Larry's story, in his own words:

My first experience with psychology began with my marriage to a spouse who was misdiagnosed as a teenager as being "schizophrenic". I’ll stop here to point out that my wife’s parents being Christians themselves, sought relief and understanding at the time from a ‘Christian psychologist’, who informed them after his examination of her that there was "no hope for her".

It wasn’t until a few years after our marriage that she was later re-diagnosed instead as being "manic-depressive", but that only after another traumatic experience with the psychiatric community. She had suffered a "breakdown" that necessitated professional intervention, and it was at that time that the head psychiatrist of the facility was called in for an examination.

His diagnosis? That we, my daughters and I, were the problem and that my wife was normal and had only suffered a seizure because she was epileptic. It didn’t matter that she had never had a seizure before, and never one since that time. We were maligned as the cause of her episode. Not being satisfied, I received a second opinion from an MD who made the proper diagnosis; the seizure had been due to sleep deprivation. Subsequently the determination was made that she is "manic-depressive", or "Bi-polar" as it has been reclassified. Needless to say, through these early ‘trial and error assessments’, my faith in the psychiatric community was forever marred.

Years later, I was to have yet another negative experience.

Fast forward to last year 2004, when as a single parent of two teenage daughters, I became ‘desperate’ for another approach to resolve conflicts with them. A friend had been suggesting for some time that I try his Christian psychologist who was also a Pastor and specialized in teenage conflict resolution.

I remained resistant due to my prior experiences, and my belief that Christian psychology was an oxymoron. I believed in the sufficiency of Jesus Christ for all of today’s problems, but I did not want to be close-minded. I struggled with the thought of visiting a psychologist with my daughters because it made me feel hypocritical, professing Christ on one hand and using ‘man’s wisdom’ on the other. I had ruled out meeting with my pastor because my daughters had not see him as impartial. In the end, I gave into the fear that if I did not try another approach something terrible might happen. That is where I made my first mistake, not trusting in the Lord. I rationalized my decision to see this man because he was a Christian, and a pastor. Surely he would use the Word of God as the basis for counseling my daughters and myself through the crisis… or so I thought.

My first session was very unsettling. It began with no prayer and no scripture, just a lot of information gathering, induction I believe it is called. I wondered as I answered a lot of questions, when we would begin to discuss solutions. I had made the point early on that I was a Christian and I wanted to take a Christian approach to the conflict.

It was after a few sessions that I was diagnosed as being an angry person, and that all of my issues stemmed from unresolved anger dating back to my youth. This set me back because I did not see myself as being an angry person, but I accepted his ‘professional diagnosis’. I began to really see myself as a troubled individual and I was beginning to loose confidence in my parenting skills. We continued to meet in session for a number of weeks, my daughters and myself, but never together. Then, during what was to be my last session, my ‘therapist’ dropped the bomb. He asked me if I was ready "to go to the next level".

I naively thought to myself that maybe this was the place where I would come together with my daughters and discuss our differences and solutions. But the next level as it turned out, was where I was to be referred to a doctor who would dispense an anti-depressant. The therapist said it was the only way to expedite treatment if I really wanted to fast track my recovery.

In a relatively short time, I had found myself manipulated into a place that I would never have imagined.

I began praying and it was then that the Holy Spirit began to reveal things to me. It is normal to be angry on occasion, I was not an angry person as I had been led to believe. It is also normal and to be expected to have conflict as a single parent, especially with two teenage daughters.

But my epiphany came when I considered my ministry, and how the Lord has been using me. I had recently shared with someone that their answer was in the Lord Jesus and not in psychotherapy. How could I minister comfort to others if my own comfort is dispensed through a childproof cap and psychology? The Lord then brought back to my remembrance 2 Corinthians 1:3-5,

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (NKJV)

That was my answer! I praise God for sparing me of the snare that I almost entangled myself in. Although the lesson cost me $700.00, it was one that was worthwhile if only to have a firsthand knowledge of what so called Christian psychology is all about.

God desires to be our sufficiency. He is our hope.

I immediately canceled all further appointments.

As a footnote to this, about a week later I received a phone call from the therapist asking me why I had canceled. I shared with him that he had done me a great disservice by not using the Bible as his authority and praying with me as I expected. I shared the above verse with him and told him that Jesus is the source of comfort and that as Christians, that is the message we should be sharing. His reply was to tell me that if that was the course that I had wanted to take, that I should have told him that, and that we could start all over again. Imagine that!

As a result of my experience, I am now re-energized and better equipped to minister to those who are struggling in this fallen world. God is faithful and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. The lesson is clear for those of us who profess a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ…

WE OUGHT TO TRUST GOD!