Is Bethel's SOZO Mentally and Emotionally Damaging? Thoughts From a Mental Health Professional

[@BabaBelle]

I was a smoker for 13 years. I stopped smoking within about 10 Minutes and never had any withdrawals whatsoever. The crazy thing, I never prayed to be delivered from that. I only always said, if God wants me to stop smoking, he'll make it happen and now I can't even stand the smell of cigarettes. How wonderful is our God.

[@FlowergateSystem]

That's awesome!

[@danaidahosa5918]

Yes me too!!!!! I loved smoking cigarettes so much that I didn’t know how I’d ever quit!! I loved every cigarette down to the very last! Finally, I got to a place in my walk with the Lord where I knew it was time and I felt an intense urging to give it up. I was nervous but I knew He had me! I quit in a single moment and never smoked again by Gods amazing grace!!! ❤️

[@langyd4518]

I had the exact same thing happen to me, just like you said, above this!

[@Hopeof7suns]

everyone is different

[@janetkope4459]

Me too! No looking back to the Glory of God!

[@AlgoGuardianFX]

TLDR: I have schizophrenia and have battled with it as a believer for many years. Ive had a long-standing mental illness that has plagued my life since I was 4. I went to all kinds of churches, getting prayed over by pastors, friends, councilors, healing services, deliverance ministers, the whole shebang. The illness wasn't discovered until I turned 24. People talk about mental illness in the church but that seems to only touch depression and anxiety. I got the diagnosis of Schizophrenia. My illness looks like demon possession. I hear voices, see dead people, I go into fight or flight every day of my life because I think people are trying to kill me. I hear people breaking into my house all the time and when I look to see who their, it's no one. I live in unbelievable amounts of torment every moment of every day. I've been in therapy for about 12 years of my life and the illness was never discovered by professionals or the church. No word of knowledge about this issue. I was abused by the church for a very long time. I was told I needed to 'believe more', read more scripture, pray more, worship more, repent more.... like wtf. They couldn't help me. They couldn't see that my experience was different than others. (this is a criticism of the church more than any person) I had to shut up about the symptoms I was experiencing because believers don't really like those who don't believe like them, look like them, pray like them. The prayer lines were humiliating. People would just run up to me and command satan out and yell and scream. I would curl into a ball and cry as they would get the whole congregation in on it. Nothing like being yelled at by a whole room of people :D but I digress. Wish this was an isolated event... And like a fool I would do the same thing from church to church because I wanted freedom more than the fear of being ridiculed or yelled at and humiliated. I've done everything that I thought would work. For years! I attended Bethel church a few years ago and was at least meet with compassion. People didn't judge me for my illness and made me feel welcomed. Those same churches I mentioned before who would pray for me would also blame me for not having faith for healing :p I've never met a more compassionate group of people. They would go with me to the healing rooms and would believe with me that I would be healed. I tried the Sozo route for a bit, but the underlying issue was still never identified. The Sozo route wasn't what I needed and I knew it wouldn't help to go, but went anyway. The experience wasn't negative in any way and it helped me out with some doors I left open. Sozo isnt the end all be all. I cant trust a church, program, worship set, minister, to fix all my problems. It has to be Jesus. I'm honestly just tired of the whole, it has to be a demon thing. I think that it undermines the person who suffers if the 'demon' isn't removed. If you think it's a demon do you keep praying over and over again? Well if you don't like doctors then that's all you have. It kinda isolates people who desperately want help and I think it pushes people from doctors who can help these people. I wouldn't tell a person who has cancer to stop chemotherapy and tell them they need more faith and should stop treatment. I was on antidepressants for years before my diagnosis and was told I didn't have faith if I kept taking those. I'm the rare few who got humiliated church after church and still kept going. 14 years of trying to get victory and Im still going after it. My relationship with God isn't determined by me getting healed or not.

[@kristinkat76]

Praise God! 6 years ago Jesus delivered and healed me from 23 years of bulimia, depression and suicidal thoughts- like immediately, overnight, a miracle! I am forever changed and grateful for His gift of salvation. He delivered me from the powers of darkness and conveyed me into the kingdom of the Son of His love. Jesus loves you, too. Surrender all to Him. God bless.

[@MultiSignlanguage]

Through a sozo session?

[@TriciaRP]

I needed this to.listen and commit to follow God ....I SHOULDN'T BE LIKE THIS ... I didn't even know tricks of satan and Depression got worst....I started Fighting God and anything everyone's . FOOLISH.... Tricked

[@averyhappywoman]

Praise Jesus for His deliverance!!! Cast out heaviness and put on the garment of praise!!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@zyn87]

@@MultiSignlanguage Sozo is a dangerous unbiblical concept. Totally occultic. Christ is our intercessor to the Father period. Just pray honestly in the name of Jesus. You don't need some spiritual "leader" or church leader psychically guiding you through unbiblical spirit contact. Might as well just use a ouija board to fix your problems. It's totally just made up and you dont know what "spirits" you are dealing with when you stir this stuff up. The blue print of what we are to do is in the bible. Sozo really messed someone up that I know of. We are transformed by the Holy Spirit by earnestly seeking God every day.

[@Nickjamesdarling]

@@zyn87 that's totally nonsense. If you've ever prayed with a spouse or brother, or pastor, this is the same thing. It's with another person. Additionally that person isn't listening for you, they're facilitating a prayer for the person to connect directly with God. That's as biblical as it gets.

[@UBU41God]

2 take aways for me. 1) the Body needs to be more compassionate and humble about someone's struggles and avoid shame or judgment. 2) I love the fact that there are Christian mental health counselors who are able to use Biblical truth in therapeutic counseling. Praise God!

[@mramirez5239]

Making it more accessible to church members needs to happen. All church staff should include professional mental health and abuse counselors/therapists on staff.

[@marissahynes1050]

Wow Melissa, as someone who is dealing with a few mental health disorders, and going to therapy this perspective from Britt really encouraged me a lot. Mental health is often misunderstood by the church which can be very hurtful and dismissive to anyone struggling with it. I would be interested in some more mental health perspectives in the future! ❤️

[@Window4503]

@Seer Class In the cases where thought patterns are involved, Christianity can play a helpful role. Pretty much in any secular setting where affirmations or other thought-related exercises and techniques are used, Christians can rely on God for healing. I think there’s a place for theology in counseling but that it starts with actually knowing what’s wrong (determined by the psychology part) and using it in combination with medication and healthy lifestyle changes where needed.

[@marissahynes1050]

@Seer Class I agree with your point. From what I understand about christian counseling is that it is done only at the consent of the patient. And that it’s more of something that is done if the person is christian and wants that method to be incorporated into it. It’s not only “start praying” and nothing else. I agree that a lot of things require actual medical help, but that if someone loves God they should be able to have that opportunity to have someone encouraging them in their struggle because it can be really hard if at your core you want a relationship with God but then mental illness can make you lose sight of your desires.

