Life’s Challenges Are an Invitation to Open Your Heart and Mind to The Christ Within
“For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” — Matthew 17:20
Can Spiritual Counseling Support My Spiritual Growth?
There are times in everyone’s life when talking out what is in one’s mind and heart within a prayerful, spiritually open environment is needed. Rev. Anna Shouse, Ph.D., Unity of Austin’s Senior Minister, provides that environment in the form spiritual counseling. Spiritual counseling supports the individual in their process of finding the presence and power of the Christ within themselves.
What is Unity’s Approach to Spiritual Counseling?
Unity’s approach is based upon our belief that there is One Presence and One Power in the universe and in our lives, God, the Good, Omnipotent. We believe that God expresses in, through, and as each person. We call this the Christ nature. We believe that all of life’s challenges are invitations to know God more fully. Because every person has direct access to God’s love, wisdom, and power, each person has within themselves the ability to develop solutions that lead to their highest good.
Is Spiritual Counseling the Same as Psychotherapy?
Spiritual counseling is not psychotherapy. For this reason, no “course of sessions” is scheduled. If a person desires or needs psychotherapeutic help and/or needs the assistance of additional social services, a list of such services available in the area will be provided and guidelines about how to select healthy help will be offered. These services are neither recommended, endorsed, nor opposed by Unity of Austin.
Is Information I Share in a Spiritual Counseling Session Confidential?
All information discussed in the spiritual counseling session is held in confidence except in situations where the counselee is posing a threat of harm to her/himself or others, or where it is revealed that a minor or vulnerable adult has been or is being abused or neglected. Legal and ethical considerations require that these situations be reported by the spiritual counselor to appropriate authorities for intervention.
What is a Spiritual Counseling Session Like?
Spiritual counseling sessions last a maximum of one hour and are held in the Senior Minister’s office during regular daytime office hours. Sessions always begin and end with Unity affirmative prayer. Rev. Shouse listens and hears what is on the counselee’s mind and heart and through reflection and response supports the counselee in connecting with their inner Christ to develop a solution grounded in spiritual principle.
Is There a Cost for Spiritual Counseling?
If you would like to give a love offering to the church in appreciation of the spiritual counseling session you may do so. This is entirely up to you. If you choose to give a love offering, please place it in the envelope provided at the session. If you write a check, make it payable to Unity of Austin. You may hand the envelope to the Senior Minister or give it to the Administrative Assistant in her office.
How Do I Make an Appointment?
Use the Contact Us form to request an appointment. When you come in for your spiritual counseling appointment, you will be given a copy of a form containing the following information, and you will be required to fill it out and sign it in order to ensure that you have been given and have understood full information about spiritual counseling provided through Unity of Austin.
SPIRITUAL COUNSELING INFORMATION FORM
The Senior Minister of Unity of Austin provides spiritual counseling to those persons requesting it. Spiritual counseling is based upon our belief that there is One Presence and One Power in the universe and in our lives, God, the Good, Omnipotent. We believe that God expresses in, through, and as each person. We call this the Christ nature. We believe that all of life’s challenges are invitations to know God more fully. Because every person has direct access to God’s love, wisdom, and power, each person has within themselves the ability to develop solutions that lead to their highest good. The purpose of spiritual counseling is to support the individual in their process of opening their heart and mind to the presence of the Christ within themselves.
Spiritual counseling is not psychotherapy. For this reason, no “course of sessions” is scheduled. If a person desires or needs psychotherapeutic help and/or needs the assistance of additional social services, a list of such services available in the area will be provided and guidelines about how to select healthy help will be offered. These services are neither recommended, endorsed, nor opposed by Unity of Austin.
All information discussed in the spiritual counseling session is held in confidence except in situations where the client is posing a threat of harm to her/himself or others, or where it is revealed that a minor or vulnerable adult has been or is being abused or neglected. Legal and ethical considerations require that these situations be reported by the spiritual counselor to appropriate authorities for intervention.
Spiritual counseling sessions last a maximum of one hour. If you would like to give a love offering to the church in appreciation of the spiritual counseling session you may do so. This is entirely up to you. If you choose to give a love offering, please place it in the envelope provided and fill out the information on the outside of the envelope. If you write a check, make it payable to Unity of Austin. You may hand the envelope to the Senior Minister or give it to the Administrative Assistant in her office. If you would like to schedule a counseling session, please read and sign below:
I have read and do understand the above statements concerning spiritual counseling as offered by Unity of Austin. I have had all of my questions about this information answered to my satisfaction. Based upon this understanding, I would like to have a spiritual counseling session.
