All Christians

Editors Note: HHS The Partnership Center reached out with some clarification on other activities that are shared below.

This past week, I got the opportunity to be invited to attend the US Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) The Partnership Center conference in Washington DC. It’s an annual conference to promote a conversation about faith and mental health across the nation. Christianity was fully represented, but there were also representation of Jews and Muslims.

Below, I want to share some of the thoughts of what I heard from Christian leaders and some quotes that I feel are important to the message of integrating mental health within the Church.

[Read more…] about My Takeaways from The Partnership Center’s Conference

Depression is a widespread mental health condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. While there are many secular therapeutic approaches to managing depression that are evidence-based practices clinicians utilize, one often overlooked resource for healing can be found within Scripture. The practice of biblical lamentation, a form of sacred expression and grieving, offers a powerful tool for those seeking to improve their mental health and find solace amidst the darkness of depression.

[Read more…] about The Healing Power of Biblical Lamentation Overcoming Depression Through Sacred Expression

Within the clinical work of mental health and substance use, there is a growing idea called Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Model that discusses how people are more than just biological cells or rational thought. When we are happy, this may initially be because we had our favorite cup of coffee or talked to a friend, but we know this also includes the health attachments in relationships, that we have been getting enough sleep, eating enough nutritional food, have been regularly tending to our mental health, and have a strong belief in their higher power with regular faith traditions. So it is no surprise that a recent study shows a strong correlation between stronger faith belief systems with overall better mental health.

[Read more…] about The Mental Health Benefits of Church

There is no defeating addiction. For those who subscribe to the disease model with substance use, we know that remission of symptoms does not mean it cannot flare up again in the future. For someone struggling with cancer, they may still have just as many doctor’s appointments to see if cancer has come back in the first five years of their post-treatment due to relapse with cancer. The same is true with those struggling with substance misuse. We know even Church leaders struggle with addiction.

[Read more…] about 10 Steps Christians Can Take With Addiction

For those that do not know, Beth Moore I am a fan of hers. I respect her work, agree with her stance about the #MeToo movement, and even the politics about faith echo in my heart. She has created several Christian books, devotionals, prayer guides, and bible studies. I have fond memories of my mom reading some of her books, seeing women at college doing over her devotionals to improve their faith lives, and being challenged to grow stronger in my faith from sermons that quoted her.

[Read more…] about All My Knotted-Up Life [Book Review]

The world of mental health has a strong, healthy reliance on evidence-based practices that has led to some very effective therapy models. Christianity historically has not relied on research, but tradition, culture, and values. When we marry the two into Christian mental health, we need to hold both in reverence that I believe furthers the other. That’s why we have created a whole page to the research we have found on faith and mental health that furthers the cause of better data to inform better mental health practices for individuals within a faith tradition and support faith within mental health.

I recognize this topic is not as fun, inspiring, or motivating as much as other topics, including the actual research topics themselves. But the necessity of fundamentally good research data and interpretation of the research is imperative to making lasting change beyond our casual observations.

[Read more…] about Christian Mental Health and Research Methodology

[Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from one of the counselors that is part of my church’s mental health team as part of an article written for May’s mental health awareness month for the congregation members. Enjoy!]

Although I have not experienced an unexpected death in my family, I have experienced loss and grief in other areas of my life.  As my husband and I have led the “Grief Share” groups at Crossroad’s Community Church, my heart has ached for the difficult emotions, questions, and feelings of helplessness the attendees share.  

[Read more…] about Loss and Grief

In a world overflowing with information, finding reliable and engaging content can be a daunting task. However, what if you had access to exclusive content, free downloads, and a way to support a blog you genuinely enjoy? Well, look no further! By signing up for our newsletter, you can gain all of this and more.

Pretty big sell! We actually mean it, in fact we have written more newsletters than last year combined and plan to share several more that hopefully add value to your life and your ministry. Plus, we have some good things finalizing to be released that will come out to you guys first.

[Read more…] about Join Our Newsletter: Unlock Exclusive Content, Free Downloads, and Support the Blog!

This website is dedicated to talking about the intersection of Christianity and mental health. Our hope is in identifying how the Church can go to serve those with mental illness as well as their families and clinical counselors can integrate Christian theology and practice into the counseling session with their clients. The book Anatomy of the Soul by Curt Thompson may be a bit more niche as he looks at the intersection of neuroscience and faith.

[Read more…] about Anatomy of the Soul [Book Review]