[@mercyp7151]

I believe that there is mental health disorders but I think the church rejects psychology in terms of dealing with sin, such as secular psychology to deal with problems that are at its base, sin issues. Their is need for medicine at times, but keep in mind the Bible is sufficient for all issues.

[@marissahynes1050]

@@mercyp7151 I see your points. What do you mean by mental disorders being a sin issue? Do you think that mental disorders happen because of sin? I believe Christ is sufficient for everything, yes. However I think that mental disorders are also very real and can happen despite how much the person relies on God. They are similar to sickness. I however do think there is a drastic difference between things like basic human emotion and mental health disorders. Depression is more than sadness or wallowing in sadness. Anxiety disorder is more than feeling anxious. Someone who experiences their human emotion of sadness and needs to simply seek Jesus in their emotion, is very different than someone who has clinical depression which is a medical disorder with corresponding symptoms that are more than just emotion. ❤️ I think we can seek Jesus in everything but I believe there is a drastic difference between emotion and mental disorders.

[@marissahynes1050]

@Seer Class I agree as well. It’s a misconception that the church needs to do better on because the church at its core is supposed to be a place with open doors, and dismissing mental disorders can be a reason people turn away and it’s sad. I hope to help that to some extent in the future.

[@HappyHolyHealthyLife]

My husband has severe OCD/scrupulousity & he has been very harmed by various deliverance ministries. I do believe in supernatural healing & deliverance, but I believe there is an important role for Christian therapists & medical professionals. I think humans are complex beings that need physical, mental & spiritual healing 🙏

[@jonsealartist]

As a Believer who has OCD as well, I can tell you that my brain is broken. It is my thorn. The scriptures tell us that not everything is healed this side of the New Creation. Paul talks about his thorn in the side. Steven was stoned to death (and Paul was there!!!). Jesus was tortured and MURDERED and told us to expect nothing less!!! Sometimes, God’s answer to a prayer for deliverance is “no” and instead gives you strength to endure.

[@emmat7910]

There's a wonderful talk by one of devoted priests /apologetics which is unfortunately in greek. I can only tell you this : thoughts, no matter how blasphemous or bad they are according to Christianity, are NOT voluntary, and you really have NO RESPONSIBILITY for them at all! He repeats, that these are direct attacks from the evil, caused by the harm it is doing through the" illness ". The ONLY WAY to get out is simply ignore them. Also, it is wrong to" make friends" or familiarize yourself with the evil so everyone should realize that he is doing exactly that when you analyze your thoughts /patterns /actions. Just remember, the devil had the audacity to try to put second thoughts EVEN to Jesus himself. Imagine that in no way those thoughts are your fault. Please don't ignore it and read that again. Progress in everything. , is not LINEAR( That's why Jesus carried his cross all the way and what matters is to always look at the light no matter the darkness. Because it doesn't matter ). Of course you're gonna have days where you're falling into the same traps. BUT IGNORING is the only way out in those cases. Every time someone analyzes the thoughts that's like thinking he can go against a giant-it is impossible. Just remember Rahab was a prostitute, Moses kllled, and Noah lied,even Peter denied Jesus. But God's love is greater😊

[@freddrone4556]

I have a brain that makes me depressed and full of fear without medication, and of course, walking close to God. Praise God!

[@hydebrown1805]

@@jonsealartist 😘😌💚

[@robw2486]

A 'Christian' friend and her boyfriend did the Sozo course, and were raving how 'accurate' the prophecies were, which sounded like 'fortune telling'. Alarm bells rang when I was told the instructor asks the person at the start of the session who they want to come into the room 'Father, Son, or Holy Spirit' (like ordering God to do our biding), and the 'separation' sounded like the non-trinitarian view of God. Of course, the counsellor never told them what God would say, which was stop living together and stop having sex outside of marriage. Only 'good words' were told of health, wealth , and success. This is not from God.

[@lilmisspeace]

Amen! 👍

[@stacefaceee9976]

That’s weird asking God into the room. He’s omnipotent. Not a spirit guide you call upon because you need a parking spot

[@mtgsk5180]

Yikes

[@freddrone4556]

I've never liked when people say, "Let God come down."

[@suzannemartin6817]

🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ not my experience at all.

[@WilliamtheWorst]

Melissa is very nice in her treatment of these false teachers. I don't have as much restraint, but I digress. Keep up the awesome work & channel!

[@MakingChristKnownMedia]

If only Christians will regards humans as nothing but humans regardless of their gifts and positions, and put their total faith and allegiance to Jesus Christ, so many craziness we see in churches today will stop.

[@aprilwhite554]

BOOM! (insert fire and fist bump emoji)

[@mpho5664]

Well said bro , it really is that simple

[@-BekahJoy-]

“It’s ok, things won’t leave this room”.....and it’s published in a book

[@aprilg5616]

My thinking exactly. In a book??? What?

[@zyn87]

That's what I said.

[@saribrown7156]

I’m sure they asked for permission and changed the names.

[@whittakerdanielj]

@@saribrown7156 My thought as well.

[@paradiserestored6179]

Imagine this woman reading her story in this book. I would feel violated ☹️

[@echo_family_adventures]

Thank you for this! I went through a SOZO session years ago. I don’t recall feeling any different afterward. In fact, I’ve spent the last 8 years actively healing from last trauma. The last year and a half or more have been in therapy to dig deep. So much of my healing in the beginning years was focused on how I viewed God just like SOZO does because I was in the NAR movement. Which is really the charasmatic/prosperity gospel/word of faith, they are all a part of it. This last year and a half in therapy my focus has changed to putting the blame where it rightfully belongs and not on God. I realized as I’m listening to this video how much the focus gets taken off of the real issue and turned into something else and essentially just shifting the blame. Thanks for doing this video!!

[@Jaxmusicgal23]

I switched to Mending the Soul and loved it because of my dysfunctional family and upbringing. The people who created it are humble and say they are giving you tools to heal and it’s not magic. It’s a journey with God to reveal trauma He wants and heal you and is a process. Mending the Soul admits they give you tools for you to go after you are done and use them the rest of your life. Much better approach and it is basic biblical tools they show you use to handle life and work through anything else that might come up later so you don’t have to keep running back to them for “prayer” and “guidance”

[@jessman8597]

@@Jaxmusicgal23 What is mending the soul? I've never heard of it, but intrigued by the name.

[@tinarollings8719]

My husband and I went to a Sozo healing class. We got bad vibes [thats Holy Spirit discernment]. It does not matter what credentials a person does or doesn't have. The Lord will warn you. We asked God to give us wisdom. We left when the Sozo instructor had us close our eyes and go back to our mothers womb. She wanted us to stretch as if we were in the womb again. Thank you for doing this Michelle and inviting your friend to add her input. God bless you.~ Kathleen 💖

[@amyhellerford9422]

WOW, like stretching in the womb again ??? That's out there & no thx lol !

