Christian Counseling
Biblical. Compassionate. Trained & Experienced. Honest & Real.
Authentic Christian Counseling
This world can be overwhelming. God gave us each other to help us get through, and one way to make that happen is to create spaces where we can be authentic in our struggles with life and faith.
Christians need help from Christians. I believe that to walk out our faith, we don't have to do it in solitude. Should you choose to hire me as your therapist, I will be direct and honest with you, but you have my assurance that I will not give you any self-righteous, holier-than-thou psychobabble.
I'm a normal Texas Joe who has wanted to minister to hurting people since I was fifteen. I take time to listen and learn before speaking up, but I will shoot straight and give my opinion and useful advice when necessary. I can help anyone feel comfortable with me — teenagers and 95-year-old's, tough street guys, middle class women, and the classy, well-off crowd, people from every race or culture.
I love people.
I genuinely care for my clients and view them as people I have a real relationship with, not just someone I can professionally talk down to. I will use love, sound Biblical teaching, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, 30 years of counseling experience, and 40 years of ministry to help you.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Psychology is the study of humans. Who knows us better than our Maker? What better psychology text book is there than the Bible? Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) fits perfectly into Biblical teachings ("as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7). It's a practice that gets to the root of one's heart issues and how it affects the way we live. CBT is also very well-researched and is one of the most established therapies.
Increasing your faith is the best way to improve your mental health, but it's not that easy!
Christians are saved, but still human. We will get down sometimes, and it's hard to get back up.
Depression, anxiety and relationship problems can affect everyone — even Christians. You try to lean on God's grace and mercy and believe that in the power of Jesus. However, this does not mean you are free from dealing with the problems of this world. This world is not your home (Heb 13:14), and you are not meant to ever be perfectly comfortable here. To put it simply and bluntly, this world sucks. It is difficult, and it is understandable to get overwhelmed and discouraged.
Even though you are forgiven, you will still have your sinful nature this side of Heaven. You may still doubt or get depressed. You may become overwhelmed and afraid of being alone and rejected. Some may have problems with anger and maintaining good relationships. Issues with sexuality is a common problem, even for those with the best of intentions.
Yes, increasing your faith is indeed the best way to overcome and improve your mental health, but it's not always easy to have faith. It is not easy to "Let go and let God." There are many thoughts inside of us that block us from truly realizing our place in God's eyes so that we can let go of our selfishness and live for Him more than ourselves.
There are also many other methods and ways to gain new perspective, using not only Biblical truths but also various scientific and behavioral strategies and therapies to help you truly find peace and contentment no matter what storm of life you are in.
Jesus Used Parables — A Good Model to Follow
Jesus was a great Rabbi, or in other words, a great teacher. God made us, so obviously, He knows how people think and learn. Psychology is just the study of how humans think, feel, and act. Thus, God is the ultimate professor on psychology, and what better text book on psychology is there than the Bible?
Jesus used concepts that the every day man and woman can understand, but He pushed this understanding to a deeper level. Modern psychology calls this assimilation/accommodation and it is important in how we all learn, from childhood and throughout our lives. Of course, like all of psychology and medicine, we just put a label on these things, trying to comprehend God's great creation. He came up with it all, not psychology.
I try to be like Jesus in this, as I have always found it best to use parables, metaphors, and life's examples, to teach psychological concepts to my clients. I try hard not to use too much psychobabble or the latest social-media, pop-psychology lingo, but instead try to use normal, everyday language. My clients feel like they have a safe place to be fully open and honest in regards to their inner thoughts about themselves and others.
A Christian Counselor. A Full and Experienced Doctoral Psychologist.
Someone who is committed to help you use your faith to grow.
You need someone who can listen to you and really hear you, someone who can give you hope and help guide you to a better, stronger, happier place. You need someone who will not jump to conclusions and judge you for not having enough faith. You need someone to genuinely care and walk with you through your pain.
However, you need more than just that. You need someone who can give you a framework for organizing your life, your thoughts, your emotions. You need good Biblical Counseling and a tried and true system to teach you how to become aware of the deep and contradictory thoughts that are in your mind that can lead you to such negative emotions and self-defeating behavior.
Qualifications for Christian Counseling
Raised in Church by Christian parents.
Early involvement in ministering to people through Young Life, with the mentorship of Chuck Savale.
Developed early interest (age 15) in psychology and relationships. Read books like Dating - Guidelines from the Bible (first book read) and Larry Crabb's The Marriage Builder. Larry is a great foundational Christian Psychologist, who taught me Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, as well as how to fully integrate Psychology and Christianity.
Master's Degree from Wheaton College. Everything we learned about how to counsel others was filtered through the lens of the Bible.
Twenty-five years working in Nursing Homes, treating mostly Christians.
Led Men's ministry at my church, Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, home of Max Lucado, which taught me a great deal about helping men deal with their issues.
This is a Safe Place.
As with counseling in any area, every detail given in therapy will be held in the strictest of confidences. Privacy is held in extremely high regard. I would not reveal that you are even a client of mine, to even a spouse, without your permission.
Everything will be dealt with in a very professional and respectful manner. There will be absolutely no crossing of professional boundaries. This needs to be a completely safe place for both men and women.
There will also be no judging or shaming from me. I will not just look down on you as a terrible sinner. We are all sinners. I know I am! Yes, I will use the Bible as a fundamental source of truth and guide on how we should live our life, but it will be done with compassion and love.
Will This Really Help?
I guarantee that I will make the effort to personally get to know you and your specific story. Every person is unique and has worth. I will use my 25 years of doctoral experience, 30 years professional counseling total, and 35 years of ministering to help you understand yourself and find a path to healing.
In all these years, I have helped numerous clients learn to love themselves again and be more empowered to live their life boldly for God and others. I do try to work as fast as possible and take as few sessions as possible to resolve the issue.
There is never a guarantee in therapy that all your negative feelings and behaviors will go away. This is a difficult world. It is not out home. But there is definitely hope. Success is dependent upon a lot of factors. The client’s honesty and humility in examining their heart and desires and being open in sharing these with me, play a huge role in this outcome.
Tell Me Your Story.
I will listen, care, and help. Let's go on a journey together to help you get a grip on your life, learn how to use your faith to find true contentment, and find peace in your storm.
Setting up online therapy is easy-peasy
You can call, text, or contact me through this website. I will personally get back with you right away and schedule a time to meet. I will send you a quick email with a video link, and you are all set up.
You could contact me, set something up very soon, and feel better about your life in just a day or two.
I understand how hard life can be.
Let me help you.