of prayer
Relationship with God
The self-transcending relationship with self and others as true love.
Elimination of sin
Progress in virtue
Vocation (as a call coming from the Spirit)

Counseling strives to enable a person to bring himself/herself to be fully functional; therefore, it involves bringing the fullness of life out of the gifts that God has given counselee.

Emotional reactivity
Correcting thinking and behavior
Skills training
Addiction recovery
Coping
Vocation (as the best use of one's skills)