no counselor

[DLL]

i have been searching for a counselor to see who might be more sensitive to the type of conduct and discipline i have been through. i found a good website a while back and made a short list of some of the possibilities,(FEW).
i had emailed one place and never got a response, so tried a few others. i finally got up the nerve to actually call and leave a voice message because i really need to talk to someone. no one has called back yet!!
do you think that maybe GOD is saying something to me?? i have been reading alot the last couple of weeks, and something in almost every chapter brings me to tears. i, like kerrin, have no one really to share with because i view my husband as the enemy, just as much as this church. i have no "soft place to fall" except here., and feel like i have to live my life on eggshells in my house! i have so many questions, some of the same questions ive already asked but need to ask again, but i want a "specialist", (so to speak) to answer them for me. not just opinions. i dont want somebody taking my side just because its me. i want somebody to tell me what i need to know.
sorry for the pity party. maybe he's on vacation or something :confused:
luv u guys

[jjc9497]

I sure understand about finding a good counselor. It can be very hard--especially when dealing with spiritual abuse issues. I actually found help in a Christian 12-step program. Even though I don't have drug or alcohol addiction problems, the 12-step community is a very honest, truthtelling community. I have even had 2 different sponsers, who in my opinion have been better for me than the counseling. Counseling always seemed strange and unbiblical to me because it is a paid relationship--and I don't see that in scripture anywhere. My sponser was the first person in my life who was there for me, without expecting anything from me in turn, andwho voluntarily gave of her time and wisdom to help me. This alone was very healing for me. I'm just grateful all these people let me be part of their group.

[DLL]

how do i find a program like that?? or sponsor? what do they do?

[ex-shep]

I can empathize with the frustration of trying to find a counselor familiar with spiritual abuse or cult mind control dynamics. I had to refer my social worker at the time to a Social Work magazine article on treating cult recovery. At least she had the presence of mind to recognize the citation and know this was out of her league.

As far as local referrals are concerned, you may try contact cult rresearchcenters for suggestions. Christian RResearchInstitute definitely recognizes spiritual abuse. Watchman Fellowship and Trinity Foundation, Dallas TX come to mind. The latter has a toll free victims hotline. If you can afford to use the regular land line number to help ddefraytheir eexpenses they would appreciate it. If you are broke and ddesperate that is what is there for. New Life Clinics, the Miniereth MMierClinics, and Lifeway Counseling Centers have therapists conversant in spiritual abuse and cult recovery issues. Wellspring Retreat Center can provide local referrals.

Some secular resources which have been a lifeline for me in my early days of recovery are Bill and Lorna Goldberg and International Cultic Studies. Both have a good list of referrals.

One thought why therapy may be helpful is some members still have unresolved family of origin baggage prior to the group involvement. There is a group who can be predispose to destructive group involvement. Of course there are those who were in the right place at the wrong time-- and the rest is history.

If you cannot find a suitable therapist, 12 groups such as Codepenndents Anonymous and Al Anon can be supportive too. If you have find a helpful niche in the christian 12 step groups, feel free to use it. Best wishes in your recovery

[Janice]

how do i find a program like that?? or sponsor? what do they do?


Any Alcoholics Annon, Narcotics Annon, Alanon, etc are 12 step programs. They are all over the place, just check your local listings for time and place.

A sponsor, is someone from one of these meetings (usually of the same sex) that is kind of like a "mentor". This person helps you work the steps and gives you someone to be accountable to.

[jjc9497]

The group I attend is affiliated with Celebrate Recovery out of Saddleback Church (Rick Warren's church--author of Purpose Driven Life). You can google Celebrate Recovery and find programs in your area. If you find one that has a large program, they may have a support group just for abuse issues. Mine has about 200 attending and has groups for anything from addiction issues to eating disorders, grief, marital problems, abuse, co-dependency, etc. It's great to be in a group of Christians who can be honest about struggling with God and difficult life issues. The thing I like about Celebrate Recovery is that Jesus Christ is clearly the "higher power" who can heal us and help us change.

Many large churches have 12-step programs or recovery support groups that also recognize Christ as the higher power.

As said in a previous post, a sponser is someone who is just farther along in the process who helps you work the steps (the steps are really just a process to work thru facing problems, seeking forgiveness from God and others, and getting right with God)

Good luck in finding a group.

[Kerrin]

:o
Sorry ,I just feel helpless.
I'm here though , and reading ,and I can pray if that is of help in some small way. :o
Sometimes wish I weren't so far away.........sometimes not. :(
Love
Kerrin ;)

[DLL]

thanks kerrin and everybody,
one of the counselors finally called me yesterday and took down some info. they are supposed to call me today to see if they can let me see them. if not, its back to you guys. youll just have to pass along some therapy for me. yes ,please pray. things are heating up here and i need to do some things and make some decisions, so please pray that GOD will open AND close doors as needed. because alot of times, i just too into myself to know what GOD wants me to do next.
thanks

[Theodora]

thanks kerrin and everybody,
one of the counselors finally called me yesterday and took down some info. they are supposed to call me today to see if they can let me see them. if not, its back to you guys. youll just have to pass along some therapy for me. yes ,please pray. things are heating up here and i need to do some things and make some decisions, so please pray that GOD will open AND close doors as needed. because alot of times, i just too into myself to know what GOD wants me to do next.
thanks

Just wanted you to know that I'd seen your post and will be keeping you and yours in prayer. Difficult times....but I DO think you're doing well!!!

Blessings---

Theodora

[Theodora]

Just wanted you to know that I'd seen your post and will be keeping you and yours in prayer. Difficult times....but I DO think you're doing well!!!

Blessings---

Theodora

WHAT a DIFFICULT, complicated picture indeed. I've not really been able to follow all the in's and out's of what's going on at the moment, so won't give you my initial take on this. However--Putting some of this in writing---whether or not you choose to "do" anything with this at the moment---might be a good way of both defining your feelings/the situation AND letting things cool down a bit.

Prayers for all continue per your request.

Theodora

[Jerry]

Dear Dll,,,,,,,,,,
How can you hope to find the "Truth" when the environment your in does not know the "Truth"???????????,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,GET OUT !!!!!
Love Jerry