The stereotypes would have us believe that those who see a therapist are broken, crazy, weak, incapable or lesser-than. My experience has been the opposite. Those I work with are quite strong in many ways, not least in their willingness to face the pain and suffering that comes with change. They have more than the usual ability to be vulnerable, and by owning their brokenness, show forth the glory of humanity. (More on that here) They have often given me the gift of seeing the world through their eyes, and it can be a beautiful view. Today I celebrate those shared moments by sharing some of the images or metaphors with which they have described their experience. *
Suffering and Sadness as Stairs to Freedom Read More →
By our nature as humans, we need others. Giving and receiving help is as human as breathing. God looked at Adam and said (essentially): “You’re gonna need some help.” So He provided Adam with a helpmate. Across our lifespan, we turn to others for help: to our parents for nurturing, our teachers for education, our doctors for all our physical ills. We turn to spouses and best friends to soothe us during the bruises of life, and we turn to our church community to revive our weary, broken, wayward souls. We do not think twice about seeking help from these people, but there is one person from whom many people still hesitate to seek help: a therapist (a.k.a psychologist, psychotherapist, or counselor). 
So I am sure you know that there is no conflict between science and revelation. If I asked, you would tell me that when science discovers truth, it cannot conflict with religious revelation because the truths of science and the Church have their source in the same Author. But nevertheless, sometimes it is alleged that “science” disproves/replaces/invalidates religion.
When I was growing up older folks often spoke of a “mid-life crisis.” Hitting forty was usually the critical period they had in mind. These days I’ve noticed it hits a lot sooner. Maybe it’s because we live in a “youth culture” that forces the questions of aging and being successful a lot quicker. Maybe it’s just the stress. But these days, there’s just something about the mid-thirties that hits a lot of folks. I was no exception. My mid-thirties were difficult years for me—years filled with anxiety and self-doubt.
A friend recently asked me how someone might know when they may be ready to consider taking medication for emotional or psychological concerns. This is an important question and one that strikes at the heart of a complex and still emerging field of research. I first want to emphatically note that I am not a psychiatrist or medical doctor and what follows is