Removing The Stigma of Counseling

by Keith Phillips, D.Min, LPC, LPC-S

Defining Stigmata

There are times that we all seek ways to overcome an unprecedented mindset of thinking and emotions that can be fearful, lonely, painful, frustrating, and sometimes very dark. It does not mean there is a crisis, but it does mean that denial and neglect can create one.

Christian author and apologist C. S. Lewis stated, “Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more difficult to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say ‘My tooth is aching’ than to say ‘My heart is broken’.”[1]  It is unfortunate that accompanying these unwanted circumstances is an undeserved stigma.

Our English word “stigma” comes from the Greek “stizein,” meaning “to tattoo.” It carries the thought of being identified by a mark or a brand. Often “stigma” refers to a set of negative and often unfair assumptions that people have about something. [2]

The Bible in a positive use, records that the Apostle Paul refers to “stigmata,” the plural form of stigma. “From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” (Gal. 6:17). Paul says that he bears “stigmata” the marks of Christ as a result of love and commitment to Him.[3] Jesus bore the marks of “stigmata” during His crucifixion.

Could it be that our enemy, the “deceiver” the one that seeks to destroy and kill, understands that “soul pain” is a game changer in one’s life, because the soul is life. The (psyche) soul is ones connection to God. So what does the devil do, he attempts to shame those that acknowledge and seek help with their “soul pain.”

Addressing “Soul Pain”

As followers of Christ, how can we be intentional at removing the stigma of addressing “soul pain?” Let’s begin by courageously looking up and asking God to help us look within our own souls. Is their denial, bitterness, defeat or fear? Do I value myself by being a good steward of what God has created in His own image? Am I allowing or empowering others to define me? Do I really believe and live as though God loves me? What am I trying to forget that God hasn’t?

Why is it that in many instances we think it is a sign of weakness or a lack of spirituality to express or acknowledge emotions?  Did Jesus weep? Yes. Did He ever show His emotions? Yes. God created us as emotional beings. The Apostle Paul describes how he felt and what he was thinking when he came to Corinth, “I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling” (I Cor. 2:3). Sometimes our emotions overwhelm us, this just reiterates that we are human. It means that we are like everyone else and that we need to allow God to work through His Word, His ways, and His people to bless us. In this event, Paul in his emotional state continued on in the power of the cross. But he was willing to be transparent with the people. I think of the late British statesman, Sir Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He courageously led his country during the horrible days of World War II while in the midst of a personal war with depression, which he often referred to as his “black dog.”  It is also open knowledge that Abraham Lincoln leaned strongly on his faith as he dealt with his depression. We become strong when we acknowledge our weaknesses. When we move beyond the stigma, we learn that our emotions are a gauge, letting us know where we are, but they are not to be a guide in telling us how to respond. That is why God gave us a mind that is empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The church addressed emotional health issues and the behavior of man long before the term “psychology” became known. According to Christian psychologist David Entwistle, what is now called counseling, was the mission of the church long before modern psychotherapy came on the scene.[5] In medieval times, Christian theologians and thinkers often focused on matters such as the structure of the soul, knowledge, and spiritual development. [6] Reformation and Puritan believers knew that intimacy with God began with one inviting the Holy Spirit to search their soul, and mind. This included the likes of Martin Luther, John Bunyan, Johnathan Edwards, and a little later in history, Charles Spurgeon and others. Theirs was a time that clergy were referred to as “physicians of the soul.” This brings me to my final thought on addressing the stigma.

Ministering To The Whole Person

The stigma of counseling can be addressed with a biblical holistic approach to ministry, which is ministering to the whole person. “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.  See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all” (I Thess.5:14-15 NKJV). A holistic ministry approach is addressing ones relationship with Christ, ones relationship with themselves and others. As noted in the previous Scripture, the Apostle Paul clarifies that everyone is worthy of care by godly people. He is even the more intentional in the following verses,

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you (I Cor. 9:19-23).

Paul understood that people experience various walks of life, and they have the mindset perspective to match. He is not willing to label (stigmatize) them, he says that he will meet them where they are. He said that he was committed to stepping out of his world into theirs. Just as this is an evangelistic truth, it is a holistic truth. Ministry is for the whole person.

But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.  And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need.

But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it (I Cor. 12:21-26).

 References

[1] A Day with C.S. Lewis: Deepening Your Devotional Life. “The Problem with Pain.” Accessed June 15, 2020

         https://dfisher2014dotcom.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/the-problem-of-pain/

[2] Merriam Webster. “Definition of Stigma.” Accessed June 15, 2020.

          https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stigma.

[3]  Wayne Jackson, “The Marks of Jesus.” Christian Courier. Accessed June 15, 2020.

          https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1387-marks-of-jesus-the

[4] Howard Hendricks, Teaching to Change Lives: Seven Proven Ways to Make Your Teaching Come Alive (Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah Publishing, 2003)

[5] David N. Entwistle, Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity: An Introduction to Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations, and Models of Integration (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2010), 39.

 [6] Eric L. Johnson, A History of Christians in Psychology: Five Views (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2009), 13, accessed May 10, 2016, https://books.google.com/books?id=l5sVfo0ihycC&source=gbs_navlinks_s.

OUR TEAM