*This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment with a healthcare professional.
Today I thought that I would discuss choosing a therapist. These statements come from my experience. Choosing my therapist was scary, but some of the things I considered made the process easier to get through.
So, I chose my first one-on-one therapist around the age of 19. I had just returned to Maryland from college in Pennsylvania. I had left the fun of college and all my Resident Assistant responsibilities and came home.
Honestly, it was the best thing for me because I had begun to experience some agoraphobia. I was afraid to leave my dorm room. I stopped going to the cafeteria, going to class, and going to meetings. It was time for me to get down to what I was struggling with, get help, and talk to someone professional.
Factor One For Choosing My Therapist
The first factor my mother, father, and I considered was what therapists we knew. My mother was familiar with a female LCSW who had worked with the family in the past. She was also great with girls who were around my age. That was a bonus, so she received a big checkmark of YES.
RECAP: My factor number one is to go to a referred therapist or the family’s former therapist.
Factor Two For Choosing My Therapist
The next factor is the flow of our conversation. It is imperative that I feel comfortable opening up to a therapist. Generally, once I complete the initial evaluation and come back for the second session, I can soundly decide if they will be a good fit.
I’m looking to feel the following:
Unjudged
Heard
Understood
Respected of my values and faith
Advocated for
Here’s a word of advice from myself, a patient:
“Don’t throw in the towel on your therapist search too quickly. Do what some may call shop around. Don’t give up on finding the professional who can assist in your healing.”
RECAP: My factor number two is comfortability with the therapist.
Factor Three For Choosing My Therapist
Finally, factor three is “Will I see success with this therapist?” Just as I value the conversation with the therapist, the effectiveness of my sessions is key.
This final factor is crucial. I do not want to waste time and money in inadequate therapy sessions when I should be healing.
Most sessions I expect to leave with:
a question to consider
problem-solving skills
an assignment
a breakthrough
newfound hope
If I consistently see that this is not happening, I will consider alternatives. The one thing I will never do is completely cut off therapy. I believe in it too much. Therapy is a part of my mental wellness toolbox.
RECAP: My factor number three is the effectiveness of the sessions.
Conclusion
I hope that this post gave you some ideas for when you need to choose a therapist. Again, this is my personal experience, so I want to leave you with scholarly sources for more in-depth information.
American Psychological Association. (2019, October 17). How to choose a psychologist.
'And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” '
I know from experience that mental illness is a long journey. Like the woman with the issue of blood, I suffered daily for years. It sometimes seemed never-ending. It became worse over time. At one point, I refused to believe that God could heal me. I had no faith that the pain, the confusion, and the anguish could weaken and become non-existent.
Among this defeat, people of prayer constantly lifted my name and my circumstances to God. Essentially, all those who prayed for me stood in the gap, praying for my relationship with God and healing. Eventually, I began to welcome God again into my everyday life. My heart began to soften.
During this time of reconciliation, I went to a conference for women. There I realized my distance from God had stripped me of my faith. At this conference, we had nightly services. During the end of one service, I went forward to the altar for prayer. I desperately wanted to be healed in my mind and free from the pain in my abdomen from anxiety.
Like the woman with the issue of blood, I pressed toward the altar. I was weak from all the pain, but I knew in my heart that going to that altar for prayer would be a declaration that I believed God could heal me. I had faith that He is mighty to heal and deliver, just like the woman with the issue of blood.
For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”
The apostle Dr. Monique Flemings, met me at the altar. She already had the discernment to pray over my mind and my abdomen. It was such a supernatural experience in the presence of God. As she prayed, she encouraged me to be set free. She told me I must believe in my healing and freedom for myself.
I did and after that prayer, I knew I was free like the woman with the issue of blood.
'And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” '
God’s power had broken through the mental stronghold that had me bound. Before the end of the conference, Dr. Flemings reminded me to stay free. And I have ever since. I have my bad days, but I am no longer in spiritual and mental bondage by bipolar 2 disorder, PTSD, depression, or anxiety.
My sister, you too are able to have the faith to believe in healing for your mind. God has not forgotten you in your pain. Having faith like the woman with the issue of blood will allow you to be free from bondage in your spirit and mind. You may still have a clinical diagnosis, depressive days, and anxious days, but you will not be in bondage by it. You can still have abundant life like God intended you to.
Finally, I have to tell you how I stay spiritually and mentally free. I fervently pray over my mind and cast down high thoughts that are lies. I also read my Bible almost daily and worship when I feel weak.
If you have been suffering for some time, choose now life without bondage. Reach out to God and receive His healing power. I suggest therapy and other mental wellness tools and strategies as well. Please know that I’m praying for you, your faith, and your strength to stay free. You got this!
Pray this week:
Dear Heavenly Father, I have suffered for so long. I have even waivered from my faith in you. I need restoration. I want to believe in your power to heal. Once I am healed from bondage I want to stay free. I desire to be well, and I confess you are my source of power and strength to be free. I place my faith in you and embrace freedom through Jesus Christ.
In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen
Join my free prayer circle for support from a community of women who pray for one another everyday.
Do you want to become a believer today? I’ll show you how here.
I have to say it has been quite a journey building Her Faith Walk over the past year and a half. I’ve gone back and forth between subject matter and struggled to submit to God’s vision. I’m not proud of this, but I have to be truthful about it.
I’ve never had an issue with evangelizing, praying, and promoting the study of God’s word. I’ve never had reservations about the conversation on faith. After all, the ministry’s name is Her Faith Walk. But, I have had difficulty being fully transparent and willing to share my successes and setbacks in my mental health.
Before I received the assignment of online ministry, I had no problems sharing my mental health journey. There may have even been times where I overshared. But, when the time came to couple my journey with my mission to spread the gospel, I began to close off.
