Philosophy

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" background="009bc0d3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Freedom Rains Ministries</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Freedom Rains Ministries"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div>                                                   </div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" background="009bc0d3.jpg"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Philosophy</I></div> <div>  <html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=windows-1252"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 9"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 9"> <link rel=File-List href="./Philosophy_for_Christian_Counseling%5B1%5D_files/filelist.xml"> <title>Lighthouse Counseling and Life Coaching</title>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight: normal'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Cynthia A. Thomas, LCSW<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight: normal'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>My Philosophy for Christian Counseling<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight: normal'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>The training I have as a therapist is combined with scripture and prayer as a part of each session. When I counsel from a faith-based perspective, my treatment style leans strongly toward Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I believe that the call of Romans 12:1-2 for the renewal of our minds is key to the transformation we can expect to go through when we dedicate ourselves as a living sacrifice to our God and go from one degree of glory to the next growing toward Christlikeness (2 Corinthians 3:17-18.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The renewal of our minds to a way of thinking that is in line with our faith is the truth which will set us free. (John 8:32)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>In counseling from a faith-based perspective, it is important that I am focused on how I can best represent my God as His ambassador in order to facilitate the ministry of reconciliation in whatever situation is presenting itself (2 Corinthians 5:16-20.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I try to offer the hope of God creating all things new. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I offer the truth that Jesus Christ came into the world not to condemn us for everything we’re doing wrong, but to save us for abundant life now and eternal life to come (John 3:16-17; John 10:10.) <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>My goal in a faith-based session is to assist the counselee toward having an encounter with the living God who created them and wants to lead them, every day, in His good plan for their lives (Jeremiah 29:11.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ultimately, He will be their Wonderful Counselor for the rest of their lives (Isaiah 9:6.) <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>My sessions often end with a homework assignment and a “scripture prescription” that the counselee is to meditate on throughout the week.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Authors whose material I frequently use in counseling sessions:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class=MsoNormal><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>1-<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>     </span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Dr. Neil T. Anderson </span><span style='font-size: 13.0pt'>(Freedom in Christ Ministries)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>2-<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>     </span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Dr. H. Norman Wright </span><span style='font-size: 13.0pt'>(Talbot School of Theology- Marriage & family counselor)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>3-<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>     </span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Dr. Gary Chapman<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>(wrote</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>The Five Love Languages</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>4-<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>     </span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Jimmy Evans </span><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>(wrote</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>Marriage On the Rock, Freedom From Your Past</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>5-<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>     </span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Rick Warren </span><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>(wrote</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>The Purpose Driven Life</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>6-<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>     </span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Jerry Bridges </span><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>(wrote</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> <i style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>The Discipline of Grace)</i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>7-<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>     </span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Dr. James Dobson </span><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>(Focus on the Family)</span><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>8-<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>     </span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Dennis & Barbara Rainey </span><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>(FamilyLife- marriage and family ministry) <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> </body> </html>  </div> </td> </tr></table></body>