When faith meets therapy

When Faith Meets Therapy" by Anthony and Stacy addresses the intersection of spirituality and mental health, advocating for a holistic approach that honors both faith and psychological principles. The authors, both experienced in their fields, provide insights on how integrating these elements can lead to deeper healing and personal growth. Here are Key Insights from the Book: 1. Integration of Faith and Psychology: The book argues that mental health care can benefit significantly from incorporating spiritual beliefs. This integration helps individuals understand their struggles through a broader lens, offering a sense of purpose and meaning in the healing process. 2. Role of Community: Community support is emphasized as vital for mental wellness. Faith communities provide a sense of belonging and accountability, fostering an environment where individuals can share their struggles and receive encouragement, which is crucial for healing. 3. Emotional Honesty: The authors highlight the importance of being emotionally honest within both faith and therapy contexts. Acknowledging feelings and vulnerabilities allows for authentic connections and is essential for effective therapeutic work and spiritual growth. 4. Spiritual Practices: Spiritual disciplines such as prayer, meditation, and scripture reading are discussed as therapeutic tools. These practices can enhance emotional resilience, reduce anxiety, and promote a sense of peace, serving as effective complements to traditional therapy. 5. Understanding Suffering: The book explores how faith can provide a framework for understanding and coping with suffering. Recognizing suffering as a part of life can lead to personal growth and a deeper relationship with one’s faith, making it easier to navigate challenges.

As a former social worker, I was extremely excited to review Anthony Evans and Stacy Kaiser’s new book When Faith Meets Therapy. The entire premise is advocating for therapy for Christians - in the right context. At Tirzah, we have always been open about mental health and the need to grow for ourselves, so we can serve other people better. However, we are aware that a lot of stigma comes around therapy. Here’s the thing though - God uses different techniques to heal each individual. Going to Jesus should ALWAYS be our first solution. That does not mean God has not placed things like therapy in our lives to help us grow. For 10 years I was a practicing social worker helping young moms, dads, teenagers, kids, and babies in a variety of situations. Do you know what one of the practices is when hiring social workers? The practice for social workers is supervision. This is one hour a week where we get to vent and problem solve. In that hour, nothing is off limits. We get to discuss how our client situations are going, how we are handling that personally, and how we can become better people. One of the hardest things I’ve had since leaving social work is missing that constant feedback. As the Bible says “in the abundance of counselors there is a victory”. Everyone needs a team. How you choose that team is up to you. Anthony is sharing his journey, back and forth, with his own therapist (and team member) Stacy Kaiser. I personally love his vulnerability and commitment to sharing his struggles and where he is headed in life now. He talks about the stigma around therapy and how it has benefited his life. For those who don’t know, Anthony is a Christian singer who comes from a highly influential family in ministry. That carries a lot of weight and responsibility. He very openly talks about this and how to handle these issues. If you are in therapy, I highly recommend this book. If you are not sure how you feel about therapy, read it and learn more. This is not saying that you HAVE to believe the same as Anthony or go to therapy, but gives you perspective. I, Alycia, on a personal note am saying that I do not advocate going to non - Christian counselors. If someone is not following the same faith as you, how can they point you back to the ONE who has all of the answers?

The power of faith intersects with the practicality of counseling in this unique partnership of a faith/worship leader and a therapist as they offer a pathway for readers to find help, hope, healing, and freedom while navigating life’s struggles. No one is immune from life’s difficulties, yet many people are reluctant to talk about mental health or seek professional help when they are struggling. People of faith who are battling issues such as anxiety, depression, life changes, stress, or relationship problems may suffer in silence, believing things will get better if only their faith was stronger, they prayed more, or they had more self-discipline. The stigma about needing to seek help is all too real. But seeking professional help isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a sign that someone is serious about moving forward emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. Written by producer, artist, and author Anthony Evans, along with licensed psychotherapist Stacy Kaiser, When Faith Meets Therapy Anthony and Stacy met five years ago when he was seeking emotional and relational healing of his own. Stacy led Anthony through a process of internal renovation and continues as his personal therapist. When Faith Meets Therapy contains priceless, practical knowledge to break stereotypes that surround therapy while also offering immeasurable hope and encouragement.

When Faith Meets Therapy Find Hope and a Practical Path to Emotional, Spiritual, and Relational Healing by Anthony Evans; Stacy Kaiser Pub Date 16 Aug 2022 | Archive Date 01 Nov 2022 Thomas Nelson--W Publishing, Thomas Nelson Christian | Health, Mind & Body I am reviewing a copy of When Faith Meets Therapy through Thomas-Nelson and Netgalley: Believers are not immune to life’s difficulties, nor are we immune to mental health challenges, yet often we resist talking to a Mental Health professional when we most need them. People of faith who are battling issues such as anxiety, depression, life changes, stress, or relationship problems may suffer in silence, believing things will get better if only their faith was stronger, they prayed more, or they had more self-discipline. The stigma about needing to seek help is all too real. When Faith Meets Therapy reminds the reader that seeking help for your mental health care does not make you weak, nor does it make someone less faithful, we all need help from time to time, the good Lord understands that. Seeking help is in fact a sign that professional help isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a sign that someone is serious about moving forward emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. Written by producer, artist, and author Anthony Evans, along with licensed psychotherapist Stacy Kaiser, When Faith Meets Therapy dispels the cultural myths and stigmas that surround professional therapy; shares stories from the authors’ personal experiences and from others who are facing life’s challenges; and provides practical steps that readers can take in the pursuit of emotional, relational, and spiritual progress. I give When Faith Meets Therapy Five out of five stars! Happy Reading!