Guiding readers back to God’s word in a sea of confusion. by Dr. Natalie Atwell Gaslighting is a popular term these days. There are videos all over social media about this specific word. The term gaslight actually dates back to a 1938 British play called Gas Light,...
Exposing Darkness: Understanding the Roots of Spiritual Abuse
In recent years, the term spiritual abuse has gained popularity. I don't think this is because spiritual abuse is happening more (although that may be the case), but because more people are talking about their experiences. As a counselor, I'm encouraged to see more...
Resurrection Sunday: An Opportunity to Witness
We’re in the Easter season again—one time of year when many people are reminded, perhaps for the first time since last Easter, of an empty tomb outside Jerusalem. At AACC headquarters in Virginia, spring is in the air. Spring is a transitory season that bridges the...
Falling in Love, Staying in Love: How to Keep Romance Alive
This article was originally published in Christian Counseling Today, Volume 23-1 One of the most difficult parts of marriage is staying in love and keeping romance alive over the years. Having logged more than five decades together, we can tell you it is hard work,...
A Biblical and Neuroscientific Approach to Stress Resilience
This post is a summary of chapter 9 in Charles Stone’s just released Moody Press book:Stress Less: 9 Habits from the Bible and Brain Science to Build Resilience and Reduce Anxiety. Read more information about the book and Charles below. Finding Certainty in an...
Do We Deserve God’s Grace?
Grace: perhaps the most freeing gift offered to us by God. Without it, we would have no salvation and no hope. A question that often surfaces in counseling, churches, and hearts is this: Do we deserve God’s grace? The works-based, performance-driven world can lead us...
Benevolent Detachment: Guiding Clients to a New Source of Identity and Acceptance
How often do you hear clients say, “They made me feel….” as they describe interactions with spouses, friends, family members, and coworkers? When clients claim that someone made them feel a certain way, they are ceding control of their emotions to another person....
The “V” Word: What Vulnerability Is and Isn’t
It's cringeworthy for many people, that word: Vulnerability. What images, beliefs, and meanings are stirred up when you hear that word? For some, vulnerability evokes unbearable emotions and takes them back to a time and place when betrayal happened or terrible harm...
Grace for the Discouraged This Christmas Season
As we approach what Andy Williams calls "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," we in mental health understand that the Christmas anticipation lingering in the air is not felt by those facing conflict, Christmas is called "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," but for...





















