When is it time to Refer a Distressed Person to a Therapist?

It is easy to be confused about mental illness. A lot that is written and spoken by so called experts, is confusing to me and I have two degrees in psychology and counseling. In my view, experts tend to call every incident of emotional distress a "mental illness".

For example, some manuals are dedicated to the practice of correctly defining when distress is an illness and when it is just a slight, passing issue. One seems confused and confusing.  It says that grief over the death of a loved one can be called an illness if it lasts over a couple of weeks. That seems to be an exaggeration for the death of a parent, partner or child can cause deep and lasting grief for normal persons. It is wrong to call that mental illness.

Even more confusing are the labels placed on depression. A recent survey asked Ministers what they thought caused depression. The people that answered rarely said the cause was a biological brain illness. Because of that, the experts thought the Ministers were uneducated.

Do you agree they are not educated enough? I'm not at all sure. How did the survey define depression? Is all depression the same? Is deep grief and sadness the same as Clinical Depression?

Do you think all sadness, grief and depression are caused by flawed biology?

Do you think taking antidepressants is the best or only treatment for depression?

Should I refer every sad, anxious, depressed person to a Psychiatrist/Medical Doctor to get them medicine or could a minister be helpful?

A little later we will share 5 levels of distress and when to refer to a professional. Then you will be clear about who needs a therapist. I developed my scale to help Ministers and Lay Leaders differentiate among the mystifying voices of pain and distress.

I will also describe the difference between a Psychiatrist, a Psychologist, a Counselor, a Social Worker, etc.

More later.

Gary Sweeten

Dealing with Mental Illnesses

Every time there is a mass shooting, a threat of suicide many people insist that these tragic events are caused by mental illness. If that is so, they could be prevented by psychological treatment.

The answer, they say, is more money to train and treat distressed people.I am not one to discourage more money for my colleagues and me, but what evidence is there for clinical therapists preventing tragic events like mass murders and suicides?

It is also suggested that family and friends can prevent tragedies. Maybe. I hope so. I want it to be true, but it is hard to prove that evil does NOT happen.

I do believe that good therapy and positive family support can prevent violence and bad behavior in many instances. It is foundational to my teaching and books. I wish we could do more equipping as a preventative approach to life. However, we must be careful and refrain from thinking we can control other people, even in our own families.

Bad things do happen to good people. Sickness and evil are real.

We recently saw it up close and personal when young man in our community took his life. He was surrounded by family members and friends who went far beyond the norm, yet he carried out his intent and died. His mother was a strong supporter of his and gathered friends and professionals to intervene. His teenage friends acted with great maturity but he was dedicated to end his life.

We cannot guarantee that we can stop a person from carrying out a deeply committed plan. We can and must try. I have seen breakthroughs in the lives of the deeply depressed but miracles do not always happen.

As a Counselor I spent my life battling depression and hopelessness, but I was not always successful. I have had to face the fact that I am infallible and the world is a messy place. That is why I place my trust in God not myself or other people.

Gary Sweeten
See our web for materials on helping hurting people.

Why is ISIS Successful?

Violent Muslims have been very successful despite the fact that their message is so terrible. How would you like to join a company with a product that leads to  destruction, death, and world hatred?

"Not so much," you say?

ISIS uses the small group model of Jesus to spread bad news while Jesus said to spread the Good News!

 Since we have good news we might assume that our groups would grow much faster than people with the bad news!

Here is a suggestion for understanding the model of Jesus. It shows why it is so successful. I wonder why so many leaders reject it.

You can learn the model by reading the book, The Starfish and the Spider. I do not agree with the purposes of some of the groups mentioned in the book but the author describes the model in an interesting way.


Gary Sweeten

Get my books on ways to disciple and equip. 

Why Do We Turn Visitors to Church Away?

My new friend at coffee admitted there is a need to follow up with visitors and new believers, but complained that few churches  or members will do it.

When I asked why, he said, "I think they don't want new people in the church. They do not want anyone to break us their little clique."

Do you agree? I am not sure why, but it seems like churches go out of their way to make their services closed to new people. For example, visitors do not have a guide or program in many churches so they have no idea what to expect.

Even Wall Mart has greeters but like every big box store the church expects visitors to find out what is there on their own.  

A famous writer decided to visit various churches as a "secret shopper" and write about it with a five star system of analysis. One star meant lousy service and five stars meant superior service. Only one church received five stars. Most got a one or two star rating.

Do you wonder how people would rate your church?

Ask a friend to visit and evaluate your church.

Gary Sweeten

Doing Good is Good for Us

From: Stephen G. Post, Ph.D.
Re:     Updated Scientific Review on the Benefits of Giving
Date: January 1, 2008

Over the last eight years, I have been focusing on the new scientific literature that shows the health benefits of generous emotions coupled with giving activities.  The caveat, of course, is not to be overwhelmed, for just as there can be too little there can also be too much.   With the success of the book "Why Good Things Happen to Good People: The Exciting New Research That Proves the Link Between Doing Good and Living a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life" ( Jill Neimark, and with a Foreword by Pastor Otis Moss, Jr.)  www.whygoodthingshappen.com to link with Amazon or Barnes & Noble.   

                 Good to be Good:  Health and the Generous Heart

                                              Stephen G. Post, Ph. D.

 The convergence of evidence is striking in support of the hypothesis that benevolent emotions, attitudes and actions centered on the good of others are contributory to happiness, health, and even longevity in the agent of such giving. Benevolence is chiefly about the well-being of recipients, but that said, it can be added that it nourishes the giver. 

Because no research methodology is perfect, researchers in the social sciences and health outcomes look for a convergence of results across a variety of methods before reaching a conclusion as to the truth of any hypothesis. The evidence that “doing unto others” is good for the giver has reached a high threshold with regard to everyday kindness and good deeds that bestow upon the giver a feeling of meaning, buoyancy, and warmth. 

"Do unto others as you want them to do unto you" Jesus

Gary Sweeten Go to our web page bookstore to discover ways to help without hurting.

Who Won the Raffle?

There was a carnival at Independence School in Butler County. It seems that thousands of families were there, eating, drinking, bouncing and having a ball.

They had a $1.00 per try raffle with about 15 different items the people could put their ticket on and get a chance to win. Emma put all 4 of her tickets on a doll. Yep, an American Girl Doll!

Driving her and Jack to the event she said she was betting everything on winning that doll. Te pessimist in me said, "You are more likely to be struck by lightning or a meteor!

Karen and I sat across from the table with all the prizes and we saw everyone stuff dozens of tickets into the Doll box. My heart sank!

At the drawing, the doll was the top prize with every girl in the place violated Ohio PC Law about prayers at school. In fact, so did I!

The principal slowly drew out the name and shouted!

Emma Sweeten,

Emma Sweeten!

PTL! Emma Won.

Reaching Hostile People

My new friend who told me he was following Jesus as an evangelist quoted a passage of scripture. However, he quoted it the way most of us think it says but it is wrong. Jesus did not say, "Go preach the gospel and save people..."

Jesus said, "Go make disciples and teach them to do everything I did".

What is the difference between the two?

Gary Sweeten