What does it mean to “bear one another’s burden?”

2010 June 8
by CPR Staff

Do you spend a lot of time worrying about other people – you spouse, your child, a sibling? Are you trying desperately to live out Galatians 6:2 – without the results you’re hoping for?

Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Our efforts to help others heal and grow – though well-intentioned – often have little effect on someone else’s bad behavior. In trying to do good, we sometimes get confused about our role in the lives of others. We forget Galatians 6:3-5 –

For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load.

If you’d like some help in sorting it out, give us a call. We’re here to help.

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Are you missing out on life?

2010 June 6
by CPR Staff

Have you ever had a vague feeling that you were missing something important? If so, you’re not alone. A lot of people are depressed about the past or anxious about the future.

OC Christian Counseling 800-705-6223Interestingly, either of those positions can get you stuck in a place where you’re missing the here-and-now. And if your “present” isn’t pleasant, you can see why you’re avoiding it, can’t you? We can, and we’re here to help.

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It’s Not About the Food

2010 June 1
by CPR Staff

OC Christian Counselor Ylena Parks explains some of the feelings that are at the root of an eating disorder.

It’s about control.

It’s about protection.

It’s about emptiness.

It’s not about the food, but about controlling our lives through our food.

It’s about controlling out emotions through food.

It’s about protecting our hearts and souls from painful emotions.

It’s about not knowing how to fix a problem and using the only tool you could find at the time that worked – food.

Liberation comes for the girl with the eating disorder when she realizes it’s not about the food, and food is not the solution.

Ylena Parks
Ylena Parks, MA
Staff Therapist

If food were the solution, she wouldn’t still feel sad, afraid, empty, and alone.

The solution can only be found when the girl with the eating disorder is ready to face her fears and call Satan on his lie by telling him “It’s not about the food.”

I know, and I’m here to help. Just give me a call.

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What is Professional Christian Counseling?

2010 May 30
by CPR Staff

Sometimes life is difficult, and you need a safe place to talk things through – a place where your faith is taken seriously.

As a Christian, you probably know the principles found in Scripture. But you may be having a hard time putting them into practice. God’s solutions to life’s problems are simple. But they’re not always easy to put into practice.

Our life experiences—both past and present—play a significant role in how we attempt to live out our Christian beliefs. Professional Christian Counseling can help you sort out the issues that may be keeping you stuck and help you strengthen your faith in the process.

Shouldn’t I talk to my Pastor? What’s the difference between a Pastoral Counselor and a Professional Christian Counselor?

Yes. However, if your concerns cannot be addressed in one or two meetings, he will probably refer you to a Pastoral Counselor or to a Professional Christian Counselor.

A Pastoral Counselor is someone who ministers to people who request counseling in church and para-church contexts. Pastoral Counseling is usually short-term and focused on a particular problem or concern. Pastoral Counselors are trained in relationship building skills and are knowledgeable about recognizing when there is a need to make a referral to a Professional Christian Counselor. Much of what they do includes a focus on life transitions and building small communities within a church ministry.

A Professional Christian Counselor has been formally trained in practical theology, as well as in the professional diagnosis and treatment of a variety of concerns such as:

  • Adjustment Disorders
  • Alcohol and Drug Abuse
  • Anxiety and Stress
  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Complicated Bereavement
  • Depression and Mood Disorders
  • Eating Disorders
  • Impulse-Control Disorders
  • Personality Disorders
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Learning Disorders
  • Relationship Difficulties

If your faith is an important part of your life, you want someone who actually applies biblical principles in his or her work, not a professional counselor who just happens to be a Christian. That’s a potentially important distinction. So you’ll want to ask your Counselor about how he or she typically integrates faith and practice in counseling sessions.

Click here to access the complete guide: How to Find the Right Christian Counselor

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MFT Intern Joins OC Christian Counseling

2010 April 24
by CPR Staff

Ylena Parks, MA
MFT Intern

Would you like to talk to a counselor who really understands (and cares) about what you’re going through right now? Are you looking for ways to get your life on track? Then you’ll definitely want to meet Ylena Parks!

Ylena knows from experience that life circumstances can take us down the road in directions we hadn’t anticipated. However, she believes that:

The steps of a good man are guided by the Lord and He delights in His way;
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down,
For the Lord will uphold him with His hand.
~Psalm 37:23-24

Her passion is to fulfill God’s calling “to exhort and support His body, and those who don’t know Him, through the process of healing just as He has done for me” (2 Corinthians 1:14).

Ylena is a prelicensed professional counselor. She earned her Master of Arts (MA) in Community and Clinical Counseling from Eastern University. She is currently a Marriage and Family Therapy Intern (IMF53028), and is supervised by Dr. Smith (PSY21711).
Appointments:

Ylena offers counseling services for adults, children, and families in Southern California. If you would like to meet with her, you may schedule a confidential appointment now using our Appointment Calendar.

For information about Fees and Services, please click here.

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OC Christian Counseling

2010 February 6
by CPR Staff

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PREPARE/ENRICH Facilitator Certification

2009 November 28
by CPR Staff

Stronger marriages build stronger communities. The PREPARE/ENRICH Program enables facilitators to identify a couple’s specific strength and growth areas, teach them communication and conflict resolution skills, and help them resolve key relationship issues.

After completing the training, the seminar participant will be able to:

  1. Describe the value of PREPARE/ENRICH and online assessment to couples.
  2. Use the online system for administering, reviewing, and printing relevant materials.
  3. Fully understand and accurately interpret the Facilitator’s Report.
  4. Discuss the results of the assessment and provide feedback to couples.
  5. Use the couple exercises to teach relationship building skills.
  6. Recognize serious couple distress more effectively and know when to refer a couple for professional help.

Date: January 23, 2010
Day: Saturday
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Seminar Director: Dr. Debi Smith
Location: Biola University
Who May Attend: pastoral counselors/clergy/chaplains, marriage educators, relationship coaches, marriage mentors, lay counselors, deacons/elders, adoption/foster care workers, professional counselors, and counselors in training
Cost: $175
Registration Deadline: January 7, 2010

Register Online Now!

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