Encouraging Word

Integrating Psychology and Theology -
An integration of psychology and Theology offers counselors a more holistic approach to therapy.

Patrick O’Keefe

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About Us

 

The Greek noun parakletos (par-ak-lay-tos) is used in the New Testament when referring to the Holy Spirit as Counselor, Comforter, or Helper. John 14:16,14:26,15:26,16:7.

Counseling and Coaching
Our Purpose
Our Procedure
Counseling Services
Seminars
Payment

Counseling and Coaching

Counseling is the process of discovering and developing your full potential and achieving an optimal level of personal happiness. Coaching is an alliance and partnership that helps you clarify your life vision, identify your gifts, overcome obstacles, and achieve your highest potential. Our Christian approach to counseling and coaching promotes spiritual growth and allows God to build your self-worth and restore your dignity.

Successful counseling and coaching begins with building a meaningful relationship between you and your counselor that is based on trust and respect. It is important to us that you feel safe during your counseling sessions. We want to put your mind at ease and encourage you to share the issues that have been tearing at your heart and soul. By talking about your problems, you and your counselor will be able to search for solutions that lead to emotional healing and psychological well-being. We want your life to be fulfilling and enjoyable.

Our Purpose

Parakletos Psychotherapy and Counseling was established in October 2005 to provide quality mental health care to people experiencing psychological and/or emotional problems. By providing a safe and compassionate counseling environment, we offer our clients a wonderful opportunity to grow spiritually and make significant life-style improvements. Our goal is to help each individual develop the coping skills necessary for living a meaningful and fulfilling life. 

Our Procedure

We use an integration of clinically sound psychology and biblically based Theology. Psychology allows us to accurately identify the causes of psychological and/or emotional problems and we offer a Christian worldview when developing meaningful methods for addressing and resolving such problems.

Our model of counseling is based on cognitive-behavioral therapy. Cognitive therapy addresses our thought process and how we view ourselves and our surroundings. It is designed to challenge irrational thinking and motivate us to make better decisions. Behavior therapy addresses our conduct and how our environment influences our actions. It helps us discover why much of our behavior has caused us displeasure and offers us alternative activities that are designed to improve our social functioning.

Our Christian approach helps our clients strengthen their relationship with God and improve their biblical understanding. However, the degree to which Christian counseling is applied is based on our client’s request for such services. Spiritual growth is always encouraged, but we prefer that our clients decide the degree to which psychology and Theology are integrated.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy often results in short-term counseling. After a few weekly sessions, many of our clients find that they have gained enough insight and have made enough progress to resolve their problem. Our clients who prefer a longer duration of counseling have found that cognitive-behavioral therapy allows them the opportunity to reduce their sessions to about twice a month or less.  

Counseling Services

Marriage & Relationships
We provide marital and relationship counseling and offer couples an opportunity to examine barriers that may have developed between them. We help couples resolve conflicts so that they can make the most of their companionship.

Depression and other Mood Disorders
We provide counseling for depression and Bipolar Disorder. However, if a client meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria for a Mood Disorder, he or she may be asked to consult a medical doctor or psychiatrist and be evaluated for psychotropic medication.

Anxiety and Panic Disorders
We provide counseling for Anxiety and Panic Disorders, which includes Phobias, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Adjustment Disorders
We provide counseling for adjustment disorders which result from unidentified stress that leads to impairment in interpersonal relationships and/or other aspects of a person’s private and/or social life.

Substance Abuse and other Addictions
We provide counseling for alcohol and drug addiction including prescription medication. We also address behavior related addictions such as food, sex, pornography, spending money, and codependency. We offer counseling to help stop cigarette smoking and other tobacco use, but our services should not be considered a tobacco cessation course.

Seminars
We provide seminars at various locations throughout Hampton Roads. If you are interested in attending a seminar, or willing to sponsor a seminar, please contact our office. We will post seminar announcements as we schedule them.
Seminars offered by our facilitator:

  • Making the Most of Your Marriage
  • Positive Relationships
  • Understanding Your Anger
  • The Process of Forgiveness
  • Causes of Addiction

Payment

  • We accept many types of Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) insurance plans as payment for our services. 
  • We also accept Optima Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) insurance plans.
  • Inquire about our fee schedule and/or your insurance coverage when making an appointment.
  • Co-payment or full payment is due at the time of service unless other financial arrangements have been made in advance.
  • We offer a 40% discount for full payment when paid at the time of service.