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Author Topic: Who can I trust for couseling?  (Read 903 times)

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Offline Lanciano8

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Who can I trust for couseling?
« on: May 05, 2011, 10:20:23 PM »
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  • Hello, all.

    Who can I trust for counseling, in matters of marriage, true Catholic teachings, morals, and right living?

    I want to do the right things, no matter what the cost.  Yet, I believe the right things are to protect my marriage (if it is valid), and protect my custody of my 2¾-year-old daughter.

    By e-mail, the local FSSP priest said that I should contact Catholic Charities.  But I am afraid that they would handle everything with a modernist approach.  I did contact them once late last year, but they said they were not taking clients then, and they gave me the names of other counseling offices (that I figure aren't Catholic at all).

    I've been going to the local FSSP Mass for a few weeks now, but then taking my wife to the NO.  I am so "caught in the middle" with all that I've read about "pro multis" (particularly an article disecting St. Thomas Aquinas' writings on the "form" of the Sacrament in apparent pros and cons on whether he meant that "pro multis" is part of the form even after the priest says Christ's words "This is my body....").  So, I haven't even received the Eucharist at the Latin Mass in all these weeks.

    I pray that somehow I could get all this cleared up, but I don't have contact with anyone about it other than in this forum.  I haven't talked to anyone much at the Latin Mass.  I feel like I shouldn't trouble anyone personally with my problems.

    There is one counselor, an hour away, who on his website seems to speak of traditional psychology, but he is apparently not covered by my insurance.  He goes to daily (which?) Mass.

    A more local couselor, though he also says he goes to daily (which?) Mass, looks and sounds like he would counsel to encourage spousal communication, and he looks like he's from the Sixties.  I'm already convinced that genuine Catholic communication with my wife is invincibly impossible.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    SCIENTIFIC PROOF: Five different-sized globules of Blood, each separately, and in any combination,
    weigh the same as all five globules together -- the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano, Italy, 8th Century!


    Offline Darcy

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    Who can I trust for couseling?
    « Reply #1 on: May 05, 2011, 11:01:21 PM »
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  • It sounds like you have two issues.

    One is whether your marriage is valid or not which could be answered by a Traditional priest. The NO priest will say yes it is valid.

    Two, is where to get counseling and if it would be yourself or both you and your wife together.
    It may be near impossible to find a Traditional Catholic counselor but a counselor that does strictly communication techniques is most likely to not give any heretical suggestions.  imo.
    As far as I know insurance will not pay for counseling that is openly giving religously based therapy/advice.

    There could be non-professional counselors for that reason in your Traditional parish so it would not hurt to ask the priest.

    ihth


    Offline stevusmagnus

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    Who can I trust for couseling?
    « Reply #2 on: May 05, 2011, 11:01:27 PM »
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  • I think I speak for all of us when I say we will pray for your situation.

    Don't think you are alone in this gut ripping confusion.

    One thing is you don't have to worry about validity as far as I'm concerned. The FSSP Masses are valid. They say pro multis. The NO Masses are valid as well even with "for all". Even the Society thinks they are valid. But if you are scrupulous about it, they are changing the translation back to "for many" starting this coming advent.

    Find the most conservative NO priest you can to talk to re: your marriage if no Trad priests are available. Opus Dei priests are usually better than diocesan if you are in a lib diocese.

    If that's not an option give Cath Charities a try. Usually they at least believe marriage is a sacrament. If they are kooky lib you can stop going.

    Third choice would be a  solid conservative Christian counselor to learn communication skills etc. In my opinion a morally conservative Christian Prot who believes in marriage for life is preferable as a counselor than a flaming lib Catholic. Of course a conservative Catholic is better, but sounds like they don't exist around you. After all, you are going to learn to relate better. Not going to learn the faith from a psych.

    If your wife is Catholic invite her to go to the TLM at the FSSP! She should have no problem. They are 100% approved by Rome.

    Offline shin

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    Who can I trust for couseling?
    « Reply #3 on: May 05, 2011, 11:46:05 PM »
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  • Prayers..

    Do not discount the abilities of all non-religious counselors. Some of them can still help. There are some good eggs out there.

    I would suggest it, perhaps for you alone at first. One way or another you should be able to find a referral to an inexpensive counselor.

    A counselor doesn't have to agree with all you believe to help heal breaches between people, and help a person achieve his goals.

    Fr. Chad Ripperger, F.S.S.P., has written some books on psychology and founding it in Catholic spirituality. And some of his audio sermons online cover marriage issues and the different ways men and women think. I've found them quite helpful.

    I don't know what your issues are.. but you've cited a lot of problems with your wife's beliefs.. and certainly, they are true problems.. but give an impression of someone who, forgive me, I may be wrong.. might be a bit too tense and focused on the externals.. but a person who works on himself primarily and how he relates, in a peaceful, and graceful way, I think will make the best progress. A father is the chief provider of grace and spiritual protection for a family through his prayers for them.

    If you become who you should be.. and let things flow naturally from the good person you've the more become.. you may make progress better than if you've (I have no idea if you have) been trying to force things with authority she does not yet acknowledge.

    People are slow to change, some things can be too much at once for their comfort level. Small changes step by step..

    Forgive my advice I pray, if it is useless.

    Generally things meant for the more personal forum aren't to be in detail discussed over the Internet, but in person with someone who can help and respect privacy.

