Can confession be used as counseling?

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This is going to go slightly off topic but going to bring it around to my point (I say skip to last paragraph for main point). Well I’m going to tell a short story of my life recently. 20yr old male in college. I’ve been struggling with porn addiction. Particularly gay porn. I guess I’ve been doing it since I was a teen. I always wondered what would make myself finally say “enough is enough”. Started going to confession monthly beginning of last year. I guess it’s around that time I started trying to quit. I would make it a week or two and always end up failing. Then going back to confession. A few times I waited so long… I guess this summer I had given up, 3 months had came. Worse thing I did, and I can’t believe I’m typing this. Is order a couple of sex toys. Oh, how far I had fallen.

Well, I went to confession about a month ago. I have not masturbated or watched pornography since then (unless a wet dream counts?). I had a list of other issues troubling me as well. Anxiety, social isolation, depression, etc. I have to say these things are finally getting better. I started going to daily mass. I think I’ve went at least twice every week. This week I went to adoration 3 times. Just for a few minutes, it was nice to just be in his presence. 2 weeks ago I emailed my local catholic church and asked for help. Met with this guy the next day. I’ve talked to him about most of my issues. First time I ever opened up. Met again this week and will meet with him tomorrow.

So, things are looking up! Now back to the purpose of this post! I knew when I committed porn/masturbation it was a mortal sin. But I haven’t done that. Every time I’ve been to confession I have confessed that. Now it seems I don’t have that to confess anymore… But shouldn’t I still goto confession? There’s probably little things I have overlooked. I just feel like talking about this to a priest and telling him this. Is that allowed? I normally have a list in my head and I just say that list, then receive my penance and absolution. I notice some people seem to take forever in confessionals while others are in and out. There’s usually always a good line, I don’t want to take up too much time. Can I do this or should I try something like spiritual direction instead?
 
I was always taught not to use the confessional for counseling because there is usually a line of people wanting to confess, and one person taking up a lot of time will probably mean other people don’t get to go in the short time allotted.

I would suggest if you want to meet with a priest regularly about a particular life matter or for spiritual counseling, see if you can make an appointment with him. It also allows priests who maybe feel they should refer you to someone else to do so.
 
Confession is not really designed for general counseling or advice. Ask your pastor if he will meet with you for those things, or if he recommends a spiritual director. Ask your regular confessor how often he suggests that you confess. I gather that you tend towards scrupulosity or anxiety. Be sure to tell him that.
 
AS Paul rightly says, it’s not designed that way, but all the priests around here DO use it that way because they feel strongly that people are SO reluctant to make an appointment in their office.
If you feel like you are ok with it, make an appointment, or find an amenable priest.
Best wishes!
 
In the course of Confession a priest will often offer brief counsel, following the admission of sin.
He may do so even in a simple sentence, inspired by the Holy Spirit,
and it is sufficient to enlighten and to guide you.
I go into confession after asking the Holy Spirit to guide both priest and myself in all that is confessed, in any response that the priest might give, if he deems necessary.
 
At my hometown parish as a teenager, I remember having to get to confession super early (at least half an hour before Father was there) so that I could be first in line. There were several people who came every single week and each took at least ten to fifteen minutes to finish. If you got stuck behind them, there was a high probability that you would not get to say your confession because Father would run out of time.

These people would mention in passing that Father had great advice in the confessional, so I strongly suspect they were spending some time asking for counseling. When I went to confession, Father did not freely offer counseling to me, so I doubt this was a habit on the priest’s part.

Please do not use the confessional for counseling or to “check in”. Make an appointment instead.
 
Confession is not the place for counseling unless you make an appointment with a priest to see him outside of regular confession times. At that point it becomes something like spiritual direction, but you would probably do well to seek regular spiritual direction. Maybe you can talk with that guy from church about that.

This said, do not neglect the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The graces you receive there have obviously helped you and can continue to help you, even if you do not confess mortal sins. Just keep it quick and don’t turn those regular confessions into counseling sessions.

As a former pastor advised, 3 points of a good confession:
Be sorry
Be personal (don’t talk about other people)
Be quick (don’t go on and on about any particular sin, just list them and leave)
 
Keep going to confession for transgressions. I This is important to keep your soul in a state of grace.

Do book an appointment with the priest for further spiritual counselling.

THT
 
Confessions and spiritual direction can be booked privately, so just let the priest know you would like both.
 
I think it depends on the day and the priest.
I know that at our Lenten and Advent penance services an announcement is made to NOT expect counseling. That is by appointment and that any of the dozen visiting priests present are happy to meet with you.

But I know if there is no one waiting my priest will spend a morning with people.

The sure way to get enough time is to make an appointment, YES.
God bless.
 
Priests are given the power to forgive sins. That does not automatically make them good, or even adequate counselors. And anyone who has gone to counseling will know that adequate counseling can take a half hour or more per session.

Some priests are great counselors; and normally they have a background in counseling. Not all priests get that background, and not all who get that background are good counselors. But if you want counseling from a priest, set up an appointment. Either that, or see someone who actually is certified in counseling. Often there will be a Catholic Counseling center available, with counselors who follow the Magisterium and proper counseling techniques.
 
In lieu of arranging for counseling, which can be daunting (but which may also be necessary, I don’t know), consider asking, begging for the grace to avoid all sins, both mortal and venial. No better place than before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. If adoration is not offered, go and pray before the Tabernacle - same thing! Miracles happen there. Grace flows. Regular confession, even of venial sins, is a virtuous habit - to counter the sinful habits of the past.

As well, short of sacramental confession, when tempted, or when you fall, you can fall to your knees and make a confession/act of contrition right on the spot. Follow up with sacramental confession so that you have absolute assurance that your sins are forgiven.
 
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