If you wonder why this was, let me explain. I believe that the enemy never wants a testimony to reach the person that needs to hear it. He does his best to distract us from our assignment and silence our story. When stories include the goodness of God, Satan doesn’t want it told.
John 10:10 says,
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
The enemy wants to steal everything God has given us, including our testimony. He comes to kill and destroy and prevent our story from being heard. He wishes that no one becomes saved through the power of our testimony.
However, Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly. Therefore, God’s desire is for our souls to be saved from eternal death and for us to have life to the full.
Sometimes hearing or seeing the testimony of our lives is the only Jesus a person will see.You and I both need to remember this and take our testimony, witness, and assignment seriously.
As I move forward with Her Faith Walk, I am now intentional about fulfilling God’s desires. It’s all about Him, and I want more of Him to shine through and less of me. Women’s lives are and will continue to be touched by me sharing the highs and lows of my journey living with a mental illness. They will change by the goodness of God that shines through it all.
In conclusion, our God assignments are powerful, and we cannot allow the enemy to distract us from them. We must stay in prayer and obedience. Let’s open our mouths and declare the goodness of God in our lives. Let’s show the world how He has allowed us to overcome.
Grab the March Free Resource, The Deliverance Prayer Challenge here.
'By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. '
In the past, I have found myself wondering if the Lord would do as He promised concerning my mental health. Doubt has come when I felt like I would not see the promise of God fulfilled.
I have had ups in downs in my faith. There have been times I’ve doubted healing, deliverance, and a sound mind was going to happen for me. Have you also been holding onto a promise from God and sometimes feel like you won’t make it to that promise?
In Hebrews 11:17-19, we see a picture of the unwavering faith of a man named Abraham. God asked Him to sacrifice his only son Issac, despite Issac being a part of the plan to the promise.
Before we move on, let’s review the promise in Genesis 26:4…
"I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,"
Issac is the man by which Abraham’s offspring would come. However, Abraham knew that God’s promise would be fulfilled despite God telling him to sacrifice hisonly son Isaac. (Genesis 22:2-3)
Abraham believed even if he sacrificed Issac, God could bring the boy back to life.
That is FAITH!
We read in Genesis 22:11-12 that just as Abraham goes to slaughter his son, the angel of the Lord appears. The angel of the Lord says not to lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. The angel of the Lord knew based upon Abraham’s willingness to give his son that he feared God.
In Genesis 22:13, Abraham looks up to find a ram caught by its horns in a thicket.
God provided the sacrifice, just as Abraham believed he would! (Genesis 22:8)
I have found that faithfulness to believe in God’s promises for healing is where the journey to wholeness began for me.
So can you believe by faith that whatever your promise is, God will do as He said He would?
I encourage you to believe God in faith and to walk obediently. Your promise will come to pass. I know this because my mental health has improved throughout the past several years. I’ve seen God do and continue to fulfill His promise of healing to me.
I praise God that I have been free from self-harm for nearly two years. Additionally, I no longer struggle with suicidal ideation.
God is faithful sis!
In closing, Confess to God that you will stand in faith for His promise to you. If you don’t feel that you can, ask God for strength to believe that all His promises are yes and amen. He will strengthen you, which will build your faith in Him.
Pray this week:
Dear God, I need your help. I want to have faith in every promise you’ve made to me, but sometimes it can be difficult. I know that you know this about me already. Since you understand me better than anyone else, remind me of the times you have never failed me in the past. Show me how to live in your will and in obedience to you. Help me believe with the faith I have to give you. Thank you.
In Jesus’ Mighty Name,
Amen
Join my free prayer circle for support from a community of women who pray for one another everyday.
Do you want to become a believer today? I’ll show you how here.
So, today I’m letting you ladies know where I’ve been…
But first, let me start by sharing that a large part of who I’ve been can be described by how I respond to life’s circumstances. I am and have always been sensitive. This sensitivity became even more obvious to me when I discovered the imbalance of the chemicals in my brain.
I live with bipolar disorder. This is nothing new to me, to be honest. My bipolar journey spans back to age 21. So it’s been a minute.
For the past several months I’ve been on a mental and emotional roller coaster. I’ve been on and off of my platforms more since August 2021. The loss of my pet last August led me deep into an ocean of sensitive emotions. My feelings of despair caught up with my chemical imbalance and life got pretty rocky.
All this to say, I learned something pretty eye-opening recently, which has led me back here.
It’s this…I can no longer allow feelings of oppression to catapult me into despair and pessimism.
From experience, I know that my tendency to be pessimistic about life leaves me in daily depression and a cycle of bipolar highs and lows.
I’ll have a journey with bipolar for the rest of my life. But, now I know something pretty amazing…
I still have some control over this thing!
Feelings are ok, but allowing them to control my everyday outlook on life is not. I may feel awful about something, but that doesn’t mean everything is awful.
So, it’s been a couple of weeks of work so far, but I’m working on not judging my life based on my sensitive feelings. I’m facing my feelings but choosing to still stand in faith with a perspective that I can still see life as a blessing. A blessing that I want to be a part of daily.
Also, I have to give credit where it is due. The Holy Spirit, @morgantracyj – my ministry mentor, and therapy all helped me come to this realization.
Since childhood, oppression has worked its hardest to attach itself to me, but no more will I be a slave to it.
Pray for my strength, my sisters-in-Christ!
Finally, I have to tell you that ministry has become a part of my daily life, and I’m committed to sharing my love for God, the power of prayer, and who He is in His word with all of you.
So if you see me fall off and it is on your heart, reach out and check on me. I’m praying I can do the same thing for you through my ministry.
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