Counseling Click the link below for more information about symptoms:
Many who are facing life's problems seek help from their pastors, who bring them to the Word of God for help and lift them up in prayer. We support and promote those who do so and believe many are blessed by doing so. In fact, Melanie's husband is the pastor of Life Church and Dr. Scoggins' brother-in-law is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, NC. Pastors, however, have not had the intensive training that clinicians have had, who are better adept to address clinical issues.
Isaiah 61:1-3 implores us to bring good news to the poor, heal the broken hearted, comfort all who mourn, give joy to those who are depressed, gladness instead of grief, and a song of praise instead of sorrow. Christian counseling integrates Biblical principles in the process, seeking wisdom from the author of life and one who can make changes, Jesus Christ. Both Dr. Scoggins & Melanie Nordstrom provide Christian counseling services at Counseling Connection to those who desire such. Melanie has provided Christian Counseling for many years and offers counseling support in her office at Life Church in North Knoxville.. In the past, Dr. Scoggins has worked as a Counselor at two Christian Mental Health Clinics (Meyer Clinic and the Pensacola Bay Baptist Association's Health and Hope Clinic in Florida). She has been a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) and attended their International conference in Nashville, TN.
Both Melanie and Dr. Scoggins believe in an integrative approach that includes both Psychological and Biblical aspects to counseling. They take to heart the verse in Psalms 147:3 where David stated "He (the Lord) heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." The two Hebrew words that are translated as brokenhearted are (שָׁבַר לֵב) which literally mean "crushed" and "feelings" The Hebrew word for "wounds" (עַצֶּבֶת) does not mean physical injuries but refers to those who are afflicted with grief, sorrows, and troubles. The reference is to mental sorrows, to a troubled spirit, to a heart made sad in any way. As can be see here and in other places in the Psalms, even David, described as a man after God's own heart, struggled at times with depression. Yet, God himself promises healing to those who suffer from emotional wounds, given they are willing to let him “bind up their wounds”. The latter reference describes a process, similar to that of physical wound care, that requires a type of intervention. Therapy can be used as a way to create a healing environment and the tools necessary for recovery. We are given the promise of healing but still have to be willing to accept it and the process associated with it.
