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Christian Mindfulness

The word “mindfulness” is defined as “a quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.” While this idea has Buddhist origins, the direction of one’s awareness is what can make this practice different between Christians and Buddhists. That being said, there are many aspects of mindfulness that would be the same regardless of religious belief. For example, relaxing your body and paying attention to your own thoughts as they come in to your mind is neither Christian nor Buddhist.

So why should Christians practice mindfulness and how is it best done from a Christian worldview?

Mindfulness Brings Awareness of God’s Presence

God is always with us, as he said he will never leave us or forsake us. Yet as Christians we are only partially aware of God’s continual presence. Mindfulness can help bring back a more full awareness of God’s presence as we connect to him in intentional and mindful prayer.

You can practice this by finding a quiet place with no distractions. Close your eyes and focus your thoughts on God. You can have 2-3 Bible verses memorized or on index cards that you reflect on. If your thoughts wander, simply bring them back gently to the verses you have selected. (Colossians 3:15 is a great example). After you have meditated on these verses, bring your awareness onto the presence of God. You can imagine sitting at his feet or you can picture him hugging you. You can also picture him dwelling in you. As you do this, you can relax your body and breathe more slowly, just resting in his awesome presence. When we are actively aware of God, we connect with the Kingdom of Heaven and we can experience greater levels of peace.

Mindfulness Helps Us Renew Our Minds

Romans 12:2 tells us that as a Christian you should “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Mindfulness is a skill that takes practice, as we mentally train ourselves to focus on God and his word. Our brains are constantly adapting to new experiences and changing through learning. Relaxation and mindfulness creates actual changes in the brain (a concept known as neuroplasticity). Focusing our attention on God through mindfulness helps renew our minds as we reduce stress in our bodies and bring healing to our brains.

Increased awareness of the presence of God, of our own bodies and of the thoughts in our minds helps us to be intentional. A lack of awareness brings more chaos as we fall into a trap of rushing through our day with little awareness of God or our own needs. Mindfulness, whether practiced alone in a quiet place or simply as a momentary check-in in the midst of a crowd, helps us intentionally refocus on God and his Kingdom. Mindfulness can also help slow our bodies down, which is quite counter-cultural for us Americans. Jesus was never in a hurry, and he was continually mindful of his Father and his mission.

Mindfulness Gives Us Grace For Ourselves and Others

A common struggle people have when beginning to practice mindfulness is that of cluttered or racing thoughts. The moment you close your eyes, your mind can be flooded with all the worries and stress of your day. Too often our reaction is to push those things away or become frustrated that they are in the way of focusing on God. In this process we can actually grow in the area of giving ourselves and others grace. We can pay attention to these thoughts without judgment as we observe the areas in which we need the most help from God. We can then invite him into those worries and cluttered thoughts and allow him to align our thoughts to his.

One important aspect of mindfulness is acceptance of yourself in a non-judgmental way. Christians can sometimes get nervous with this language because they fear that in reducing judgment on themselves they will give into their sinfulness or stop growing in Christ. “I’m okay, you’re okay” feels like lying to ourselves and simply covering over sin. But at the heart of the Gospel is the idea that we are loved and accepted as we are. If we are in Christ, then he alone is our judge and he chooses to love us. We can align our perspectives with his in this way, and while practicing mindfulness become more aware of God’s unconditional love and acceptance for us. Allow his love for your to bring peace and healing into your mind and soul today.

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Increasing Accessibility: When Proximity Works

Since the time of Freud and his trained psychoanalysts, there has been a belief in the counseling world that counselors must be distant from their clients. While boundaries are critical to any successful therapy experience, human connection does not need to be rejected. Carl Rogers certainly did his part to change this idea, emphasizing the importance of genuineness and unconditional positive regard given by the counselor. Now there is much data to support the idea that the relationship between the therapist and the client is the largest factor in the success of the therapy.

Despite this move towards relationship and connection, the mental health field still has systemic flaws when it comes to decreasing stigma and increasing accessibility to services. Many still believe that all dual relationships must be avoided, despite changes made in 2005 to the American Counseling Association’s code of ethics allowing for “helpful” dual relationships. Many therapists believe that they cannot be known at all by their clients, even though it is often helpful for clients to hear that their counselor shares in human experiences.

