Counseling is generally problem-focused in nature. A client is brought to therapy by some pressing issue or painful situation. Generally the goal of therapy is to ease the pain and help the individual develop problem-solving and coping skills around that issue and, hopefully, life in general. In this way, Faith-Based counseling is no different from any other kind of counseling. The essential difference is that spiritual issues are just as important as emotional, mental, or physical issues. A broken spirit is usually at the root of depression; a conflicting or illogical personal theology (set of beliefs about God) is often at the root of guilt and low self-esteem; biblical interpretation of family values is often at the root of disagreements between couples.

It has taken us a long time to recognize the relationship between physical and mental health and how each affects our sense of well-being. We are just beginning to understand the influence of our spiritual nature. When things are not going well in one area, it affects the ability of another to function effectively. Guilt, for example, is most often faith- or value-based, and can have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. Beliefs about God or "fate", why bad and good things happen to us and the source of future hope, are fundamental to how we approach life, make decisions, feel about ourselves, engage in relationships, and deal with disappointment, failure, tragedy and loss. Relationships are most often affected by issues that are value-laden and rooted deep in a person’s past. Things the other person does may upset them for reasons they are not even aware of. So, as difficult issues and broken relationships are addressed, we need to be intentional about looking at underlying, sometimes hidden, beliefs. When we understand what we actually do and don't believe about life, it gives us clarity about why we feel and act the way we do. It also gives us direction in problem-solving and allows us to use all the resources available to us as human persons.

It is important that you be informed about Camille’s personal theological perspective since it informs and guides her approach. But it is even more important that as the client, you come to understand your own theology as it exists (not as a particular traditions tells you it should exist), and work toward integrating it into your conscious and active life. How much this part of the journey is included in our process together is up to you.

Camille will often use other tools and resources as clients seek self-understanding. One of these tools is the Enneagram , a dynamic ancient personality typing tool that gives us insights into our gifts, our relationship to our bodies and to others, what is at the root of our choices in life. It may also be appropriate to set up a plan for e-mail journaling. She will also encourage participation in other Spiritual Enrichment activities occurring at WitnessTree.

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The nurturing of our spiritual nature is essential to health and a sense of wholeness and inner peace. There is something in us that seeks connection with the Holy, and searches to discern the movement of the Holy in our lives. No matter where we are along the journey, it is often helpful to have someone walk along side us in that seeking process, more of an equal, who is open to sharing personal struggles as they apply to the situation. This relationship is ideally an empty vessel in which there is celebration of creational goodness, confession and forgiveness, support, nurturing, and challenge in an atmosphere of welcoming hospitality unconditional acceptance—no matter who you are. The ancient Celtic notion of the Anam Cåra, the soul friend, was such a person—one with whom you could be completely honest and completely safe--one who seeks to discern the Holy in you and gives you tools for discerning and nurturing the Holy in yourself.

Spiritual Direction, Life Coaching and Mentoring are all very similar approaches to coming alongside people as they journey, though the focus, goals and activities may vary slightly. Spiritual direction tends to exist in the present moment, becoming, and going where the Spirit leads; life coaching tends to be more about setting goals and moving in a particular direction. All recognize and nurture the inter-relationship between body, mind and spirit, the movement toward spiritual health and wholeness Spiritual Direction and Life Coaching are really misnomers, since both names imply a process of providing a pre-determined road-map to life, of "telling" and "instructing." For good Spiritual Directors and Life Coaches, this is not the case. The process is much more open, mutually sharing, and nurturing. It is a gentle holding of the process as it unfolds for an individual, guided by insightful listening and the nudging of Spirit, but belonging wholly to the individual. Camille’s own reliance on Spirit as she engages with people is constant, but her job is to create a safe place…one that is comfortable and non-threatening… for the individual and Spirit to work at their own pace and intensity, not to dictate the work that they will do. It is hoped that WitnessTree can become the refuge to the sojourner, the wayside oasis, with refreshment for the soul.

Camille will often use other tools and resources as clients seek self-understanding. One of these tools is the Enneagram , a dynamic ancient personality typing tool that gives us insights into our gifts, our relationship to our bodies and to others, what is at the root of our choices in life. It may also be appropriate to set up a plan for e-mail journaling. She will also encourage participation in other Spiritual Enrichment activities occurring at WitnessTree.

For more information on the differences between counseling, spiritual direction and life coaching, click here. For more information on Spiritual Direction, go to Spiritual Directors International

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When older adults face changes in their health or need to make adjustments in their living situations, families are often drawn into the decision-making process. These are some of the hardest times a family faces, and it is often helpful to involve a person in the discussion who can function as mediator, consultant and guide through the maze of difficult issues involved. In her thirty years of working with families in these situations, Camille has developed an approach that pulls families together and provides them with tools for addressing the needs of all concerned.

Camille has several tools at her disposal to assist individuals and families in the process of evaluating personal values that contribute to the decisions that need to be made, planning for end of life issues, and the community resources available. It may also be appropriate to set up a plan for e-mail journaling. She will also encourage participation in other Spiritual Enrichment activities occurring at WitnessTree.

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Often, when someone close dies, the grief work is draining, emotionally potent, and difficult to understand. Each person grieves in his or her unique way. The only "wrong" way to grieve, is to avoid it entirely. When a loved one dies, it is not just the spouse who grieves, the whole family and close circle of friends are also affected. Since everyone grieves in his or her own way, the form grief takes in one family member may not be understood by another, it may seem that they are not grieving, or they are not letting go of their grief.

Grief does not occur in a vacuum, and it is often helpful for the family to gather for a shared session. In a safe environment, we can explore the grief process, and how each family member is coping with the loss. In that process we build understanding for one another’s unique way of processing loss. Families discover how to support one another in their own unique style of grieving, and how to tell when another family member is in trouble and may need extra help. Generally two or three sessions are adequate, spaced as the family moves through the grief process.

Camille has several tools at her disposal to assist individuals and families in the process that will be used outside of office sessions. It may also be appropriate to set up a plan for e-mail journaling. She will also encourage participation in other Spiritual Enrichment activities occurring at WitnessTree.

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