Excerpts from an Interview

Q. Lauren, how do you find meaning in your work as a psychologist?

A. I find meaning in psychotherapy by providing competent, compassionate care for every individual who walks into my office. By having unconditional positive regard and empathy for the patient sitting in front of me, by utilizing treatments and tools which will be effective in diagnosing and addressing a person's difficulties, and by providing patient centered care where the patient's goals become the focus of my work with them, I find value. The honor of witnessing people grow, heal, and create lives they love is both a privilege and source of motivation.

Q. How do you find the strength to deal with other people's pain and suffering?

A. This is where a prayer life and relationship with God has better enabled me to hear about and witness the darkest moments of people's lives without losing hope. The role of a therapist is really to be able to witness a person's suffering without needing to "fix" it (control), deny it (avoid), or lose hope (despair) as a result of it. We walk with people into the darkest parts of their lives while simultaneously maintaining hope for the Light. Because suffering is complex and mysterious, being able to surrender my own confusion and pain around patient's tragedies and dilemmas allows me to continue to function and empathize without despairing, avoiding or becoming controlling. I do this by accepting that pain and suffering are often prerequisites to people seeking the help and healing that they need and it is not in my power to take away other people's strife or make judgments about "why" things may be happening or what those things may mean. However, it is my place to be compassionate and empathetic to their very real and human plight. I find I am better suited to do this when I am able to sit with someone experiencing pain without placing my own expectations or needs on their healing.

Q. How do you integrate the science of psychology with Christian values as a therapist?

A. . Anything that is incompatible with science and reason is something to be skeptical of. I find that psychotherapy and Christianity are not only compatible, but can actually be used to mutually reinforce one another. It is widely considered that there are five components of a person's holistic health: physical, mental/emotional, spiritual, social and financial/economic. Obviously the mental/emotional piece is at the core of psychotherapy. However, just as we may talk about a person's financial issues or physical health concerns in session, spirituality is an essential part of a persons overall health and it is a welcome topic in psychotherapeutic treatment. I will ask patients if they desire to incorporate their faith life/spirituality into treatment when I do their intake assessment. One of the things that I often say is: "therapy can move us forward very far in the process of healing, however spirituality, in addition, is often the last piece of the puzzle that people need to fully integrate healing. It is up to you whether or not you would like to add this component into our sessions."

Q. What do you say to clients who are not Christian who seek services from you?

A. That I completely respect their world view and religion need not be a barrier to treatment. I believe in patient-centered care, where the patient's goals and needs are prioritized and clear. It is entirely up to the client as to whether or not spirituality is brought into treatment, however I will always ask patients about their spirituality and if they desire to talk about it.