[@thecalixtos6744]

Melissa- I love your heart. You NEVER come off as “bashing” anybody! Anyone who thinks differently has an issue with truth. Thank you for being bold & sharing truth, though it makes some uncomfortable. I love your videos. Keep doing your thing girl!

[@MelissaDougherty]

Thank you, I appreciate that encouragement! ❤️😊

[@thecalixtos6744]

@@MelissaDougherty you’re welcome beautiful sister! 💖🤗

[@PaulWestonEden]

As I mentioned in a previous video, I was deeply involved in a SOZO-type ministry for years as a leader. It wasn't called SOZO, but it is was a knock-off. And today many churches have deliverance ministries based on SOZO but not called SOZO, and they use various names such as "deliverance", "inner healing" and "spiritual warfare". Most of them are based in whole or in part on theophostic counseling, meaning “God bringing to light the truth.” The danger is the fact there is an element of truth in them but they are not fully biblically sound, which both Melissa and Britt explained. They lead people into a false theology of healing and deliverance. Thank you for this video.

[@lizh1988]

I had Sozo ministers who had previously had theophostic training or education. In my time with them I learned some things, but they had me accept four "angels" into my "system" of alter personalities. I thought it was a risk I needed to take. I trusted them. The male of the couple ran off with the wife of a "patient" he was counseling. The wife had committed no bad behavior. He said his told him to have a mental, spiritual and emotional affair with the other woman. I think God was telling him to do that with his original wife. He came that close to doing the right thing.

[@elizabethrace5406]

Fantastic interview. I am a physician assistant who works in inpatient and consultation psychiatry and the parent of a young adult worship leader. My son is integrated into a ministry that is flirting with some beliefs about deliverance ministry, word of faith, prosperity gospel, and supernatural healing. Your videos have helped equip me with more understanding of these issues so that I can have discussions with him and help him see ways that they do not align with scripture.

[@Unicorncutiecutie]

I had one session of Bethel’s Sozo, I thought it was a little “out there”. We stopped going there a few years ago, but not before our daughter graduated from Bethel’s School of Supernatural Ministry. We are thankful that our daughter has since realized as well that they teach a lot of non biblical ideas.

[@sarahpfeuffer1396]

Hi Karen, my friend also graduated from that school. Could you by chance give a couple examples of non Biblical things that were taught? If not that's ok too. Thanks.

[@e.l.243]

@@sarahpfeuffer1396 Check Mike Winger about this subject.

[@hisservants8003]

@@sarahpfeuffer1396 Grave soaking is not Biblical at all. That is the first thing that popped into my mind. Everything I have watched has been nutty and not Christian.

[@hisservants8003]

@@e.l.243 Agreed but I think he should have had stronger criticism than he did.

[@PaulWestonEden]

@@sarahpfeuffer1396 Sarah, to be frank, I see little at all that is biblical about Bethel Church. If you do a little research on the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) you will understand. I'll offer two specific criticisms: 1) There are no apostles and prophets for today in the way Bethel is teaching. And if there were prophets, they would not get prophecies wrong, and would prophesy repentance for the forgiveness of sin. Today's "prophets" are absolutely abysmal and an athema to the Word of God. 2) Having a school to teach people how to be "supernatural" is completely unbiblical as the gifts of the Spirit are distributed as the Holy Spirit determines (1 Corinthians 12:11). One doesn't learn a gift. Bethel is leading many astray with seeking signs and wonders and personal edification rather than seeking Christ and obeying His Word.

[@QueenLadySummer329]

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

[@theambitiouschic]

Great topic of discussion and I appreciate you both handling this graciously, without coming off malicious but rather genuine and sincere to help Christians alike to examine what is being taught!

[@tinarollings8719]

I also went to a group of 3 people praying over me. They said they were doing Sozo over me. They told me that if God showed me something to say outloud what He showed me. I had 2 visions and God used those visions to minister emotional healing to me. They just prayed while my eyes were closed praying as well. What the enemy means for evil God turns around for good for those who love Him and are acalled according to His purpose. The Lord protected me. ~ Kathleen

[@SpiritualWhiplash]

Great conversation! Thank you for covering this with a CURRENT Licensed Therapist !!! You are both making a HUGE difference! God bless 💗

[@lisabarlow6098]

Another negative aspect I could see for someone who has been through a “one and done” Sozo session is that there will be expectations out on them to never struggle with that issue again since they are “healed” so they might hide their problems after that. Talk about unhealthy!!! Also they do not mention anything about the person taking responsibility for their own actions and attitudes or repenting of sin! You don’t get healed of sin! You repent of it! And you might get healed of the pain and damage from your trauma!!!

[@yaqarianfanashira]

Yes!! Definitely agree with the first point and went through something very similar.

[@SueHerr]

This was a great conversation. I had a mental health episode about 5 years ago where I had to get hospitalized. At the time, I was very very confused and didn't know if it was a spiritual attack or psychological disorganized thinking. After getting out of the hospital, I spoke to a few Christian friends and they recommended that I get deliverance ministry. I did not feel like that was the best approach for me so I sought out regular counseling and group therapy. I'm so so so glad I did. I think if I would have gone to a deliverance ministry I would have overspiritualized my experience and it would have been damaging for me. I would not have gotten help with having correct coping strategies in dealing with depression and anxiety if I did deliverance ministry. I'm still a work in progress but I've come a long way! Praise God!

[@cincin4515]

Good choice. I know one who suffers depression and won't get help because it's spiritual attacks. Her whole sad depressing outlook on life revolves around devil attacks. Pretty nasty religion to reduce peoples lives to that.

[@freddrone4556]

Excellent point

[@LadyBug31705]

As an unchurched individual the Lord Jesus Christ and Him only delivered me from major depression, generalized anxiety. As I talked with Him while reading my Bible He did more internal healing. He healed my broken heart. He rescued me from a 17 year abusive marriage. Out of love and gratitude I read my Bible to get to know this God who revealed Himself to me when I wasn't looking for Him. I wanted to know who this God was that reached out to me and saved my life.

[@LadyBug31705]

From day one, I recognized my need to renew my mind to think like God thinks. And to live and love like He does.

[@emmat7910]

Yassssss 💯😃✝️💪

[@jillstorm8237]

Thank you for having a KZbin chat with the counselor. I like that. Please do it more.

[@lindaellmore4821]

Before watching this, I never realized that so much of the "freedom ministry" that I have been through (and I'm talking more than a decade of it) was modeled after SOZO. Thank you both so, so much. This brings a lot of clarity.

[@julietleblanc9197]

I love this video, I could talk about new age “healing” with you ladies for HOURS! Wonderful guest, excellent content as usual. Thank you!

[@SweetiePieTweety]

Thank you for bringing this! As someone who was subject to well intended spiritual deliverance abuse, the conversation you just played out is necessary and needs to go even deeper. Thank you Ladies!

