The Heart Behind Fullness of Joy Counseling
When I started Fullness of Joy, I had one very clear mission: to help people find joy in Jesus.
It has become abundantly clear to me how many people go about their day-to-day lives lacking joy, specifically the joy that is promised to us in Scripture. Joy is different than happiness. Happiness is circumstantial, but true joy is not about being in a good mood all the time. Rather, it is the ability to cling to the promises of truth in the midst of life’s circumstances.
When we are in Christ, the truth that we are created with a purpose, chosen, purchased, and redeemed produces a joy that goes deep into our hearts and permeates our every circumstance.
But often, finding and clinging to that joy can be difficult for a variety of reasons. At Fullness of Joy, my goal is to help you tackle those obstacles and cling to the cross and to lasting joy.
The way I do this is summed up in my four values.
1. Genuine Connection
Healing can only happen in the context of real and genuine relationship. Healing and growth require honesty, and honesty requires intimacy.
There is a quote by Timothy Keller that I feel sums this up nicely. He says, “To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.”
My goal is to help you feel fully known and fully loved, the way God sees you. Relationships look different within the context of therapy, but that does not mean that there is not genuine care involved.
2. Truth in Love
Therapy isn't just about talking through your problems; it's about understanding what's happening, addressing what's keeping you stuck, and learning how to move forward. I want to offer honest feedback and gentle challenge when it's needed, while always treating you with dignity, grace, and care.
These things cannot happen without first establishing a genuine relationship. When we work together, I want you to truly know that I have your best interests at heart, even when I say something that might be hard to hear.
At the same time, I do not believe in brutal honesty for the sake of brutal honesty. The truth is valuable and important, but it must be delivered with love and gentleness and only when it is going to be helpful and promote growth.
I often use the analogy of going to the dentist. If I have a cavity, do I want the dentist to tell me about it? Yes. Even though it will hurt (both my tooth and my wallet), not telling me would not be loving and would cause me harm in the long run.
Sometimes we mistake niceness for love. Niceness has a goal of preserving feelings. I would experience no pain if the dentist were just trying to be nice. Love values the well-being of the whole person. I may experience temporary pain, but it is for long-term growth and protection!
3. Quality Care
I see and understand the weight of the position I hold. I am working with real people who have real lives. This is not something to take lightly.
It is of the utmost importance to me to make sure that the care I provide is evidence-based and rooted in truth, not just what I feel like.
I strive to continue learning as new and updated research comes out. I also value the input and feedback of other therapists and consult with them regularly.
But most importantly, I value feedback from YOU! If something we are working on in session is not working or doesn’t feel right, I want to know. I know that therapy is not one-size-fits-all, and it must be tailored to the individual who is in front of me. You deserve quality care that is tailored to YOU, and sometimes that requires feedback.
I often say in therapy that there are two experts in the room. There is me, the “expert” on psychology and counseling, and then there is you, the expert on you!
4. Biblical Hope
At the root of all that I do is the knowledge that you are created in the image of God and therefore have inherent worth and value. Every human being has worth and dignity, and to treat them otherwise would be a harm against the individual and a harm against God Himself.
The other piece of Biblical Hope is to acknowledge that God created each and every person with a purpose, and there is no circumstance that is too big for God to redeem. This does not mean that the pain of your circumstances goes away or that it was good that the evil things in this world have happened to you. God never calls what is evil good. But it does mean that God can use you and bring you to joy in Him, despite the wrong that has been done to you or the wrong that you have done.
So Now What?
Are you struggling to find joy in your life? Maybe you find yourself going through the motions just to come home and scroll through your phone for the rest of the night. Or maybe the thought of getting out of bed feels daunting. Maybe you can’t remember the last time you had a good laugh.
Whatever your circumstances, you do not have to continue on without joy. The pursuit of joy requires work at times, but it is meaningful and important work. There is hope for you.
If you feel like you may be needing help to take the next step, please give me a call or fill out my contact form below to schedule a free consultation. I’d love to come alongside you in your pursuit of joy!