    St. Joseph is a good saint to turn to. We persuade people with grace and love, rather than force, and all things have their time and season.

    St. Benedict medals, properly blessed, are helpful for spiritual warfare. A whole bunch of them. Four, buried at the four corners of the house are useful for spiritual protection. If one is being spiritually troubled in the mind, touch one to the forehead while praying.

    When first acquired, note however, there can be an antagonistic reaction from the threatened enemy. One should pray to mitigate this, prayers such as the St. Michael prayer.

    Hope this all is not entirely useless and off base, perhaps a little will provide food for thought.
    Sincerely,

    Shin

    'Flores apparuerunt in terra nostra. . . Fulcite me floribus.' (The flowers appear on the earth. . . stay me up with flowers. Sg 2:12,5)'-

    Online TKGS

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    Who can I trust for couseling?
    « Reply #4 on: May 06, 2011, 07:11:14 AM »
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  • You are asking very good questions, but ones that I doubt anyone who answers are qualified to answer.  We really don't know you or your circuмstances.

    I can't answer your questions, but I can give you some information to assist you in finding the answers.  I think this is the best you can hope for on this type of forum.

    First of all, Catholic Charities is not Catholic.  Though there will be some differences in how Catholic Charities is managed in different dioceses, the organization does not have a Catholic foundation because the bishops don't have a Catholic foundation.  Before he found tradition, a friend of mine went to the archdiocese to ask for spiritual counselling for him and his wife.   They helped him out and found an "acceptable" counsellor.  He was a Baptist psychiatrist who specialized in marriage counselling.  My friend told me that he was a pretty good counsellor, but it was not what the couple needed.

    Second, an FSSP priest is a Novus Ordo priest who prefers the traditional Mass.  Now there are some stray priests in the Fraternity who can give real good spiritual advice, but since the one you asked referred you to the Conciliar diocese he is obviously not one of them.

    Third, start praying the rosary as a family at a time certain every day (we say the rosary at 7:00 pm--give or take a few minutes--daily).  Stop everything at the appointed time.  Period.  I think this is essential.  Make sure you say only the traditional mysteries  (i.e., Mon & Thu:  Joyful; Tue & Fri:  Sorrowful; Wed & Sat:  Glorious; and on Sun, the Glorious mysteries except during Advent and Lent).

    Fourth (again, I don't know you or your family), I would simply not take my wife to the Novus Ordo anymore.  Take her with you to the traditional Mass.  Don't give her a choice.  My wife was not happy that we went from the Novus Ordo to the traditional Mass, though that unhappiness lasted for only a few weeks.  Once she started following the Mass with a missal and understanding what was going on, she changed her attitude 180 degrees.  The only reason we might have problems today would be if I insisted on returning to the Novus Ordo.  This was my situation but I think that if your wife still has the Catholic faith, she will accept it.

    Fifth, locate an independent or Society chapel and go there.  Forget the Fraternity.  You have to find the Catholic Faith as well as liturgy and buildings.


    Offline Hobbledehoy

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    Who can I trust for couseling?
    « Reply #5 on: May 06, 2011, 08:53:32 PM »
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  • I think there is a great and urgent need for professional counselors and psychologists in traditional Catholic communities, who receive the necessary training at the schools and Universities whilst cultivating an interior life of prayer and the reception of the Sacraments, together with the practice of the virtues, that will enable them to discern that which is false in the modern day pedagogical modules and constructs wherewith they would be trained and educated at said institutions and hold on to that which is useful and necessary for these fields.

    Many people often think that a Priest knows everything, and that he has the competence to answer any question or solve any problem. However, a man does not go to the Seminary to become a scientist, or a psychologist, or a medical physician, or even a theologian. He goes to the Seminary to become a Priest, a Pastor of souls, and he learns the rudimentary things about the many branches of the sacred sciences necessary for the worthy and decorous performance of the duties and necessities of his Priestly state. A Priest cannot really replace a professional counselor or a psychologist in most instances.

    Lanciano, as TKGS has wisely written, we cannot satisfactorily and accurately answer the queries you have as we are not acquainted with the details of your predicament. All that we can do is point out some things that may prove useful.

    From what I have read in your post, I can see (unless I am mistaken) that there are two fundamental issues that are essentially independent but are quite intertwined in the practical order of things: 1) one's personal search for the profession and practice of the traditional Catholic faith; and 2) the problematic ramifications that such a search tends to have on the domestic order of one's household, and this is especially complex when one happens to be the head of the household as husband and father, with the care of a wife and children such a one must bear.

    For the first issue, the counsel of your Father Confessor and Spiritual director must be sought, together with studious and prayerful reading. For the latter issue, the help of a counselor would be needed, depending upon the variable factors in any given individual predicament. Of course, prayer is the first and best recourse for both issues.

    The problematic issues that affect one's household when one ventures forth in search of the true Catholic faith are things that many here have probably experienced in some way or another. Perhaps if people would relate their experiences, you can get some ideas as to how to deal with this situation.

    I have known several men who are in a similar situation which you describe, some of whom have been abandoned by their wives and have bereft them of their children. They ascribe their ability to cope with such a disastrous predicament to the counsel of their Spiritual Directors, the frequent reception of the Sacraments and a life of prayer that will enable one to see things differently and attain to a sort of discretion that will allow one to know the best way to approach problems in communication.

    I wish I could be of substantial assistance, but I will keep you in my prayers.
    Please ignore all that I have written regarding sedevacantism.