Longing for Eden Counseling Services
Longing for Eden offers two categories of counseling: mental health counseling and pastoral/spiritual counseling. Licensed clinical professionals at our office in Hoffman Estates Illinois provide mental health counseling. Longing for Eden pastoral counseling is performed by our consultants who have extensive experience and credentialing in ministry and spiritual care. Our counselors also offer online mental health and spiritual consultation for international and distance clients.
What is Mental Health Counseling?
Mental Health Counseling is not easily described in general statements. It varies depending on the personalities of the counselor, client, and the particular problems. There are many different methods Longing for Eden Counselors use to help you with the problems. Counseling is not like a medical doctor visit. Instead, it calls for a very active effort on your part. In order for counseling to be most successful, you will have to work the things we talk about during our sessions and at home. Counseling sessions typically occur on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Additional appointment times can be arranged on an “as needed basis. Sessions are 45 to 50 minutes long.
Counseling can have benefits and risks. Since counseling often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness. On the other hand, counseling has also been shown to benefit people by leading them to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress. However, there are no guarantees of what you will experience.
Those of us who perform mental health counseling at Longing for Eden are Christ followers. As such, we draw on our faith as a source of personal strength and receive benefit from practices such as prayer and meditation. We recognize that many of our clients do not share our faith commitments or religious beliefs. Thus, we do not use our position as counselors convince people to believe a particular way. If our clients desire we are open to discussing the role of faith and religion in their counseling process but respect the personal beliefs and choices of our clients.
People come to Longing for Eden counselors to seek help for numerous issues including:
- Depression/Bipolar Disorder
- Anxiety
- ADD/ADHD
- Sexual Abuse and trauma
- Grief and loss
- Premarital counseling
- Marriage and family distress
- Career and Academic problems
- Spiritual questions and concerns
Counseling Services Offered By Longing for Eden include:
- Marital and individual Counseling
- Mental Health Testing and Assessment
- Clinical Supervision for Counselors
- Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Advising
- Crisis intervention
- Mental Health consultation and training
What is Pastoral/Spiritual Counseling?
Pastoral/Spiritual counseling focuses on personal and relationship issues that are more specifically a part of your faith journey. This often involves growing in your Biblical or theological understanding, and in how your spiritual and emotional lives affect each other. These discussions are often require a longer time commitment, and ideally happen within trusted relationships, which a coach or mentor would provide. We can begin this process with you, and help you connect to the most appropriate guide for your situation.