Irony kicks Shadow in the balls again! Found out the denomination of my new "Faith based" therapist

[shadowknows69]

For reference here's the original thread on it

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5776120>

Now to the meat of the matter. She's an Assembly of God(er?) and if I'm not mistaken actually a reverend in that denomination. This is the last Christian church I attended before seeking out "alternative" spiritual paths. This is the denomination that essentially drove me from Christianity because of their developing extremism. Sure, then it was just burning rock albums, preaching to our classmates until we got beat up and telling us we shouldn't even step into a bowling alley because they serve the Devil's Swill (beer) there, but I think we can see the dangerous tangents it has taken in the last 20 years.

That said, I found her to be a very thorough and professional counselor (for the primary interview anyway) and I ran her credentials and she is nationally credited in several categories. Just from the vibe I got she's one of the first, truly "Christ like" christians I've met in a while.

I explained my beliefs, or lack thereof, and she did make me feel at ease that her beliefs would not come into play in our sessions, particularly when discussing mine.

On the other hand if you don't hear from me after next Tuesday, check the upstate NY newspapers for any recent "witch burnings" and that should explain my absence.
-S

[CountAllVotes]

1. you have my condolences

now dump this "therapist". You'll end up in the loony bin with her!

:kick:

[shadowknows69]

5. Hell, I probably belong there anyway

But I don't think a hospital is going to admit me on someone's diagnosis that "the devil has me" so I think I'm safe there.

[CountAllVotes]

2. you have my condolences

now dump this "therapist". You'll end up in the loony bin with her!

:kick:

[billyoc]

3. Sarah Palin's gang. You lucky devil.

:rofl:

[shadowknows69]

7. I used to be one tried and true billyoc

Prayer groups in the school hallway, that we had to fight for the right to do, burning albums (If there is a hell I'm going there just for torching my vintage KISS:DOUBLE PLATINUM album.) etc. etc. etc., but as I said I went to a less bloodthirsty sect than we tend to see today. I'll hopefully be able to gauge her position on some things and If it doesn't work for me, then on to the next I guess.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Free advice: stick with her a while and give her a chance.

[shadowknows69]

9. I think I will. I think I'd like to try to get into her mind a bit as well

I've always been open to most of the journeys, no matter how stupid sometimes, that have come my way. Every experience is a chance to learn right?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

6. I'd run, personally

Assembly of God is nutty.

I did a lot of research into finding my therapist, and I was lucky to find one who's pretty cool (and gay).

[shadowknows69]

8. I have real limited options where I am Haruka

But strangely enough I have a vibe of "fate" about this. Almost the closing of a circle from the outside of it in a way. At the very least I get to do some embedded reporting on faith based therapists that you'll all be the, willing or not, recipients of lol.

[Raksha]

17. I would say go with your inner feelings.

Given your inside knowledge of the cult, if things start to get flaky you'll be the first to know.

Re But strangely enough I have a vibe of "fate" about this. Almost the closing of a circle from the outside of it in a way.

[EFerrari]

10. I don't like those people. Most of them seem to be authoritarians

with bad boundaries which makes getting therapy with them sort of useless.

Be careful with yourself, shadow.

/oops

[shadowknows69]

11. I guess my only advantage is I know the mindset

And I'm not afraid to tell her, and I hinted as much a couple times, that if I feel this is becoming about "saving my soul" instead of healing my mind then she'll lose a cash paying customer real quick. Even the fundies understand that language. Preacher gotta eat and God used up all the Mana on Moses that fourty years the clueless bastard was lost.

[EFerrari]

14. You shouldn't be burdened with that worry, imho.

But, having shopped for a therapist I could afford, I understand what you mean about limited resources. :hug:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. Some Christians truly are

sounds like you lucked into one that truly believes. I've had Assembly of God folks who were real nut cases and others who said they understood that I "knew God". Trust your inner guidance on this. I wish the very best for you. Blessed be.

[Soylent Brice]

13. good luck. i still recommend you run like hell.

i'd rather believe in my own make believe world, rather than get help from someone who believes in another person's make believe world.

[shadowknows69]

15. One kick for the night shift.

[gratuitous]

16. I'll go against the grain

It sounds like this could be a very good therapist for you, as long as she doesn't get personally involved in any criticisms you have about the Assemblies of God. She would have insights and understandings that someone who wasn't familiar with the denomination wouldn't have, and it could be very therapeutic for you.

On the other hand, if she appropriates the problems you've had with the Assemblies for herself, she could very well get defensive and argumentative, and that discussion alone might be worth 15 or 20 minutes to head off potential problems or to help both of you see that this isn't a counseling relationship that is going to work.

Good luck.

[shadowknows69]

18. Should be able to tell her tolerance level for criticism pretty early on

Because my experiences in that church, for good or ill, profoundly altered the path of my life.