[@sarahpfeuffer1396]

Hi Karen, I'm sorry to hear that you went through deliverance abuse. I'm trying to understand how people might be abused from that form of ministry, casting out demons. If you could shed any light on it for me I would appreciate it. Thank you.

[@helenhilton2158]

I felt depressed after my father passed away, then again (15 years later) after my mother passed away. I never saw these episodes of depression as a spiritual or clinical issue, but rather as a natural element of grief. I recognized, though, that I needed to take care of myself by getting around other people or engaging in activities that could be uplifting so that the sadness wouldn’t become a deeper issue. Some things are just a matter of good common sense.

[@karacole2304]

Thank you. I met a girl who does SOZO last week and she refuses to look at Bethel's teaching as anything but good. She is so deceived. I may show her this.

[@NewYawkahBroad]

What a wonderfully thoughtful and comprehensive discussion. When I was in Word of Faith we had 'Prayer counseling': a traumatizing event that made you feel even worse after you were done. No discussion, just two or three people yammering loudly in tongues while laying heavy hands on you. It was a bonus if you threw up your 'demons'. It was nonsensical. I would go to someone like Brit in a heartbeat.

[@allisonbernier6846]

How awful for you!!

[@lionoffireministries]

*Gos bless everyone reading this* ✝️🙏😊

[@heatherofthemountains]

I'm reminded of parental alienation in the examination of their practice. When a parent, mentor, gaurdian, person of influence on said child, leads the child on with detailed questions full of veiled suggestions for the child to build on. May God bless us with His discernment and wisdom. 💙✝️🙏

[@valeriemckenna4590]

Hey Melissa.. my former church that I used to go to treated Bill Johnson as a god. I recently tried to warn them but of course it wasn’t taken well. I was told not to listen to the slander going on against Bill Johnson. My former church made Bethel look like Disney Land.

[@Jaxmusicgal23]

Same here and our new church joined this “Confluence” of churches group and my husband and I couldn’t find ANYTHING about who and what they are or even a negative or positive review about them outside of the positive videos on their website. We were concerned and it has brought our church in a very progressive and critical race theory direction with a lot of double mindedness and double standards. Now we feel we aren’t sure what church to go to because we keep seeing good churches fall apart after several years and no one seems to see the spiritual attack coming or do anything about it once it is obvious

[@valeriemckenna4590]

@@Jaxmusicgal23 I understand hopefully you’ll find a place where you are happy and will work for you. My new church I’ve been going to for almost a year I love it there my pastor is a wonderful man of God very humble and is a blessing to you. I’m so glad I found my new home church. My youth pastor I talked with him a little bit about Bill Johnson and he shares the opinion of myself. God bless you

[@NewYawkahBroad]

Good grief, that sounds horrendous! Praise God this is your former church! I thought plain Word of Faith was bad...

[@traceechislett8463]

It was the same with my old church, It was so eerie, now that I look back and are now reading and studying my bible more & gained disernment!, how there was a que to get in for Bills conference & He was treated like a God. Read the Word people! The Word is Jesus 😌😃

[@amyhellerford9422]

I've had some of the same experiences. We left a church cuz of the New Age teachings, like " Christian mystic, no hell, sozo ( I went thru a handful of those.... NEVER again! I was wondering if I opened the door to something ??? The church I left was a sister church to Bethel. No judgment, no nothing. No confronting sin ( that I'm aware of)...

[@vheewhy9882]

Would love to know what Mellissa thinks about actual deliverance from demons and being filled with the holy spirit and fire.

[@ahsahdudeitstay5157]

Considering that she's a continuationist and a charismatic not a hyper charismatic but just like a real one I would assume she believes that there's a real possibilities, but that bethel's way of going about it isn't biblical

[@tavonnaevans8272]

What do you think about it @Vhee Why ❤️

[@MichaelCTruth]

I believe we are filled with the Spirit. I have also seen several demons cast out. I think the concept of being filled with fire isnt a biblical concept for a believer. Find that scripture and read the whole chapter.

[@TheNickels86]

We are baptized by the Holy Spirit when we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and are saved. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. The "filling of the Holy Spirit" isn't a secondary thing or separate from salvation . . . "Speaking in tongues " is not evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Please go back and read the book of Acts again and ask the Lord to give you understanding. When they received the promised gift of the Holy Ghost at pentecost, they could speak in other tongues (tongues = languages) so they could PREACH THE GOSPEL to people who actually spoke a different language then they did, so people could be saved. I say this all in love. I just came out of a "non-denominational" church about a year ago, which I now say was just an undercover name. They taught baptism of the Holy Ghost and that there was evidence by speaking in "tongues". Which by the way anyone can learn to do by just listening to this gibberish for long enough. I was around it for over 6 years and learned how to do this too. My husband and I chose to leave this church because we did not want our children living in confusion or being taught unbiblical teaching, or things clearly taken out if context. I know, I know confusion isn't from the Lord, fear isn't from the Lord. . .but DISCERNMENT is. I don't know how many times I heard the enemy is just trying to distract you and pick you off. Hog wash! When you feel that check in your Spirit that something isn't right LISTEN to it, listen to the Holy Spirit! He speaks to us through his word (the BIBLE). So read the bible, the Lord will bring back scripture to your rememberance and speak to you this way. (Not saying he can't lead you to speak to someone or bring someone to mind to pray for or call to talk to.) God is still a God of miracles and he is still the God who heals! But we don't need to be seeking after these things because we have the Bible now! Those "powers" were for a time. I do believe God can heal through prayer, but there is no longer Paul's and Peter's walking around. There wasn't the Bible for people to read back then so the signs and wonders were the evidence. Today the evidence is the Bible. May God bless you with discernment , I pray that he would open up the eyes off your heart and lead you out of falseness. I pray that you would keep searching for the truth in God's written word and also through the testimony of your brothers and sisters in Christ who have come out of the Hyper Charismatic, Word if Faith, Prosperity Gospel, New Apostolic Reformation Church movement. I'm thankful to God for the wisdom and discernment I gained from being part of a Church menitioned above. I was involved in different ministries and my husband also. We saw and experienced a lot. Now we can teach our children and others what to watch out for. We are to seek the lost and those who need to be saved. Glory to God for his grace, mercy and unending love! ❤

[@ahsahdudeitstay5157]

@@MichaelCTruth I don't think we're filled with literal fire. Fire just seems to be a depiction of some sort of the holy spirit. Not that he's actually a flame.

[@marisa5359]

I never went through Sozo by that name but this sort of teaching was rampant in every church service in my charismania days and huge part of what I was fed from childhood on. I will never cease to praise God for opening my eyes and supplying the courage it took to get out of that church. Thanks for sharing these hard but necessary truths.

[@chibi4069]

I did a couple sozo sessions myself. back when i was very deceived..I had a “positive” experience but I really had no long lasting results. I always wondered why everyone could speak n tongues and do all these spiritual things while I couldnt. well God brought me out of all that and that has been a blessing itself.