Within the church context, extending genuine love to others is a key principle demonstrated by Jesus himself. Human connection, infused with the love of God, is a powerful force of change that can produce healing. Church therapy, then, must be centered around the idea that we foster genuine love within our therapy. Within this framework, the church therapist is one who is known and who is available. There is no stigma in needing love, since this is the state in which we all find ourselves. There are no barriers to accessibility of counseling, because it is available to all in the church who are in need.

When a person experiences a problem in life (whether it be trauma, depression, anxiety, or adjustment problems), one of the most difficult things he or she could do would be to go to an unfamiliar office in a building they have not seen before and talk to a stranger about the deepest hurts of the soul. Without church therapy, this is the only option for obtaining professionally trained help. But church therapists have had the opportunity to demonstrate to those in the church that they are trustworthy. Proximity, usually avoided in counseling relationships, actually offers safety and comfort. The church therapist’s office is located right within the church walls, directly in the place of deep security and familiarity.

Many in the mental health field would argue that anonymity and distance make therapy a safe experience for the client and therapist.  For some, this may be true. However, it is my belief that proximity and familiarity actually offer a kind of safety that allows those who would otherwise avoid counseling to feel able to enter in. Church therapy promotes accessibility and decreases stigma because it creates a church culture that says, “We expect you to need help. We are here for you.” This culture inherently encourages those who might not have sought help otherwise to come and receive services that can free them from emotional burdens.

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Pastor Training Video: Discipleship in the Midst of Depression

Check out this Pastor Training Video, in which I offer tools for helping someone who is struggling with depression to move forward spiritually. Too often, we use traditional discipleship methods when working with someone who has a mental illness. These methods may not work due to additional challenges that the symptoms of a mood or anxiety disorder can bring.

How do you as a pastor come alongside this person and connect them to their own path of spiritual growth?

Watch the video to find out! It’s worth 10 minutes of your time.

 

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The Hiring Gap

When I graduated from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary with my Master’s degree in Counseling, I was fortunate to be already plugged into a church that was eager to have a counselor join the staff. To some, it may not have been the most attractive job offer: come create your own job for no money. However, what was hidden underneath the seeming lack was a gem of opportunity.

Working in the church setting (under the supervision of a contract supervisor) gave me the opportunity to do the kind of counseling I wanted to do in the context where I had hoped to do it. Most of my fellow graduates went out into the secular mental health field, disillusioned because there were no “church jobs” out there. There is an unfortunate hiring gap that prevents trained Christian professionals from actually entering into the church setting after graduation. There are very few (if any) churches that are actively seeking to hire graduates, so an overwhelming majority are lost to the church for good. Some may resurface in private practice years down the road, but many do not return to a Christian practice and few actually work within the church’s walls where counseling would be most accessible.

Instead of working at an agency (with endless bureaucracy, high staff and client turnover and job requirements continually added to your load), I got to work for the church and fulfill the calling God had given me. I had my own office (given to me for free), worked when I wanted to work and got to be co-workers with the church staff rather than become an unknown cog in a giant agency wheel. Most Christian counselors have to work years in a secular agency to gain hours towards licensure prior to starting their own practice. And those that make it to the private practice stage often have to take out small business loans to fund the first year of overhead costs while they get their business up and running.

When we first launched New Hope Christian Counseling, my pastor and I walked through the church offices, at the time located on the first floor of a multi-family house that was converted for that purpose. We looked at various options for client entry, waiting area space and office space and ultimately decided that his current office was the most private. No questions asked, that office was given to me. We made a cute little “waiting area” in the pseudo-kitchen and it worked. The opportunity given to me was a win-win: I avoided having to work in a setting where I did not belong and had the chance to launch my dream without the burden of overhead costs, and the church got a staff member with professional training that could uniquely meet the needs of the congregation and the larger community.

Most pastors don’t think they can afford to hire another staff member. But you don’t need money to bring Church Therapy to your church. You need a belief in the counseling process. You need willingness to prioritize mental health and incorporate professional treatment into the process of discipleship in your church. You need people who need emotional support. And you need to be comfortable enough with your own emotional health that you aren’t threatened by the presence of a counselor.

