Is it wise to see a Secular Psychologist?

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Yehoiakhin

I agree with the posters who suggested that you see a “secular” therapist for your mental health issues and talk with a sympathetic priest about your spiritual needs. That sounds like a possibly viable solution.
 
BoomBoomMancini said:
Doesn’t necessarily have to be a formal thing, in my opinion. Just have a relationship with a priest that you can sit down with every so often for coffee and bounce ideas off of. A friendship, basically. (Obviously, don’t do what some people do and start texting him at 3 am asking if this or that was a mortal sin…)

But there’s nothing wrong with chatting with a priest after Mass and going, “Hey, Father, you free to grab coffee or lunch one of these days?”
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stuartbrianhenlis said:
Yehoiakhin

I agree with the posters who suggested that you see a “secular” therapist for your mental health issues and talk with a sympathetic priest about your spiritual needs. That sounds like a possibly viable solution.
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The priest at my current parish is too busy to really see me, and the other parish I attend, is too far away, I’ve been trying to move there for awhile, but haven’t been able to succeed.

I’ve let my parents know, that I want to see my old psychologist again, I know it’s risky but I just to be free of these sins, I’m so sick of sinning, I want it to stop. I know that it’s these psychological wounds that are causing me to sin more than anything else, I need to do something to be free of them.

So I want to ask, when I see my psychologist, what I should keep an eye out for, when I see my psychologist? I’m aware of the obvious suggestions he can make that would be bad, but what about the more subtle things he could suggest that could throw me off?
 
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YehoiakhinEx232 said:
The priest at my current parish is too busy to really see me, and the other parish I attend, is too far away, I’ve been trying to move there for awhile, but haven’t been able to succeed.

I’ve let my parents know, that I want to see my old psychologist again, I know it’s risky but I just to be free of these sins, I’m so sick of sinning, I want it to stop. I know that it’s these psychological wounds that are causing me to sin more than anything else, I need to do something to be free of them.
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Just FYI, if your sin is masturbation (I’m taking a wild guess because it sounds habitual and I think you mentioned it was sexual at one point, plus you mentioned telling your parents so I assume you’re a young person) and your tell that to a secular psychologist, they’re going to look at you like you’re nuts. Unless you’re compulsively masturbating in public or doing it in ways that are physically harmful, a secular psychologist is probably going to tell you that it’s perfectly fine and normal. Just something to be aware of.
 
I would suggest finding someone on CatholicTherapists.com

If there is not one in your area, then search for one who provides video conferences / phone conferencing.

God Bless
 
YehoiakhinEx232 said:
It looks like there are no Catholic therapists on Canada.
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A great number of them do offer video conferencing (via Skype, Zoom, and/or Apple FaceTime)

Also, many offer phone conferencing too.
 
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My parents are worried about the cost of hiring a long distance Catholic therapist, what should I do? I’m really worried about getting a secular psychologist, I don’t what to be in position where I’m subject to bad advice, I really want a Catholic psychologist who can help me with my issues.
 
Perhaps you could do some preliminary checking to see if the cost would be any different. It may actually cost the same. If so, and you present your parents with this information, they may be inclined to allow it.
 
My mom thinks that these people may be scammers and such, I lost my temper and yelled at her. I’m so frustrated, I can’t even make a good example to my parents who are becoming more and more hostile to my Faith, I’m scared that they’ll think start to think my Faith is unhealthy and try to pull me out of it, and I’m failing to prove otherwise with my behavior. I’m tempted to just give up on seeking therapy altogether, and just try the best I can with the help of God’s grace to heal on my own.

I feel like I’m being hemmed in on all sides. Please pray for me, I need to find a way out of this.
 
YehoiakhinEx232 said:
I can’t even make a good example to my parents who are becoming more and more hostile to my Faith, I’m scared that they’ll think start to think my Faith is unhealthy and try to pull me out of i
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Do you think your faith might actually be unhealthy? Not, like, faith or Catholicism in general, but do you think you might be becoming obsessive or thinking about your faith in a way that is unhealthy? Like, if you are obsessively worried about the idea of talking to someone who might not be Catholic, even if the issues you want to talk about don’t concern faith or morals, then I can see how someone might think you’re approaching it in an unhealthy manner.

Not saying that’s what’s actually happening, just food for thought.
 
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It is sometimes advisable depending on the situation of things but I don’t always support it since some of the psychological experts believe nothing about God…
 
Take a deep breath, try to relax, see a therapist, trust God, and just generally try not to get so wound up and anxious, I guess.

This is where I’d defer to a shrink, I suppose
 
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YehoiakhinEx232 said:
My mom thinks that these people may be scammers and such, I lost my temper and yelled at her. I’m so frustrated, I can’t even make a good example to my parents who are becoming more and more hostile to my Faith, I’m scared that they’ll think start to think my Faith is unhealthy and try to pull me out of it, and I’m failing to prove otherwise with my behavior. I’m tempted to just give up on seeking therapy altogether, and just try the best I can with the help of God’s grace to heal on my own.

I feel like I’m being hemmed in on all sides. Please pray for me, I need to find a way out of this.
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Step back and chill out.

If the list isn’t of any help it is entirely possible to find a private practice Catholic psychologist. Simply pick up the phone and do cursory interviews of psychologists in your town or allowed by your insurance. My former parish has 3 psychologists among parishioners. They are not on the Catholic Therapists lists because they have no trouble attracting clientele. My college therapist (a Catholic–we went to Daily Mass together on occasion) is now in private practice. Again, not on the Catholic therapist websites because she doesn’t need help attracting people. Just because they are not advertizing they are Catholic dosn’t mean they aren’t active and believing Catholics.

I have also used the website when needed and my husband and I did drive an hour because one of the therapists had expertise in the matter and it was easier than calling around.
 
Your solution is obviously in the Word of God, it will be disastrous to give up, hold your faith firmly and ask the Holy Spirit in prayer to lead you! That’s the only way I trust a lot and works always.
 
Keep in mind as well on many issues, there may be Christian psychologists that are not Catholic. But they will still share Catholic understanding of sexual morality much more than a secular one.
 
DarkLight said:
Keep in mind as well on many issues, there may be Christian psychologists that are not Catholic. But they will still share Catholic understanding of sexual morality much more than a secular one.
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Ohhhh very true. This will be unpopular here but I actually found that non FLDS Mormons who are committed to remaining professional and not converting to be very in line with Catholic teachings on morality.
 
Therapy can be more effective when therapists and patients share certain common values. This is not always the case, but it may be so insofar as your faith is concerned, so you might want to search for a faith-based clinical psychologist.
 
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