Struggles?
“Everyone struggles with guilt, shame, worry, doubt, depression, anxiety, fear, or addiction. What if you could exchange that life for one of freedom, joy, peace, and victory? Are you interested?”
There is a common thread running through the lives of everyone: rejection. Whether this rejection is open, subtle, verbal, or physical, everyone has been affected by a lack of meaningful love. Dr. Solomon wrote, “Being rejected does not mean there is no love involved but that, for one reason or another, it is not fulfilling or edifying love. The result of rejection is usually the impaired ability to give and receive love.” So, rejection affects how we live and how we interact with others.
It is not just rejection that has shaped our lives but also a quest for identity. Most people think of themselves by what they do, what others say about them, or how they perceive themselves. This false view of identity is based on things, money, people, power, accomplishments, or a lack of them.
GFI counseling focuses on overcoming rejection and finding true, Christ-centered identity through discovering the healing power of God’s love and the resources to live abundantly through the Abiding Life (John 15:1-8). We counsel people to see that our identity is based on who we are in Christ, and it is to be claimed by faith, not by works. Dr. Solomon wrote, “We shed the trappings of the past by exchanging our fleshly identity for the Christ-life, by exchanging a life of defeat for a life of victory” (Galatians 2:20).
Spirituotherapy
Our counseling model has been trademarked “Spirituotherapy.” In order to understand ourselves, we need to appreciate how we are designed and function physically, psychologically, spiritually, and socially. Our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are affected by our version of the flesh—how we have been conditioned to live independently of God. However, by discovering and trusting in our co-death and co-resurrection with Christ, we can live according to God’s resources, and with a positive and secure identity in Jesus Christ. He declared, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
Spirituotherapy uses diagrams known as the wheel and the line. The wheel diagram is used to illustrate the difference between the self-life and Christ-life. All people have problems! In fact, Jesus Himself said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:30). When troubles occur and independent self is in the center, then the trouble is viewed through a tornado of worry, fear, shame, doubt, feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacies. This destructive view leads us to react based on emotions and producing works of the flesh. This also leads to increased stress, depression, anxiety and even addiction. However, when Christ is our center, that same problem may occur but instead of looking at it through the lens of self, we view at it through the Christ’s mind, His peace, and His strength (Philippians 2:5; 4:6-7, 13).
Rather than trying to improve our coping mechanisms, we seek to reframe problems as an opportunity to recognize our natural weakness so that we can exchange this for divine strength. “In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:12,13). With the use of this diagram, we see how the symptoms of external stress and internal turmoil relate to the one’s functional source of life. Then we explore the potential and benefits of knowing Christ not only as Savior and Lord, but as our Life (Colossians 3:1-4). Through this “exchange” we can live victoriously.
The Line diagram is used to depict the believer’s union with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17). This new position frees us from guilt, shame, and the dominion of our spiritual enemies. The bad news is that we were born in Adam’s natural lineage, without spiritual life (Romans 5:12-21). The good news is that, through redemption, we are placed into Christ’s life and lineage. Therefore, our old self (old man) was crucified with Him and buried with Him, and —as new creations— we are raised with Him, and ascended with Him in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:4-7)!
Our counseling helps people to enter into something experientially that is already theirs positionally—the life of Christ. The difference it makes is that we cease trying to live for Him, to work for Him in the energy of the flesh. Once we discover by revelation that we have been crucified and raised to new life, we can now reckon this to be so, and let Christ live through us. This Spirit-filled life is lived through surrender and trust.
Schedule a Counseling Session
You are welcome to inquire about Biblical Counseling sessions:
- Call GFI’s office at 1-865- 429-0450
- Email counseling@gracefellowshipinternational.com
Along with counseling you will be asked to get some resources to help you during you sessions and beyond. We encourage you to begin this process by ordering a copy of Handbook to Happiness by Dr. Charles Solomon (Tyndale House), which is available through GFI and elsewhere. There are no fees for counseling, and we do not bill insurance companies. Suggested donations are $50 per session. Here is an article about this counseling model: The Doctor is IN.
Donations for counseling sessions can be made by calling GFI or online here. (Please specify the name of your Guide in the PayPal notes field.)
Quotes from Dr. Solomon were taken from his book, “Handbook to Happiness” by Tyndale House.