Counseling generates revenue. There are a variety of ways to do that, as I have described in this earlier article. Whether you can afford to pay a full salary, a half salary, or no salary at all, you can bring a professional Christian counselor on your staff. I am available for consultation with churches who are interested in exploring how to bring this model into their church setting. I am also working to establish a Residency Program, placing graduates of licensure-track Christian counseling Master’s programs into churches that are looking to create jobs for them. If you are interested in consultation services or finding out more about the Residency Program, comment below or send me an email at newhope@ecic.tv.

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Learn. Listen. Love.

When it comes to mental illness, there is a lot we don’t understand. Even neuroscientists who devote their lives to the study of the brain are still trying to figure out the puzzle. Sadly, Christians are often uninformed or misinformed about mental illness, causing too-frequent judgmental responses. And often these responses are systemic and subconscious, so they go undetected by those who perpetuate them. Any stigma or bias against the experience of another individual causes harm and creates shame and blame.

Learn

I believe as followers of Jesus we can do better. I think change can happen when we start by learning. Educate yourself on the latest research on the brain. Read about the symptoms of mental illnesses and find out more about common medications used to treat depression, anxiety and mood disorders. There are some great resources out there, including the National Alliance for Mental Illness and PsyPost.org.

Listen

The next step is to listen. All the statistics and facts and research in the world do not speak to an individual’s situation nearly as well as their own voice. When a friend shares that he or she is struggling with depression or anxiety, just listen. Then listen more. Then keep listening. It is so tempting to put in your opinion, give advice, or turn the conversation back to yourself. Be present with that person and sit with their story.

Love

Finally, may we truly be the Church towards those who are hurting and demonstrate love. Not love if they get better. Not tough love to teach them a lesson. Actual, real, agape love with no strings and no expectations. Love them for who they are and where they are at. Let them be on their own journey and choose to walk alongside. Make a meal, give a ride, babysit, mow a lawn. Whatever your spiritual gift is, use it to love that person who is suffering. When we love, we embody the Spirit of God just as Christ did while on earth. May it be said of the Church that we demonstrated compassion and love to every person we encountered no matter the struggle.

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Groups, Workshops, and Classes: How the Church Therapist Can Expand the Reach

Church Therapy is primarily focused on providing mental health services such as individual, couple, and family counseling in the church setting. However, the Church Therapist can play a key role in the life of the church in many other ways. In the infographic explaining the Church Therapy model, consultation is mentioned, and this is primarily done with the pastors on specific cases or general questions about mental health issues.

For the general congregation, the Church Therapist can be a valuable resource even for those who do not directly seek counseling services. For example, I lead a weekly Recovery Group that is free and open to anyone. Other ideas could include peer-support groups for mental illness that the Church Therapist oversees as well as issue-specific groups like a trauma group or depression group. This type of group therapy can be billed through insurance companies.

The Church Therapist can also offer workshops. I offer psychoeducational workshops on my books as well as other helpful materials out there related to emotional health for the Christian life. Workshops can be half-day or full-day, and can be held in the church auditorium to avoid overhead costs of renting space. Making this type of event a norm in your church helps keep mental health at the forefront of conversation and offers people valuable tools for their own positive growth.

Finally, the Church Therapist can teach Sunday School or elective classes on topics related to mental health and the Christian life. I have created an 8-week small group curriculum designed to decrease stigma and educate Christians about mental illness. These classes can provide education for the whole congregation, whether or not they personally struggle with mental health issues. This information helps create a culture of understanding which goes a long way when a person comes to anyone in the church expressing a struggle.

The presence of a therapist on staff at a church creates a culture that has an ongoing dialogue about emotional and mental health issues. This culture, through all the various ways the Church Therapist engages with the congregation, opens doors of safety for those who are suffering so that they can get the help they need.

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What is Mental Illness?

I often speak about the Church’s response to “mental illness.” Often used interchangeably are words like “mental health issues” or “emotional struggles.” Defining these terms is important in this dialogue, as doing so ensures that we all know exactly what types of problems we are trying to address.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition (DSM-5) states this definition:

“A mental disorder is a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning” (p. 20).

