http://lifechangesavannah.com/counselors-corner/ Counselor's Corner is the official blog of LifeCHANGE Christian Counseling en groes@savannahchristian.com Copyright 2010 2010-10-05T19:13:56+00:00 http://lifechangesavannah.com/counselors-corner/perfectionism-by-gina-roes/ http://lifechangesavannah.com/counselors-corner/perfectionism-by-gina-roes/#When:19:13:56Z “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” - Matthew 5:48 2010-10-05T19:13:56+00:00 http://lifechangesavannah.com/counselors-corner/the-direction-of-guilt/ http://lifechangesavannah.com/counselors-corner/the-direction-of-guilt/#When:15:03:38Z Guilt— Have you ever considered it as desirable?  Not the state of being guilty, mind you, as in to have committed an act that demands recompense.  Rather, as a compass to guide us or a sail to propel us in a desired direction. Guilt can become a destructive and erosive force in our lives when it does not serve its designed purpose.  Like all things, guilt is a Godly designed emotion.  It is only through our desire to protect our frail egos or to “feel good” about ourselves that it has become a shadow of itself.  In the field of secular psychology, much has been devoted to alleviating guilt in people.  All of these attempts to clinically alleviate guilt in others have failed in one primary regard.  The question of “how can we help people live a guilt free life?” may have been the wrong question to ask in the first place.  Perhaps the more appropriate question is “should we try to alleviate guilt in our lives?”  Guilt, as a state of being is certainly not a desirable place to live.  However guilt as a feeling in the face of our own ungodliness is not only desirable but necessary. 2009-09-17T15:03:38+00:00 http://lifechangesavannah.com/counselors-corner/lost/ http://lifechangesavannah.com/counselors-corner/lost/#When:15:00:54Z For thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.”—Ezekiel 34:11 2009-09-17T15:00:54+00:00 http://lifechangesavannah.com/counselors-corner/surrender/ http://lifechangesavannah.com/counselors-corner/surrender/#When:14:58:18Z The concept of “surrender” is rarely perceived as a desirable goal in a culture that is dominated by competitiveness and the mindset of never giving up.  The idea of surrender conveys placing yourself at the mercy of and under the control of another.  This can be a difficult concept to embrace for us, given our natural proclivity to seek independence and control.  We desire to exert our influence through choice and effort.  This same desire can easily lead us to a place of “needing” to understand things around us, to explain events and situations in a way that reflects a clear purpose.  The problem with this mindset is that when we seek understanding before becoming willing to surrender we don’t truly surrender.  Rather, it becomes a calculated decision to do what we think is in our best interest based on our perception and understanding.  Too many times, this is the type of “surrender” we offer to God.  Yet this type of “surrender” is not “surrender” at all but rather “suing for peace”.  The implied or expressed belief is one of “I will give in to God when He shows me how it will be in my best interest to do so.”  2009-09-17T14:58:18+00:00 http://lifechangesavannah.com/counselors-corner/becoming/ http://lifechangesavannah.com/counselors-corner/becoming/#When:14:56:31Z Have you ever had a person, or people, in your life that looked at you and saw what you could become instead of merely what you were?  I would hope that all of us have had some of those people in our lives from time to time.  There is something inspiring and encouraging about having people look past the blemishes and flaws that we believe define us and see the potential of what we can become.  These are the people that help ordinary people achieve extraordinary things.  Almost everyone of note throughout history has had such a person in their lives at some point.  Perhaps it was a parent, a teacher, a colleague, or a friend.  The common denominator is that someone saw what another could become instead of what they were.  Have you experienced someone like this in your own life?  I still stand in amazement of certain people in my life, many of whom are on staff at this church, who can look past the dirt and muck of who I am and see what I could become.  Exactly how does a person accomplish this? 2009-09-17T14:56:31+00:00 http://lifechangesavannah.com/counselors-corner/healing-through-play/ http://lifechangesavannah.com/counselors-corner/healing-through-play/#When:14:55:23Z Why Play Therapy? This article describes why play therapy is the most effective type of therapy for children ages 3-12. 2009-09-17T14:55:23+00:00 {/if>}