Where to find counselling with a Catholic perspective?

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k5thbeatle

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I have a dear friend that needs some help. Too long of a story to go into here but he is in trouble. Financial problems, hi stress job, owns his own struggling business, marital problems, unhappy at work, questioning his faith, and other related problems to name but a few. This guys life is a series of tradgedies and misfortunes that might make even the strongest cry. He’s been strong through it all and I’ve known him since childhood but I fear his load is cracking him?

He’s deep down been a good caring Catholic all his life and I’ve tried to help him as a friend but I feel he needs more help than I can give. Where is the best place to find help/counselling for such a person with a Catholic perspective? I should add that his is a high spotlight profession and I know he worries about how this might be viewed if he were to visit a psychiatrist? I’m concerned because I hear how psychiatry has gone totally secular but I feel he needs real help!

Can someone please help me to help him?

Please pray for my friend too!
 
Ask your pastor, the diocesan offices and spiritual directors at any local monasteries you may have in your area for names and if they’re willing, for recommendations. Also, your diocese probably puts out a directory; there might be similar listings there too. It’s also possible that what he needs is qualified spiritual direction and not necessarily psychological or psychiatric intervention.

I’m sorry your friend is having such a hard time and will pray for him.
God bless you for being such a good friend to him.
 
Here in New Hampshire one of the services Catholic Charities offers is counseling. I went there for a while some years back - it was really helpful to be able to talk with a therapist who understood faith and prayer as appropriate and not crutches to be overcome! Added bonus – they charged on a sliding scale based on ability to pay.

Probably call the diocesan office to start and find out what’s available where you are.
 
I’m a newbie here, and I hope recommending a commercial firm is permitted, but I get my counselling from Pastoral Solutions, the business run by Greg Popcak et al. These folks know their faith backwards and forwards, and know their psychology too. They work over the phone, so it doesn’t matter where you live, which is kind of handy if you live in the boonies or an area lacking orthodox options.

Some people aren’t comfortable with a therapist that they don’t meet with face-to-face, but I don’t find it to be a problem. Not needing to be in a particular location makes it easy to keep an appointment regardless of whether you’re travelling, tending kids (I’ve treated mine to a DVD to allow me some privacy), etc.

I will say a prayer for your friend–good luck!
 
Thanks for the replies. I will pass this information along to him.
 
You are a good friend to want to help him.
First off, he probably doesn’t need a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are medical doctors, and they help people who have organic disorders - if he’s depressed because his marriage is on the rocks and his life is otherwise falling apart, he doesn’t need a prescription, he needs counseling.
He shouldn’t be afraid of seeing a counselor because of his profession - no one looks down on counseling anymore, and anyway, there’s no reason that anyone would have to find out.
It may be that eventually, ideally, he’d be able to seek a variety of kinds of help - couples counseling for his marriage, financial counseling for his business, a spiritual director for working through his faith issues, etc… but in the meantime, it would probably be immediately helpful to just start building a relationship with a garden variety therapist who he could see weekly and have a space to talk about his fears and to clarify actions he can take.
There isn’t a therapist in the world who would listen to his problems and say “well FIRST of all we need to get rid of that silly faith of yours.” That’s an unreasonable fear, and he shouldn’t let that get in the way of getting help, even if he can’t find a Catholic counselor in his area / who is affordable / who takes his insurance, etc. It sounds like he’s drowning right now - he should grab the nearest rope and later, he’ll have the luxury of finding the exact right boat to take him to shore.
 
I would also try to get him to see his family Dr. Sometimes when life gets to be too much to handle you become physically sick also. Then if you are sick all the time from being mentally exhausted you are hit with a major depression on top of physical sickness. Also maybe between his Dr and the faith he can regain some peace in his life.

I hate to say it but no matter how much faith we have, life can try to take over. I really think between a good physical and therapy he can be on his feet before you know it. But it takes alot of prayer and time. But it can and does happen. Hope this helps.
 
If your diocese has a Catholic Charities office, they usually can provide a list of Catholic therapists and counselors in the area, that even work on a sliding scale basis on what one can afford. Keep praying for them as well.
 
I think I’m in your friend’s boat. I left work a year and a half ago as I started to receive visions. I sent my diary to two local priests by email and the diocese accused me of mental illness and reported me to the mental health service to see a psychologist. In fact, I’ve asked for two confessors and written a letter of complaint to the bishop. It is a horrible thing to be labelled with mental illness especially if your illness is of a spiritual nature although he might be very difficult to cope with, I don’t know. My brothers also suffer from schizophrenia so that’s why I think the Diocese didn’t believe that I was experiencing visions. By visions I mean I heard God’s voice speak to me in my chest and I believe the voice came from the Eucharist.
 
k5thbeatle,
How’s your friend doing? Have you had an opportunity to broach the subject with him?
 
budgie2 said:
I think I’m in your friend’s boat. I left work a year and a half ago as I started to receive visions. I sent my diary to two local priests by email and the diocese accused me of mental illness and reported me to the mental health service to see a psychologist. In fact, I’ve asked for two confessors and written a letter of complaint to the bishop. It is a horrible thing to be labelled with mental illness especially if your illness is of a spiritual nature although he might be very difficult to cope with, I don’t know. My brothers also suffer from schizophrenia so that’s why I think the Diocese didn’t believe that I was experiencing visions. By visions I mean I heard God’s voice speak to me in my chest and I believe the voice came from the Eucharist.
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Have you seen a psychologist?
 
budgie2 said:
I think I’m in your friend’s boat. I left work a year and a half ago as I started to receive visions. I sent my diary to two local priests by email and the diocese accused me of mental illness and reported me to the mental health service to see a psychologist. In fact, I’ve asked for two confessors and written a letter of complaint to the bishop. It is a horrible thing to be labelled with mental illness especially if your illness is of a spiritual nature although he might be very difficult to cope with, I don’t know. My brothers also suffer from schizophrenia so that’s why I think the Diocese didn’t believe that I was experiencing visions. By visions I mean I heard God’s voice speak to me in my chest and I believe the voice came from the Eucharist.
Click to expand...
No one accuses someone else of mental illness - it’s not an insult to be referred to someone who might help you… it’s just trying to help. I think it would be good to talk to a counselor. 🙂
 
FickleFreckled said:
k5thbeatle,
How’s your friend doing? Have you had an opportunity to broach the subject with him?
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Yes, I have spoken with him regarding this several times since first posting. Apparently he nearly called Popcak (somebody I mentioned based on info from this thread) but “couldn’t dial the number” as he put it? I think from what I can gather after talking with him just yesterday that he is afraid? He owns a business that deals with the public and I believe he is afraid that people will somehow discover his struggles and that that will affect his business negatively, which is already struggling and a large part of the stress in his life already??? From our conversation I get the picture that he is living a dual life of sorts. Here is what I see from what little info I have: He seems to be 2 people. To everyone on the outside; his customers, friends, and even his family he projects this calm, strong, no-nonsense professional. But, behind this facade is a man filled with anxiety, worry, and fear!

I don’t think he is doing very well, but thank you for asking. Will you continue to pray for him with me?
 
Of course, k5thbeatle.

It’s not so uncommon for people to hide who they really are, especially if the persona they’ve built for themselves is strong and capable. However, he would probably be surprised to find out how many of his friends, customers and business associates have received counseling at some point in their lives!
 
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