August 31, 2023
Dear St. Catherine Parish Family,
We all struggle with different wounds in our lives. Many of these wounds are consequences of physiological realities that are often outside of our control. Some wounds are consequences of trauma that we have experienced due to the loss of loved ones, abuse, difficulties in marriage or other family struggles, or various other experiences of suffering. Some of the wounds we bear may also be a consequence of poor choices on our part which may lead to unhealthy habits, compulsion, or even addiction. Regardless of the source of our wounds, God wants us to find true healing and seek a life of virtue and holiness.
St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us that grace builds on nature. Although God’s grace, especially as we receive it through prayer and the sacraments of the Church, is essential for growing in holiness, oftentimes, the psychological and emotional wounds we bear are an impediment to the health and holiness that God desires for us. I frequently meet with people who are struggling with some difficulty or crisis in their personal lives or in their marriage or family, and it becomes clear that there is a more fundamental psychological or emotional healing that needs to take place before God’s grace can really be completely effective. In these cases, I often refer people to the care of qualified professional therapists. And I typically prefer to refer people to solid Catholic therapists who have a proper understanding of the relationship between the body and soul. Frequently, secular therapists do not have an appropriate understanding of the nature of the spiritual soul, in particular, and are not as effective in providing healing as those who do.
We are blessed here in the Archdiocese of Atlanta to have a couple of groups of Catholic therapists that are available to provide professional counseling to individuals, couples, and families. The first is Holy Family Counseling (holyfamilycounselingcenter.com), which has several Catholic counselors who meet with clients at various locations in the area, including here at St. Catherine’s. The second is Transfiguration Counseling (transfigurationcounseling.com), which also has several Catholic counselors who meet with clients at various locations. Both of these groups also offer remote counseling via video chat.
As professional therapy groups, they understandably charge fees for their services (typically $150 per session), and I am aware that sometimes these fees can be an obstacle for persons who need therapy to pursue it, particular since these groups are out of network for many insurance providers. As your pastor, however, it is my desire to provide easy access to solid Catholic therapy for those who need it. And I consider this such an important service, that I have decided to dedicate funding from the parish to subsidize the cost of therapy for any of our parishioners who would find it burdensome to cover the fees themselves. I have made arrangements with both Holy Family Counseling Center and Transfiguration Counseling such that any St. Catherine’s parishioner who participates in therapy with either of these groups simply need to complete a verification form and inform the counselor that they are seeking assistance from the parish, and the invoice will be sent to us, and you will only need to pay a “co-pay” of $25 per session.
I would ask, however, that only those who really need this assistance take advantage of it, so that the funds are available to those who would incur a significant burden (presuming that insurance will not cover the fees for you). Depending on the numbers who are taking advantage of this assistance, I may need to reevaluate this arrangement in the future and/or seek donors to provide funding for this effort in order for it to continue permanently.
If you are in need of counseling for yourself or for your family, please pursue it (use the websites listed above to contact the particular therapy group). I have seen many fruits from solid Catholic therapy, particularly healing in marriages and families, as well as healing from anxiety, depression, and addiction. And for those who would find the fees burdensome, please take advantage of this assistance that I am offering to you. And finally, please know of my prayers for you as you seeking healing. If there is ever anything I can do for you to support you in your journey, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Neil