Newsletter October 2010
We are....... a charitable organisation dedicated to helping those in need of emotional and spiritual healing. We aim to provide non-judgemental counselling based on Biblical principles, helping individuals to come to a place of permanent, positive change in their lives.
NEW COUNSELLORS June Beveridge Susan Gilmore
June, an experienced counsellor and trainer, who counselled under Dove whilst working in Costa Rica, rejoins us and is a welcome addition to our team. Susan, who has now completed her counsellor training, joins us following a successful career in nursing and is also warmly welcomed. You can read more about June and Susan on our Staff page.
Val's Retirement Val Robb, our administrator, has decided it's time to lay down her pen (or stop hitting the computer keys!) and retire. She leaves us at the end of December this year and while we're glad to see Val getting a well-deserved rest, we know she will leave a large gap in Dove. Clients too will miss her friendly greetings when they arrive and others will miss her valued phone support service.
Sitting-in Programme We are now interviewing for our sitters-in programme which we hope to start in January 2011. This programme provides prospective trainees with the opportunity to check out whether counselling is for them or not. You can read more about this programme on Training page.
Degree Course Three of our counsellors will be commencing a Bachelor of Arts top-up degree in October 2010. This will be an exciting and challenging venture as, alongside new learning, there will, of course, be extra time and work commitments.
Waiting List Our current waiting list for new appointments is around 5/6 months. This can seem a long time to someone phoning up in crisis. However, time and time again, clients tell us that counselling has been offered at just the right time, even though they've waited a few months. Of course, ideally, we would like to be able to see clients sooner. The length of our waiting list is a measure of the need for counsel from a Biblical perspective. We are seeing more and more people from different or no faith backgrounds. These people can come to us from many sources. Sometimes it's through a friend who recommends us, sometimes through their GP or other health worker and some just find us in the Yellow Pages or through an internet search. Whatever the way anyone comes to Dove, our aim is always to help bring God's healing and restoration to their lives.
What does Dove do? This is a big question and although I can't do it justice here, it may be helpful to put down some thoughts. There are many different types of counselling available these days and it can be very confusing to those not directly involved in this area. Basically, Counselling Models have an underlying philosophical understanding of mankind and a consequent theory of change (a way of working with clients and/or technique/s designed to effect personal growth and therapeutic change in behaviour/ perceptions etc). I thought, therefore, it would be helpful to explain the underlying philosophy of Dove, its theory of change and the resultant Biblical Principles we operate with. In other words....... what we do and why we do it!!
We operate from a Biblical perspective of God and mankind. This is our underlying philosophy. Our worldview therefore takes into account God’s Creation, the Fall and His ultimate plan for Redemption. This throws light upon why we human beings can struggle in the way that we do and offers a solution or theory of change dependent upon God Himself, His love and His plans. This is unique to true Christian counselling and involves the application of Biblical Principles to the counselling process to help effect healing, restoration and change.
This does not mean that we disregard new discoveries or research but rather that all is examined and assessed in the light of God's revealed truth to us through His Word. This means that our faith enhances and informs any information or theories rather than be governed by them.
In the next few Newsletters we will therefore focus on various Biblical principle and their meaning and application in the counselling process. Forgiveness will be the first and we are open to suggestions for any areas that you would like to see explored. Obviously, there can't be a completely comprehensive explanation of subjects; it will rather be an overview and general explanation. Feel free, however, to give feedback, ask questions etc.
FORGIVENESS Time and time again we see people's lives entirely transformed when they are helped to appropriate God's forgiveness and no longer live in guilt or shame. They are able to lift their heads once more and walk freely in His love and mercy. Forgiving others is a transforming experience too. When we have been hurt deeply and carry that hurt around with us, it's almost as though life is seen through a faulty filter which distorts our view of God, ourselves and others. This can keep us trapped in the scenes and voices of the past.
Forgiveness removes or cleans that filter, perspective is restored once more and we are freed to look forward with hope and faith. When we choose God's way of forgiveness (either receiving it or giving it) it is like we open the door for God to come in and heal the wounds and take the hurt that He died on the cross to carry for us. I have witnessed people being radically changed by this and even looking different physically as their whole demeanour changes.
On the other hand, when we refuse to forgive we harm ourselves and our relationship with God and others. You may have noticed earlier that I used the words 'choose God's way of forgiveness'. This is because there is a general misconception that we have to 'feel' forgiveness for it to be true. Nothing could be further from the truth! If we wait until we 'feel' like forgiving, it may never happen! Forgiveness is an act of our will in response to God's Will - we choose to believe God has forgiven us and we choose to forgive those who have hurt us.....God will take care of our feelings.
As we bring our will into line with His, He effects the change in us from the inside. This is a process. Some people will experience immediate relief from negative feelings and some will experience the change as they continue to stand upon the choice that they made before God. One thing is sure though, the change in feelings will come - God effects the change in accordance with our choice. He longs for us to choose Him and His way and responds immediately He sees us turning towards Him. Consider the prodigal son - when he was still a long way off, the Father saw him coming and He ran towards him. There were no recriminations - just unconditional love and acceptance.
I hope this has been helpful in explaining a bit more about what we do here at Dove and will be happy to discuss anything further if you have any questions/comments.
Sheena Reid
Some Scriptures on Forgiveness - Matthew 6:12-14; 1John 1:8-10; Matthew 18:21-35; Col 3:12-14; Acts 10:43; Luke 15:11-31; Romand 12:2
Memorable Quote “When a Russian cosmonaut returned from space and reported that he had not found God, C. S. Lewis responded that this was like Hamlet going into the attic of his castle and looking for Shakespeare.” –Timothy Keller, The Reason for God (New York: Dutton, 2008), 122. |
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