Therapist-Psychologist.com - Articles - Spirituality and Religion

Turning the Anguish of Grief and Loss into Hope and Healing

no@spam.com (Beth Patterson) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:30:00 PDT

Grief, Loss and Transformation
Beth S. Patterson, MA

Feelings of pain from the loss of a loved one can be hard on our emotions, but are a normal and healthy part of life. Feelings of grief from even small losses in day-to-day life transitions at home or work can also make us feel overwhelmed, but are also normal. The hard part is to get through the door that leads to a place of healing and peace.

In my practice, I use a strength and health based approach. I believe that each human being possesses inherent wisdom to access their strengths and resilience in times of suffering. In the journey of grief and loss, your strengths can be obscured by the intensity of your feelings of helplessness and loss. I can help you create some space around that intensity, to give a new perspective and hope for change, transformation, and transition in your life.

Allowing ourselves to deeply feel our pain in a safe environment can open us to acceptance and peace. By allowing ourselves to experience and express our suffering, we can see that suffering is common to all, and that understanding helps us find a meaningful way to grow, transform hopelessness into hope and possibility. When you experience your own unique grief, you can tap into its universality which will lessen feelings of hopelessness and isolation. You will also feel a deeper connection with others and the human condition. This is the transpersonal and transformative work of healing grief.

If you are experiencing grief or loss, I can help you navigate life’s difficult transitions and transform them into healing and growth.
Call me at 303-817-8571 or e-mail me at bethpatt@mac.com.

Pastoral Counseling: A Christian Alternative

no@spam.com (Matthew Pandel) — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 00:00:00 PST

Here’s the dilemma: Your marriage is in serious disarray, you have been meeting with your pastor for months all to no avail. Everything you know to do has been done and you are at the end of your rope. You feel a divorce is your next step. What do you do? For millions of American Christians the only answer to this question was: nothing. Secular psychology, which often runs counter to your faith, has traditionally been unable to meet the needs of practicing Christians and those with problems that reach beyond their pastor’s capabilities. But thankfully there is a new trend developing in the mental health field: pastoral counseling.

On Being Mr. Miyagi

no@spam.com (Mary DuParri) — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 00:00:00 PST

On my journey to finding my truer self, I keep having thoughts about Mr. Miyagi. He is the character from the movie Karate Kid; the Sensei or master who is ostensibly training his student in karate skills, but is really training him in life skills and wisdom. What draws me so about Mr. Miyagi is the richness of his life. In Karate Kid, we eavesdrop on a man who seems to be strongly connected to his inner self.