Counseling Vs. Spiritual Direction

Is faith-based counseling the same thing as spiritual direction? How do I determine if spiritual direction or counseling would be more productive? Do my struggles stem from the spiritual or the psychological? This brief video gives some insight into discerning this next step.
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[@mjs2122]

Really helpful. I have received support and advice from clinicians (psychologists / psychiatrists) for many years. I have a mental health team (psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, general practitioner) and was first diagnosed with anxiety (panic) and depressive conditions in my early 20s. I have had regular confessors over time and worked with several very competent and skilful spiritual directors. From early days, I have always considered my mental health challenges - especially depression - to have a spiritual dimension. I'm a "whole" person. My confessor/director needs to understand how mental illness affects my spiritual responses - as the clinicians must understand the centrality of my faith to everything that I seek to be and to do. Members of my mental health team are orthodox Jew, Catholic and Anglican - they understand the importance of faith in their own lives and can assist me without jeopardising the formal, emotional elements of my faith life. For me, having a clinician who understands why I believe and worship as I do is really important.

[@chrisnapelbaum9483]

Great advice! And spiritual direction and Counseling can compliment each other if you are lucky enough to have both with good providers.

[@yourfaithfultherapist6897]

Absolutely! I love referring people to spiritual direction when it's appropriate :) Thank you for sharing!

[@anj705]

Hello.... Thank you for your video... But... I have a doubt.. in spiritual counseling... Holy spirit reveal what is actually wrong ... Be it spiritual or mental??

[@Consciousnesstransformation]

Spiritual direction is about establishing a close relationship with God to do God's will. Counselling matters are not.

[@yourfaithfultherapist6897]

Sometimes in counseling it becomes about doing the relationship with God though. But I agree, the primary reasons differ!

[@nobodyimportant7192]

The question you ask in closing is an answer from me so long that I would have to pay you to hear it out... ... ...on that note, Can you help me?

[@nobodyimportant7192]

Also I'm very serious in asking, because I've been in search for a Catholic psychologist for the last 13 years....and a short answer to your closing question is, YES. My first Spiritual Director told me I needed to seek professional help; which, is why I was asking for his direction in the first place, as there is nowhere in the USA to be found a even a God-Fearing psychologist...

[@yourfaithfultherapist6897]

Hello! Thank you for the comments :) Due to licensing laws I can only see residents of Colorado because that is where my license is (Telehealth applies unfortunately too). Feel free to DM me on Instagram though and I we can talk further there if needed!