COUNSELING

From AIWP Board member, Suzanne Luper

Director, Triangle Pastoral Counseling, Raleigh

"About a year ago I was facing professional burnout and some difficult related decisions. I sought help from Amy Pierce, who has more than exceeded my expectations of a good spiritual counselor. She has shepherded me through a discernment process that is yielding new, rich vitality to my work and to my life.

I cannot say enough about the quality of Amy's intelligent, compassionate presence. As a therapist and pastoral counselor myself, I wanted to find these qualities in the person who would care for me. Amy was a godsend. She has, in many ways, become my minister; her office has become my sanctuary."

This counseling ministry began its life in 2002 as Authentic Self Spiritual Counseling, which served (and still does) adults who are looking for something non-traditional that has at its core a spiritual foundation. The ministry serves individuals from all walks of life, all professions, and all faiths or no faith.

I could have chosen to stay completely within this one counseling ministry. As is often the case, Life had something else in mind. As a result, two additional ministries were born - Sophie's Gift, animal loss support for adults and children, and AirGiving for Caregiving, a support for those either in the caregiving professions (healthcare, hospice, emergency, ministry...) or those giving care to family members experiencing illness or end of life issues. Please view the separate web pages for each of these additions to the family of Authentic Self Spiritual Counseling Ministries.

There are myriad reasons people give for seeking out these ministries . . .

Grief and loss, Illness, Communication

Burnout, Self esteem, Divorce

Relationships, Stress, Caregiving

Addiction, Sexual orientation, Animal loss . . .

Each of these concerns has particular aspects unique to the individual. Yet, beneath each one there is always a desire for more peace and less separation.

Additionally, there is almost always something else at play that, when looked at closely enough, comes down to an underlying belief in what I call "The World's Great Lie" - that we are not worthy.

We are whole beings; our worth is never in question. And we may have worthy work to do toward the "homecoming" of knowing this truth about ourselves. Like Michaelangelo's reply when asked how he was able to carve his "David," we simply "chip away all that isn't David."

Learning to look at oneself (especially when we're blaming our problems on others) takes willingness and courage; it requires that we look at our part in whatever the circumstances are that comprise our main concerns, issues, or situations. When we make that effort, the rewards are great, because they allow us to participate from a higher place. We may not have control over other people or situations, but we do have control over the way we show up in this life we are living.

My role is to partner you in your healing and to facilitate your movement toward that goal. I do this by . . . listening to your story with compassion and understanding; offering ways of seeing that broaden your view and allow you to create a larger story - a "story big enough to live in;" teaching that enables deeper, more compassionate connection with self, others, and with the God of your understanding; facilitating the critical component of emotional release; encouragement of daily practice/application of new ways of being.

I also encourage the use of various tools in this work, not asking anything of you that I have not asked of myself during my own healing journey.