Bethel Center for Psychotherapy

pirituality is an important aspect of being human. It refers to the soul or spirit, the non-physical part of ourselves. 12-step programs, which have been very helpful in recovery from alcoholism, codependency, eating disorders, and other addictive behaviors, strongly emphasize spiritual principles. This is a major contribution to the success of these programs.  In addition, people of faith feel that the essence of being spiritual is to also have a relationship with God.

Research on spirituality

Research has indicated that people of faith live longer, are happier and healthier than others, and when they do have to be hospitalized, their hospital stays are shorter.

Depression and spirituality

It has also been shown that religious people tend to recover more quickly from depression. This may apply to anxiety disorders as well.

Physical health and illness

People who pray and who are prayed for recover more quickly from surgery.

Therapy and spirituality

Since spirituality is part of that unseen, intangible aspect of a person, as are emotions and other aspects of the psyche, it only makes sense that when a person is struggling with emotional, behavioral, and relational issues that they also consider their spirituality.

The therapists at Bethel Center are very qualified to include spiritual considerations for those people who desire that.

Counseling from a Christian perspective means that we do good psychology but also see the value of the spiritual in helping a person resolve their emotional issues.

There are several aspects to it:

• Some people who come from a religious background have misunderstandings about faith and Scripture that complicate their emotional issues. Or they have other people telling them they'd be OK if they just prayed more or went to church more. Counselors at Bethel Center know how to help them find answers to these questions.

• For those people who want it, certain biblical principles can be an additional resource in their therapy. Counselors at Bethel Center are able to include that resource when it is appropriate.
•  Some individuals are interested in having a Christian counselor who will respect their faith, or even incorporate it into the psychotherapeutic process. Therapists at Bethel Center are trained to do that for those individuals.