Faith enters our work only as much as you want it to. Nothing is assumed, and nothing is imposed.
How I think about spirituality, the questions it raises, and my own path are on the home page. This page is about what pastoral psychotherapy can offer when faith has hurt, and what healing can mean.
When faith itself has been a source of hurt
Many people have been raised in ways that damaged their sense of their own place in the world: through frightening religious views, human betrayal and hypocrisy, and teachings about goodness that were built on punishment and obligation rather than grace and love. That includes people whose sexuality, gender or way of loving was condemned by the community they grew up in. You will not be asked to defend who you are here.
Because I have been trained in theology as well as psychotherapy, I can help you make fine distinctions for yourself between helpful and unhelpful expressions of faith and doctrine. I can help you feel into where your beliefs are supporting your health and well-being, and where they feel like they are creating problems for you — whether you want to keep your faith, reshape it, or set it down.
Whole, hale, holy
Healing is one of many English words like whole, hale (and hearty), health and holy that developed from the same ancient root. True healing is about allowing the whole of our experience to be integrated, to live without hiding parts of ourselves away as unlovable. To allow everything in us that needs a voice to be allowed to speak. To see and be seen. To experience profound wellness in body, mind, spirit and relationships.