[@mikemoguin1745]

I went to Bethel several years ago (before my eyes were opened to its deception) and considered a SOZO. Thankfully, I didn't do one. Still, I came back home and was hit with panic attacks. I had to start taking anti-anxiety meds and get counseling. Took years to figure out what happened. This video has been helpful.

[@cindyn6219]

I so appreciate this session and video! There was a situation in our church where someone wanted to introduce this ministry, and honestly, it almost split our church. The problem was though, that many people did not even understand how to express why they thought it was right or wrong. As someone who dreams of being in and/or starting a lay ministry counseling group, this was extremely sensible to see why science, talk therapy, and spiritual growth all work together and are necessary to have together. Thank you again!

[@timothysouthwell428]

Such a great episode ! There should be more dialogue about the scripture/ mental health space. I’m a Christian therapist from Australia and reflect daily on these matters, particularly how prosperity/ NAR teachers prey on the psychologically vulnerable. It is so unethical, immoral ... sinful! 😞

[@andrewward6613]

So glad yu interviewed Britt . . A trained therapist. As a Christian Social Worker and clinical therapist myself I often find it frustrating to hear Christian leaders try to explain MH issues without the knowledge of psychology, the traumatic brain, psychosocial spiritual concepts, etc. Britt did a great job explaining how human are complex and our MH issues are also complex. SOZO is full of leading questions which as Britt explained in not appropriate in the counseling profession and is very manipulative. Also the big issue is that people who receive SOZO rype counseling and their lives don't change are often blamed for their lack of results being told it's their fault due to their lack of faith. This is very damaging. I had a client in the past who experienced this and I spent multiple sessions helping to undo the damage that was done. Anyway . . Good podcast and Britt did a great job answering yur questions.

[@kristyadams5633]

At a small prayer meeting once I shared some struggles I was having with my oldest son who was in kindergarten or 1st grade I believe and how he is on the autism spectrum (high functioning) and a lady there began telling me not to speak that over his life ( 🤔 ) and then asked if my father had ever abused me ( 😠😳🙄 ). I said nø and she kept digging. I said I have a great relationship with my dad but she kept trying to put a negative spin on my dad. My red flag 🚩 alert started going up and I shut down. I think I remember the people there had recently went to some prayer training trip in a different state and now I wouldn’t be surprised if it was sozo. Thing is, people can carry these damaging practices and attempt to sozo other Christians without the formal training. It can look like sozo, taste like sozo, smell like sozo just not be formally called sozo because they aren’t fully prepared and trained. It was introduced in a little place prayer meeting on a Tuesday morning.

[@lynnohl2526]

Kristy Adams, Would it happen to be in a county in Georgia south of the major airport?

[@gigahorse1475]

Yikes! That’s crazy. Good thing you didn’t go along with that nonsense. I wonder how many people start to turn against their families when faced with false accusations of abuse “planted” in their minds.

[@NarnianLady]

Sadly this is common among some Christians... the need to fix others. It is hard to ask for prayer these days, because often you come off feeling worse than you were.. :( Last summer, I thought I might need some encouraging prayer, but instead the lady went on and on digging ad assuming that I had a bad relationship with my Dad. No. When their script is designed a certain way, they cannot think outside that box anymore...

[@SweetiePieTweety]

Mom By The Sea She could be speaking of “Be in Health” which is south of Atlanta in Georgia 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

[@joandriggs8771]

Thank you so much for this VITAL message and conversation. It is So encouraging to hear such a beautifully balanced way to healing. ( I do believe God loves balance, which is not always a popular word it seems in some of the more progressive circles! :) ) I have been healed through prayer in His presence and through counseling. He uses it all. I am grateful I have always said NO to Sozo when approached and have warned others I care about. Many blessings to you both and your ministry to others. I appreciate all the time and devotion you take to bring forth His Word. It's a jungle out there! :)

[@acemacer]

Thank you soo much for this video. Very impactful. You either need to have a mental health topic once a month or she needs her own KZbin channel. Thank God for you both.

[@dylanmilks]

What a great conversation! Thank you ladies. I've had to deal with complex childhood trauma in my own life. Any Christian counselor who says any of the following should be avoided like the plague: "you just need to grow your faith", "speak your deliverance into existence", "see yourself as healed and whole", "just pray more", "just tithe more", etc. It's the Burger King drive-thru Christianity: you're way right away.

[@Chickasawndngirl]

I have an extended family member that has a mental illness (BPD) from severe childhood abuse. She went through healing ministries like “SOZO” and kept saying she had break throughs and healing, but she never really got better. Now, years later, the mental illness has really progressed and it’s pretty much to late to fix it since dementia has set in. If she’d been steered to real counseling rather than being told everything was a spirit of this or that, she might have been helped. It’s a tragedy to see the results first hand of this kind of misleading “therapy.” I am a believer and know God can transform us in amazing ways, but sometimes those transformations involve getting some real counseling and reality from the Word, not spiritual witch hunts when the problem is psychological. Sometimes that person needs to be held accountable for their actions and actively take their thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. What I observed is that the family member was never held accountable for hurting others in various ways from lying to gaslighting etc, and instead they get a free pass on abusing others because it’s just some “spirit” attached to them. So wrong. What does God do with this kind of situation where a professing Christian is abusing others as a result of their own abuse, but being told they just have an orphan spirit or some other nonsense? I think God isn’t pleased with this kind of approach because it isn’t wise or helpful and doesn’t result in obedience to God’s Word.

[@freddrone4556]

Thanks for your observation. You have helped me a lot.

[@elisajohnson3743]

This was so awesome ! I actually was trained to do Sozo and I had a Sozo session. my discernment was right . There was something wrong but couldn't pinpoint it . Thank you for this education it's so needed . I appreciate your time and love for the body of Christ and bringing clarity to this topic. Thank you Thank you!

[@MuMu-fu7qe]

How could one session of anything heal years of trauma?

[@ayyuh3560]

@Mu Mu Jesus

[@sarahlantto8913]

This was a great discussion!!! Thank you 😊 I like how this therapist said you have to find the answers yourself...the therapist can’t give you solutions!!! The great thing is, Jesus is called wonderful Counselor. He is the one who helps us look inside and self-reflect! It’s a PROCESS!!! ❤️👍

[@nathanloan3334]

So back before I was a Christian I had dealings in witch craft. When Britt was reading from the book about Sarah and Grace, how the "session" played out reminded me of doing past life regressions I would be lead through. I'm not saying Bethel is directly involved in witch craft... but hearing that being read really took me back to that. It's really creepy.

[@mb1015]

I think perhaps is not intentionally, but massively deceived. Many people in such churches know and love God but are deceived. I was one of them but praise God for freedom, He saved me (again!)

[@amyhellerford9422]

OMGOSH! Wow.... creepy & I must say, not totally surprising.