The term “mental illness” can conjure up a variety of images, including other problems (such as homelessness or addiction issues) that sometimes co-occur with severe and chronic mental illnesses. Movies like A Beautiful Mind or Girl, Interrupted portray psychotic symptoms that are present with disorders such as schizophrenia. But are these mental models accurate when we think of the term “mental illness”? When we speak of the Church’s response to mental illness, are we simply trying to reach these severe cases?

Mental illness is far more common than we realize. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, in any given year 20% of American adults experience symptoms of a mental illness.  This means that 1 in every 5 people are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, adjustment disorders, PTSD and many other mental illnesses each year. Some may argue that those statistics might not represent the Church, as a faith and hope in Christ would offer a way out of these symptoms. However, if the Church is doing its job to reach the hurting, then our churches should be filled with more suffering, not less.

Notice that the statistic says 1 in 5 each year. That means that mental illness is not forever. Many people experience a single episode of depression that resolves with temporary medication and treatment and they never experience mental illness again. For others, mental illness is a chronic disease that requires life-long management. The Church can and should be a beacon of hope to the suffering, and hopefulness has a healing impact spiritually, psychologically, and biologically. But as with any illness, simply becoming a Christian will not make the symptoms go away. It is in this way that we as the Church must have a continual response of acceptance, love, and understanding to avoid stigmatizing and shaming those who continue to struggle throughout their journey with Christ.

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Why We Blame People For Their Mental Illnesses

Most people in and out of the Church can accept that mental illness is real when manifested in a visible way. Someone who has witnessed a person with schizophrenia in a psychotic episode would have no doubt that that illness is real (though some in the Church might actually assess that as demon possession). But what about someone living in reckless ways during a manic episode of bipolar disorder? What about someone who struggles with suicidal thoughts? Where is their faith? Is that sin or illness or both? Are those even the right questions to be asking?

Enter a theology of sin that is not big enough for biological factors to be at play. Those of us Christians who have the privilege of being mentally well generally believe that we are able to control all of our thoughts and choices. When we are tempted, we need to flee from temptation. When we worry, we need to cast our cares on God. These are the responsibilities of the Christian to stay on the narrow path. Perhaps even in this theology we place ourselves in too powerful a position over our own lives. We have to remember that if we have it together, that is solely by the grace of God. Romans 9:16 is helpful here: “So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.”

But how do malfunctions of the brain factor in here? Are some more capable of self-control than others? In my book, On Edge: Mental Illness in the Christian Context, I use an example of a person with developmental disabilities. Certainly (hopefully!) no one would expect a person of limited intellectual capacity to have a well-developed theology in order to enter the kingdom of God. (And by the way this is not a requirement Jesus placed on anyone regardless of capacity.) Can, for example, a non-verbal person with autism receive salvation if they cannot understand the Gospel and cannot “confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord”? Or are they shut out from the Kingdom?

Similarly, a person struggling with depression may not be able to consistently engage at church. They may struggle with doubt or have thoughts of killing themselves. Is this because of a lack of faith? Or is their disordered brain incapable of overcoming these thoughts no matter how much faith they try to muster? And why is it their responsibility to fix this themselves?

This is where the Church has to do its job: demonstrate love and compassion. Why is it not the entire Church’s responsibility to spiritually carry those who are struggling to carry themselves? Why do we not enter into these situations to offer care and non-judgmental support? Why do we have to have a neat and tidy explanation and evaluate the person’s spiritual standing before helping them?

I would like to challenge the Church to rise up to support, love and defend those with mental illness even when we don’t know how to understand or explain it. Let us reach out with open arms to those who are marginalized, misunderstood and downtrodden. Let’s show the love of Jesus and get off the judgment seat in every way. Messages from the pulpit that support a “try harder” theology are unhelpful for all of us. May we live and preach the Gospel in its entirety.

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NEW Interview!

This week I was privileged to be interviewed for the second time for the Church & Mental Health (CXMH) podcast. In the interview, I share my thoughts about how I see the tides turning in the conversations about mental health in the church.

Listen to the interview here.

I’d love to hear your reactions and thoughts — post a comment below and be sure to subscribe to this great podcast!