Where this is going

I have led a pretty charmed life. I had (still have) a great, stable family. I didn’t make many bad choices in my growing up years that would have long-lasting effects. I didn’t think I had “issues.” So I was the last person in the world that I thought needed counseling.

But when my dr prescribed my first medicine, he made me promise to see someone to help me with “stress management.” That started me on a search for a counselor that (1) felt comfortable with their philosophy, and (2) was covered by my insurance. I didn’t have much luck. I did end up seeing someone who has helped me understand the ins and outs of my disorder, and helped me with practical, hands-on ways that I can manage my life and family better. But we don’t talk about much personal stuff because I don’t think she would help me much in that area.

I didn’t think that I needed counseling for anything else. What emotional issues could I possibly need to work out? This was all a medical issue, right? One of my closest friends is involved with Exchanged Life, a non-profit center whose version of counseling is different than traditional counseling. They help you to understand how God will meet your inmost needs instead of just managing your emotions when your needs are not met by others. She encouraged me to go there, again and again. I resisted, again and again. However, I was starting to see that I wasn’t so perfect after all (surprise, surprise). Even though I’ve never been through rehab, or been horribly victimized, or anything else like that, I realized that I didn’t need to be to need counseling. I’m still someone who spent the majority of my life developing systems of meeting my own needs that don’t really work. Even though I’ve been following Christ for a long time, many of these systems still exist (and still don’t work).

Because Exchanged Life does not accept insurance, I wasn’t able to go to them for counseling. But through many turns in the road, I ended up being sponsored to take a class at the Center that is the beginning of a certification to be a counselor there. What a blessing this has been! Just going through it, has been like counseling for me. This first semester has been much of a “theology” class, learning the true definition of the “exchanged life.”

Gal. 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me. This life that I now live in the flesh, I live through Christ, who loves me and gave himself up for me.

Some of this blog will be things I’m learning there. Next semester (God-willing with a new baby!), I’ll be in a class with more training on how to counsel people. Then there will be many hours of co-counseling before I’ll be able to do it on my own. It’s a long road, but I’m excited about it.

I remember back when I wrote my first post, how I thought I was on the cusp of something new. I had no idea.