[@pauldavis1676]

This SOZO process and "healing" sounds a GREAT deal similar to the Church of Scientology "cleansing of mind engrams", etc....

[@Mboogie69]

It does... I don’t have firsthand experience with either, but it does sound similar from what I’ve heard about them.

[@psalmspeaks9826]

sounds like reiki healing to me

[@NewYawkahBroad]

Bethel does do enneagrams......

[@laylascott6096]

@@psalmspeaks9826 do you have the time stamp for the part where they talked about the part that sounded like a reiki session? Former reiki master here

[@matasaina2011]

But it's not.

[@azeldajoubert2528]

This is a real problem with real consequences. A church with similar beliefs "healed " my sister in law's bi-polar disorder. 4 months later, without her normal meds and support she fell victim to suicide. And yes I feel that the irresponsible unqualified 'treatment" of her mental health problem made her a victim.

[@mramirez5239]

I am so sorry. I lost a brother...they say this way. I wish they could have been held them legally copable, in your place. I have stopped to pray that the Lord bring you to where He only He can, along a path of true heart healing, in His gentle timing.

[@azeldajoubert2528]

@@mramirez5239 thank you. I grappled with this for a long time and so did my children. But we have a wonderful faithful relationship with the Lord and He has given us peace with this.

[@amyhellerford9422]

That's AWFUL !! IM SO SORRY!

[@tarverkim]

I’m so sorry!!

[@freddrone4556]

I'm so sorry! ❤️

[@louonUT]

So glad this is out... thank you so much Melissa for all you do to bring truth !

[@nathanp5711]

I've been waiting for you to release this content for a while. I am excited to watch it.

[@alexs9801]

Thank you for this conversation, Melissa and Britt!! I'm a psychology/counseling student at a Christian university, planning to continue to graduate studies and attain licensure for Christian mental health and therapy sessions. It was so awesome to see this topic covered from this perspective and gain insight on what makes it different from "legit" Christian counseling sessions. Hope to hear more from Britt soon!! =D

[@KJ-lb4tj]

Not watched this yet, but I am a psychologist and I know many psychologists and psychiatrists that practice inner healing prayer, many of which are for trauma and if you are not aware then most inner healing prayer is almost exactly the same in process and practice as any secular based trauma therapy. It works on the same principles of memory and the way we retrieve and store memory and that changing the current recollection of memory in terms of the meaning of emotional content before storing the memory again is what removes the triggered basis of it. Christian psychologists counselors psychiatrists offer to bring Jesus into the memory because he is always with us in every situation whether we remember him in it or not, he was there because he is God Immanuel, always with us.

[@KJ-lb4tj]

Dr Lehman is a Christian psychiatrist in the States that practices Emmanuel prayer (check out his book 'outsmarting yourself'), which insurance companies cover as trauma therapy. Just stating that this is only one Christian's view. Dr wilder is another that has practiced Christian forms of trauma healing for over 30years at shepherds house in California. Check out his books, 'the other half of church', 'joy starts here'.

[@TheDeliveranceDelusion]

@@KJ-lb4tj In other words, you believe in repressed memories.

[@happyseasons4640]

This was so good & clearly explained. It is really true that in a Sozo session (been in a few) only the spiritual is addressed & they (like Britt said) tell you what your problem is. They only give you 3 possible choices (problem with Father, Son or Holy Spirit) which is ridiculous. Not every problem is demonic or has to do with your relationship with God. We are mind, body, spirit & emotions. It is gnostic thinking that the spiritual is everything & the physical means nothing. It can lead to foolish & untrue conclusions about complex problems. The sessions reinforce hyper spirituality & dependence on your next emotional “breakthrough” but not much changes. Thank you for going so in depth on this topic!

[@yeraldywilson6042]

I absolutely love her! She really talked about things in a way that we could understand. Thank you Melissa for bringing her to your channel! God bless you girls!

[@alyssiaruss3151]

Melissa, I love you and Britt!!! I was excited about this video and you two didn't disappoint! I'm really curious about biblical approaches to dealing with more debilitating mental illness like schizophrenia or any psychotic disorder. It seems with SOZO, they tend to focus on a person's "problems" with God. Another side of the pendulum is blaming the devil - possession, "casting out demons"..... If you could recommend a solid resource on any of that, I'd really appreciate it!

[@CarmenPerez-kz6rw]

I tried to tell my friend there was something wrong here. She said no then she learned for herself. Hallelujah Jesus for discernment.

[@eddiequiroz3227]

Yes!!!! I've been waiting for this video. It's here!!!!

[@-BekahJoy-]

Thank you for doing this video!! I’ve heard of SOZO and wanted to do it because it sounded like a one and done healing thing (maybe shortcut to healing) but because of geographical location I haven’t been able to do it and now I’m really thankful I wasn’t able to!

[@jojersey4081]

Thank you for another video Melissa! Please keep me and my hubby in you prayers. I'm sure you get asked that a ton just to be closer to Christ and fully trust He Accomplished it all. We tend to fall back in the I'm not good enough amd that spirals quickly.

[@Mrssterling7]

I cannot possibly tell you how much I value all that was was said in this video. I wish an acknowledgement of the Fall of man could be acknowledged by Sozo and our need throughout Scripture regarding our care of those in the world with the training we could appreciate from those who have dedicated their lives to the calling of serving God by helping those who suffer from depression and anxiety. Paul’s thorn in the flesh could have been several things we see listed in the Scriptures and we need grace for. I appreciate the gift you 2 ladies gave to your audience.

[@justanaturaldisaster]

I admire how Melissa and Alan (Polite Leader) respectfully ask us to pray for whomever they just got done bashing. It’s like that old parental mantra, “this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you”

[@Shayla_Joelle]

Melissa, you are such a breath of fresh air. A Christian who speaks with love and yet desires and seeks truth. I love you.

[@GGtba1646]

Although Sozo has a bigger exposure, there are many other “similar” ministries out there. They all work on the same premise. Ellel Ministries, Elijah House, Lamplighters. Very much under qualified counselors practicing pseudo psychology and passing it off as the Holy Spirit. Although I believe many of them start out well meaning, it becomes a cycle of needing more and searching for “trauma”. I’m sure many people being counseled whose lives aren’t suddenly amazing after a “deliverance” session start to imagine or invent (completely believing they are actually real) past traumas and in some cases are open to the power of suggestion in an effort to have something to heal. Thank you for this video, I’ve been to some of these deliverance sessions. They reek of superstition and lack understanding of the Cross.

[@debastosj]

You are right and I am afraid that some are so confusing and spiritually unbalanced that they may cause further spiritual, physical and psychological damage.

