Hello, this is pastor gary from first baptist church of laplata. Going shopping to improve one’s mood by purchasing “comfort buys” has been jokingly referred to as “Retail Therapy.” Debbie has been receiving retail therapy for decades; in fact, the best job Debbie ever held was when she was a buyer for an antique store in Louisiana. She got to spend money buying whatever she wanted, and I didn’t have to pay for it! Retail Therapy is taking on a new meaning now. Due to the COVID-related increases in anxiety and depression, large retail chains such as Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS have begun offering mental counseling services to the public right in their stores. Psychology and psychiatry are a legitimate medical discipline; in fact, my daughter, Xaris, is pursuing her education in this field. However, secular counseling can only treat symptoms, because it is never able to pinpoint the root cause of illness which is sin. Secular counseling does not acknowledge sin nor demonic activity, therefore, it can never offer complete healing. There is a desperate need for Christian counseling that not only uses the latest mental health toolbox and research but also uses the Bible recognizing the human need for forgiveness and personal relationship with God. Counselors who treat the whole person—mind, body, and spirit, can be used by God to bring complete healing that will last not only for time but for eternity.
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