Thin Places and Interior Spaces

Categories: RECENT RESEARCH

Dr. Margaret Nagib, Psy.D.

Originally Posted 10/29/15

Don’t miss Dr. Nagib speaking at the AACC Fall CMHC summit in Naperville IL, Nov. 3-5 2016! Click Here for More Information!

There is a Celtic saying that heaven and earth are only three feet apart, but in the thin places that distance is even smaller. The ancient Celts believed a thin place was an earthly location where there is little to no boundary between heaven and earth. It is a special place where one can easily and undeniably sense the presence of God.

I will never forget my first experience sitting with a client and entering into a thin place. I came out of the session that day thinking, “I was just standing on holy ground.” The presence of God was tangible in the room as Father God gently and lovingly ministered to her soul. The power of His touch in that fifty-minute session was undeniable and I left with a profound sense of awe and gratitude for how He cares for troubled hearts. The experience left me with the question. Can my counseling room become a thin place?

I learned a valuable lesson in those early days, to never neglect the most powerful form of healing and personal transformation – a personal encounter with God. When our attention and affection is turned toward God, the heart becomes a thin place. II Corinthians 3 speaks of a veil that can cover the heart but whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away (vs. 16). Wounds, lies, and past traumas are the thread and material that make up the veil that covers the heart. This results in a struggle to see God’s face clearly. Many grow weary in this struggle and turn away from Him altogether. The veil impedes our relationship with God, but it also serves to impede my ability to see my client as she really is. I too need to sit in that place where only He can remove the veil.

Ushering clients into the presence of the Lord unveils the heart and brings freedom for “where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (vs. 17). When the heart is unveiled and able to interact with the living God face-to-face, freedom is possible. When the heart is unveiled and I am able to see my client as she is, as God made her, then the transformation work can begin.

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” II Corinthians 3:18

Transformation occurs in the face-to-face encounter between the client and the Wonderful Counselor. When God is invited into the process in an intentional and active way, miraculous healing occurs. It occurs because you are accessing His power to heal and transform, and you are inviting Him to do the work (I Thess. 5:23). Inner-Healing methods such as Bethel Sozo, Immanual Prayer and others provide practical guidelines for the therapist who is interested in doing this powerful work.

Like what you read? Come hear more from Dr. Margaret Nagib as she joins us as a plenary speaker at the Fall 2016 Church and Mental Health Summit. This incredible event will be held at Calvary Church in Naperville, IL on November 3-5th, 2016. Come listen, learn, and fellowship with other professionals and experts. The Church and Mental Health 2016 Summit is one that you do not want to miss! Visit www.cmhcsummit.com to learn more!

Dr. Margaret Nagib, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist specializing in Christian counseling, inner healing and treating eating disorders, trauma, addiction, self-injury and mood disorders. For 15 years, she has provided individual, family and group therapy. Today, as a key faculty member of Timberline Knolls’ Clinical Development Institute, she travels throughout the country providing clinical training and presentations to professionals. Additionally, Dr. Nagib provides individual, family, group and pastoral counseling. Her goal is to restore Timberline Knolls’ residents to wholeness through a deeper relationship with God, helping each one to find her voice, purpose, and passion.