The urge to feel connected to a Being, spirit or force greater than ourselves, or spirituality, is fundamental to humankind. This desire deserves to be heard and honored in counseling work, in whatever manner the client experiences it, just as the counselor hears and honors other goals of the client working toward wholeness, without acting to impose preconceived goals from the outside.
Since this urge is so powerful, sometimes anxiety or safety concerns can form around it. When OCD-type thoughts take on religious themes, this phenomenon is sometimes described as scrupulosity. Just as someone with typical OCD checks and re-checks to make sure the iron is unplugged or hands are washed, a scrupulous person examines his/her conscience exhaustively to make sure they have not sinned. In addition to pastoral counseling, therapy can be useful to allay the underlying anxiety, and support the person in return to peaceful spirituality.
Religious institutions have sometimes played into people’s desire for fixed rules and certainty. Top-down, fear-based systems encourage a culture of secrecy and accusation where abuse of many kinds can occur. Therapy can assist in the recovery of persons who have been victimized in whatever way – emotional, sexual, financial, physical, estrangement from loved ones – by those authorities that should have been held to the highest standard.
Andrea studied 1 year of sacramental theology with the Teresian fathers, and maintains personal spiritual practice. She strives to see the enduring value of mystical symbols, despite the failings of historical institutions that convey them.
Contact her here, to set up a time to speak.
Since this urge is so powerful, sometimes anxiety or safety concerns can form around it. When OCD-type thoughts take on religious themes, this phenomenon is sometimes described as scrupulosity. Just as someone with typical OCD checks and re-checks to make sure the iron is unplugged or hands are washed, a scrupulous person examines his/her conscience exhaustively to make sure they have not sinned. In addition to pastoral counseling, therapy can be useful to allay the underlying anxiety, and support the person in return to peaceful spirituality.
Religious institutions have sometimes played into people’s desire for fixed rules and certainty. Top-down, fear-based systems encourage a culture of secrecy and accusation where abuse of many kinds can occur. Therapy can assist in the recovery of persons who have been victimized in whatever way – emotional, sexual, financial, physical, estrangement from loved ones – by those authorities that should have been held to the highest standard.
Andrea studied 1 year of sacramental theology with the Teresian fathers, and maintains personal spiritual practice. She strives to see the enduring value of mystical symbols, despite the failings of historical institutions that convey them.
Contact her here, to set up a time to speak.
