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Pastoral Counseling Services
--No Longer Offered

Description: What is Counseling?

Counseling is a confidential relationship between a trained professional and a person who desires to see some changes in their life. Sessions are normally held weekly for 50 minutes and may be short term or long term - a few weeks, a few months, a year or more.

Counseling is not so much a matter of getting advice as it is:

• learning to listen to oneself
• becoming dtached enough to see a new perspective
• learning new communication skills
• sitting with old hurts (rather than brushing them away and finding they erupt in other ways)
• looking at family-of-origin patterns that may no longer serve you
• letting go
• accepting limitations and weaknessses
• recognizing and acting on strengths
• risking new ways of being with oneself and others

These are just some of the things that clients have said were helpful to them in therapy.

What Makes it Pastoral Counseling?:

The Pastoral Counseling process recognizes that each of us is "made in the image and likeness of God," growing towards wholeness.

When a person shares that which is most real, most true, even when it is full of brokenness, s/he is close to God. It is Truth that sets one free for healing. Pastoral Counseling believes Christ's words in the Gospels:

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Who Comes to Counseling?

• Individuals
• Couples
• St. Charles Parishioners
• Those who are searching
• Others of all faiths

People who recognize any of these conditions:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Poor self-esteem
• Addictions: alcohol, food, drugs, work, sex, perfectionism, shopping, etc.
• Overreacting
• Codependency
• Stress
• Relationship difficulties in family or at work
• Grief and loss
• Unfinished business in one's life
• Adult children of dysfunctional families

People looking for spiritual guidance

• Wanting to grow in prayer and union with God
• Desiring community
• Discovering their gifts for service

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What About Fees?

Pastoral Counseling Services is an outreach ministry of St. Charles. Reasonable fees cover the professional costs of this service. A sliding fee is available. Call and talk about it.

Where Do I Come for Counseling?

Look for the sign: Parish Office or refer to directions to 3304 North Washington Boulevard in Arlington, Virginia . Please enter the lot carefully during the day to avoid school children. Park against the fence during the daytime.

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Carl, who serves as pastor of Community United Methodist Church in nearby Clarendon, also offers counseling services through St. Charles.

Referrals are made to a psychiatrist for any needed medication.

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