[@GodWokeMeUp]

So do you believe that all SOZO is bad? I recently started going to a new church and they have SOZO every week and also doing weekly meetings for recovering addicts. We started going to this church because my husband's good Christian friend used to go there. He always asked us to go to church but we made excuses. When he passed away my husband felt like we should start going to church there. This friend of ours was a faithful Christian man and had many good fruits. He struggled with leukemia from childhood and was on and off again with his health issues. His wife left him for another man when he started getting sick again. Instead of being angry he gave her the house, his car, and prayed that she found happiness. He was so kind, never cursed, and was such a good influence on my husband. Sometimes I feel so frustrated trying to find a good "home church" Because I can find bad no matter where I go. This is one of the reasons why I have struggled going to church on a regular basis. I don't think the buildings are the problem but it's more so the fact that people's hearts, minds, and souls are so far away from God's truth. I don't believe that everyone who goes to some of these places are evil.... But it's hard because there are a lot of wolves in sheep's clothing at most churches in general. I think the reason why things go bad is because people put other people up on pedestals and idolize them. I mean just reading through comments here, they even do it with you Melissa. People don't lean on the Holy Spirit and they always want people to tell them what they need to do to get right with God. This is why people need to stay focused on Jesus Christ and following him should be our final authority on everything.

[@annfelty24]

Thank you! Your videos have helped shed light on past events that had me scratching my head. In the early 2000s, my church had a lay-Christian counseling ministry called Self-Confrontation. I was struggling with trust in dating relationships so I went for counseling, I wanted to be better. The counselor I saw told me that I have a problem with God as a father figure. I had/still have no idea what that means. So I walked away thinking she’s crazy and not feeling any better. I wonder about the validity of Self-Confrontation as well.

[@Taylorlopezcoaching]

This was well spoken. I am an inner healing and deliverance coach. Combining all areas of the human condition is so important because Human Beings are very complex and need time to heal in all areas of their life. Well done.

[@KJKP]

17:45 She was assured this was a safe space and “nothing will leave this room.” Yet, there is a verbatim transcript... and it was published in a book. So... a lie.

[@KJKP]

It’s at 18:38. Could not edit for some reason.

[@merrygrammarian1591]

They changed her name to protect her privacy. There's a disclaimer in the book about it.

[@saribrown7156]

They must have asked for permission and changed her name.

[@lydiaholland5752]

Thank you for this video! While I do believe in spiritual warfare I definitely agree that SOZO hasn’t helped me. I went to a session and felt so much grief afterwards and a couple years later I found out that some of my issues stemmed from unforgiveness. Loved this video thank you.

[@sarahpfeuffer1396]

I appreciate you bringing this stuff to light and explaining part of the SOZO process. I agree with some things for sure, such as, it doesn't sound right to automatically assigning part of the Godhead to the person's issue. It sounds like they are trying to fit everyone into their pre-made template. However, there's some things going through my mind as I watched this. I myself have struggled with serious social anxiety at times in my life. What I have learned is that one root issue of anxiety is lack of trust in God. This is supported in scripture as it talks about do not be anxious but pray about everything. God feeds the birds and clothes the lilies of the field so he will take care of us. Be content in all things....etc. I would have liked to see this aspect of putting our trust in God emphasized more. Is there more to SOZO that deals with deliverance? It's very biblical to cast out demons yet I feel this topic was basically left out. It was the thing I was most looking forward to hearing. In general I would have liked to hear more Bible verses. I think that when we are close to God and seeking him on a daily basis, he gives us peace and strength yet this was not really emphasized when discussing how to get healing as a good alternative to SOZO. Unless I missed it.

[@cazdl]

Anxiety is generally a lack of trust in God. That’s biblical. But that’s not what Sozo points you to :(

[@DerHitsch]

When I started watching this video, I thought to myself that SOZO and Bethel Church is mainly a problem in the English speaking part of the world. But I just found out that SOZO is also offered here in Switzerland. Thank you for this informative and helpful video.

[@littleboots9800]

Same, I thought this Bethel style madness was mostly a kooky american brand of "Christianity." I couldnt imagine it in the UK. I mean, we're a country where the Church of England is the established church. We like our pews uncomfortable, our sermons boring and we worship with our arms firmly by our sides😆 (I'm generalising of course.) But no, it is well established here if you just look. Latin America, Africa, Europe, the tentacles of NAR,WofF, New Age and the Prosperity Gospel are *everywhere.*

[@marssionary]

Yes, it is everywhere

[@LadyBug31705]

I am glad someone besides me has recognized the deceit. I wasn't raised in church. I noticed alot of deception in the body of Christ several years ago. I read my Bible to seek out truth. But I noticed similarities in what people were saying and name dropping. I looked in to teachers and ministries they were following. I saw a link between certain churches and leaders. So many being led astray. More people are relying on leaders, programs and ministries instead of the Lord Jesus Christ. And many are profiting from the deception. I love the ministry your doing and courage to expose. You are a class act.

[@smelissafentanes7595]

Thank you so much for this, Melissa! As a student working towards an LMHC degree, a follower of Christ, and a lover of theology and apologetics, this has helped me put it all together. I love the way your friend reached into her professional toolbox meanwhile still maintaining her Christian basis ❤️

[@godislove6600]

I had a positive experience with sozo it helped me with unforgiveness

[@lizh1988]

My experiences were sort of mixed, but I got a fair amount out of it too.

[@Angeloflight7]

Jeez Melissa the thoughtfulness you put into the questions you ask is really helpful. Thank you for your ministry And Brit and her insights were amazing.

[@amish-landchateau]

Love the balance expressed in this vlog conversation- spiritual and mental therapy

[@HappyHolyHealthyLife]

I think it is true that negative life experiences (especially with authority figures) often corrupts our view of God, so it is helpful to explore ways that we may have a wrong picture of God so that we can trust Him more 😊

[@ashleycnossen3157]

I agree. And the way to correct that is by learning who God is in His word and believing it. Not Sozo :)

[@julesj5853]

Hi Melissa, thank you for posting your videos. They have encouraged me to understand how to minister to friends who, knowing God's word, have turned to Bethel and fully embraced the Bethel "experience." Thank the Lord that someone calls this out.

[@TheRobertsonsrus]

I had a very positive experience with a sozo prayer session. It def changed my life, removed barriers in my relationship with God, opened my understanding/desire for the bible, made me a better wife and mother. I think it is a good tool, but not necessarily the right tool for every broken place.

[@ychange1531]

I had a similar experience to you.

[@caramares3235]

Thank you for addressing this and having a mental health professional’s take on it. As someone who has experienced major trauma, I can vouch for her opinion. I was harmed by a similar prayer “counseling.” The hardest thing was placing Jesus in my memories to see what He’d do or say while my trauma was happening. It made me angry at God as He sat there and did nothing with a sorry look on His face. Also, my “counselor “ was a sexual predator, and was able to get the “Jesus“ in my mind to do or say whatever they wanted with lots of manipulation, implanting, and suggesting. This type of ministry is so dangerous! I’m grateful the Lord rescued me from that trap, and has blessed me with an amazing Christian counselor, MA, PLC. Her name happens to be Britt as well! 🤗

[@patrickrhodes9925]

Thank you for your comments. I am in the initial stages of producing a documentary about these deliverance ministries and gathering first-hand testimonies of people harmed by these. Would you contact me? My email is [e-mail].

