Blog

Welcome to the Christian Counselors Collaborative blog!   In these pages, our CCC therapists share their experiences and expertise on a variety of topics, which will hopefully be helpful and encouraging to you.  We welcome your input and response to our offerings here, although we cannot respond to questions, inquiries, or comments of a personal nature through these means.  May you be blessed as you read and join us!

Please note:  The CCC therapists are professional clinical therapists, but these blogs are not a therapeutic venue: anything stated in these blogs is not for treatment or to address anyone’s specific emotional or mental health need.  If you are experiencing immediate distress, call 911 or your local hospital.  If you would like to consider counseling with a CCC therapist or have questions, please call 855.222.2575.

The Gift of Receiving

The Gift of Receiving
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“’Tis the season…” is one of the most common phrases we hear during the Christmas holidays. By the way, why do we only use “’tis” this time of year? It’s a perfectly good contraction. I think I’ll start a trend by using it more often. ‘Tis trending now! Sorry, ‘twas a rabbit trail. Anyhow, we often complete the phrase ‘Tis the season” with “of giving.”  For believers, it makes sense, since we’re celebrating the greatest gift that has ever been given. It’s a good practice to regularly contemplate all that we received from God when He gave us Jesus. Here’s … continue reading…

Shalom

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As we soldier through the various phases of COVID19, consider the principle of Shalom. Jesus is known as the Prince of Shalom, in fact, it is His name. Jehovah Shalom has won for us a blessed tranquility known as Shalom. Shalom peace may seem to defy reason during a pandemic. It was just a few months ago that we busied ourselves looking for happiness, relief, safety, and comfort. Then came March. The threat of coronavirus and the subsequent quarantine has demanded that we examine our goals and priorities, often in solitude. In spite of uncertainty, some have found space to … continue reading…

Quick Relaxers

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Highly Charged Scenario: The sheriff drags the trouble-making cowboy out of the bar and dunks his face in the chilly water of the horse trough. The hysterical woman’s friend throws a glass of cold water in her face, bringing her to her senses. The health/phys. ed. teacher advises his high school boys to take a cold shower when certain hormones start racing. A contemplative student rubs his temple in concentration. Anna, on her way to the meet the King of Siam, musically models to her nervous son the value of whistling “whenever I feel afraid”, and produces evidence that after … continue reading…

Spiritual Practices During Stressful Times

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Spiritual Practices During Stressful Times These days, those of us who have practiced spiritual disciplines may be finding ourselves worrying about our prayers, being distracted, becoming fearful, or going through the motions. You know that God is the answer but find yourself feeling disconnected. If you are feeling stuck in your prayer time, distracted and numb, I’d like to suggest some ways to spice things up bit so that you can enjoy your time with God and connect more deeply with Him. Much of what we’re experiencing in this post-Covid world seems beyond comprehension and certainly beyond our control. Everyone … continue reading…

Purpose in Pain

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God’s Purpose in Pain When we are unbroken–that is, not conscious of our brokenness–we can believe the lie that we don’t need God.  If things seem under control and are going well, people have the tendency to suspect that it is because we are making great choices, or that we got lucky somehow, or that we deserve every good thing that comes our way. This thought process is risky, because it deceives us into feeling invincible and far too strong to need a relationship with God. However, when we are in pain, fear, grief, or any other type of suffering, … continue reading…

Subtle Trauma: Working from Home & COVID-19

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Coronavirus, COVID-19, social distancing, stay at home order, flattening the cure, these are new words and phrases in our everyday conversations that we never heard of months ago. Social distancing is a new practice we are doing out of love for one another and our love of our community. I find it ironic that we thought some people were distant socially with the overuse of devices. Now here in this pandemic, the very technology we feared was distancing us is connecting us and drawing us closer together. In some cases, it is a lifeline.  If you are like me, you … continue reading…