[@LadyBug31705]

The Bible is the only truth that will set you free!

[@barbs1298]

Thank you. Much needed conversation about mental health, trauma & spirituality & how to appropriately handle emotional issues that arise w/a Christian believer. I think too often among certain groups of Christians, all problems are given over as too much negative thinking & not enough positive confession or faith. What if one struggles with negative thoughts due to an abusive childhood or some traumatic experience? That can't be dismissed. It must be acknowledged & as Britt said, seldom is it a one & done experience in dealing with the mental & emotional struggles, & certainly, God is not the problem.

[@catiehinkle8616]

This is great 👍 I learned so much! Thank you for bringing awareness.

[@Proveit-do3it]

Our church did something very similar to this a few yrs ago. They called it encounter and they did the sessions over a weekend. I experienced it. The people they brought in are very much influenced by Bethel. While everything seemed great for a bit afterwards that feeling eventually wears off. When old feelings and things from the past try to creep in later on it makes you feel like something is wrong with you. Because this is supposed to make you completely healed and a 100% perfectly whole afterwards and when it doesn't you feel incomplete. I had to leave the church I was at. I felt constantly up and down with my salvation. Adding this to my walk with Christ made it even more unstable for me.

[@TheGatewayProductions]

Fantastic video! They should teach the importance of mental health in schools. Well done!

[@eliamrojas9955]

One of the best Christian videos on mental health I've watched!

[@lisfong]

This was phenomenal Melissa and Britt! Thank you!

[@keminiwai]

When you focus on health and prosperity, you are self-seeking. You are not really seeking God.

[@gospelfreak5828]

“Don’t go to a doctor.” What was Luke? The writer of a Gospel? I bet he hated doctors 😑

[@Window4503]

I’m now imagining them meeting St. Luke in person and wanting him to lay hands on them and do something crazy spiritual, only to be handed a clay tablet with local medicinal ingredients written in the classic doctor chicken scratch.

[@tajayatomlinson5298]

I’m sure he was beyond appalled 🤢😂😂😂

[@Lee-vr3ud]

My mom had a few sozos for her untreated mental illnesses and personality disorders. She ultimately began to refuse medical treatment and is now full entrenched in her paranoias, eating disorders, and completely narcissistic. I think she was truly looking for help (she also religiously bought Caroline Leaf’s products) but now she has lost herself, her faith, and her relationship with us. It’s very sad.

[@Lee-vr3ud]

My husband also had sozo administered by my father and our manipulative pastor, who lead him through bad memories of his own dad. This was used as fuel to get him to cleave to my parents and the church more. It was completely spiritually abusive. He still deals with the trauma today.

[@karenjo6963]

We are a work in progress, there is no "one stop fix" for any problem. Jesus saved our souls, left us a Great Book with life lessons and put us near folks who can help us make our way through. Thank you Sisters.

[@NewYawkahBroad]

Amen!

[@Peonies925]

Several years ago I had a friend who was involved in a SOZO Ministry and she encouraged me to go to a session because my father had been involved in freemasonry and there was also alcoholism on both sides of my family. I was also having health problems. So...I did it. I thought it couldn’t hurt. Honestly, I didnt get anything out of it.🤷🏻‍♀️ I think I was expecting deliverance of a healing miracle in my body and that didnt happen at that time. Anyways later, as I was pondering it all, I started thinking that as believers our sin is covered by the blood of Jesus, we have Gods Word and His Holy Spirit to convict us, counsel us and lead and guide us. So we have the tools, spirit, soul and body to be changed from glory to glory. Instantaneous deliverance/miracles can happen but it is usually a process.

[@vansantos5772]

I've dealt with so many mental issues and went to Christian counseling for months. God delivered me from all of them and I haven't had to deal with any of them for years now. Nothing is automatic. Put the effort in, do it right, and results will follow. It is the same for all things. If you want to lose weight and live healthier, you cannot pray the calories and fat away... why we think it is the same for our mental health is beyond me. Thanks for addressing this in a Biblical and true spiritual way.

[@Shayla_Joelle]

it's not always all spiritual, it's not always all mental. Most of our issues are both! So good

[@alanhalsey3973]

Good video. Thanks to Brit for her breakdown on mental health counseling from a biblical perspective. Please consider doing more sessions with her in this important discipline. As an engaged Christian and servant leader, I have opportunity to counsel others and would very much appreciate additional teaching. Thanks also Melissa for your channel and ministry.

[@walwilekashturnbull5712]

Thank you for this video. I have thankfully never done Sozo with Bethel but I visited there several years ago and was woefully disappointed at how they failed to live up to their reputation as a center for healing and spiritual power. I've had Sozo sessions in my local area that mirrored the pattern you described, and they didn't help at all. I've also had sessions that were called "Sozo" but there the similarities stopped. I saw the same person repeatedly over a long period of time. She's very sensitive to Holy Spirit and so am I. We're both trauma survivors so she understands what I'm going through. She doesn't have a formula; she just asks Holy Spirit to be the counselor and lead the sessions. It's very powerful and I've gotten real healing through these sessions. I wish I could recommend the ministry she works with but unfortunately they don't all do what she does. She's an amazing lady and I love her dearly. She has become my friend through the years we've worked together. I really feel that she loves me. The way she talks to me is affectionate and kind. Thinking about it makes me happy. I wish there were more people like her. I believe Y'shua chose her for me. It can be done right, and when it is, it's very powerful. Unfortunately too many people don't do it that way. I wish they would do it the way my friend does. She's wonderful. I really love her. Bethel is a nightmare. I used to hear good things about them and I don't know if the rumors were true. I'm starting to really doubt them. Something is very wrong there. I realized it when I was going to a charismatic church in Vancouver, WA that became a sister church to Bethel. Before the Bethel folks started coming, it was a much better church. I made many friends there and was invited to lunch on my first Sunday there. When the Bethel folks started showing up, our church became immature and relationally disconnected. The older generations (over age 25) started being disrespected as the focus became a youth revival. The older generations started to leave. Soon, every Sunday people were "drunk in the spirit", having "fire tunnels" and laughing hysterically for no reason. They even walked like they were drunk. They started to act like interpersonal relationships, caring for the poor, and building community were irrelevant. I left eventually and joined a messianic fellowship, and that was much more stable.

[@debbiegagne4593]

So good ladies thanks so much for bringing awareness

[@kristenprewitt7740]

Thank you, ladies! This was a great topic to cover.

[@Mimi-cz8gd]

I met a SOZO “healer”yesterday at work. She gave me some business cards. I threw them in the garbage.

[@CheetahSnowLeopard]

Showing this to my church group tonight.

[@Jaxmusicgal23]

As someone who experienced a very bad Sozo prayer time (see my post). Please do and thank you for making others aware!