Natalie Ford
Why did you decide to become a counselor?
People were continually calling me for advice after I began speaking out about my late husband's struggles with bipolar disorder. I knew that I wanted to help others, and that I needed to go back to school and learn how to really help others. My counselor was instrumental in my personal growth and I wanted to do the same for others.
Where did you go to graduate school? What did you like most about your program of study?
I received a PhD in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. I appreciated the Christ-centered focus of the coursework and the intentionality of the professors to pour into us both professionally and personally.
Describe your approach to counseling.
I hold to grace-based counseling. My colleague, Rick Fowler, and I recently developed the grace-based model of counseling which affirms the roles of grace and truth in counseling. Too often Christian counselors have used shame and guilt as motivation, but I believe this is unbiblical. Other "Christian" counselors set their beliefs to the side as they counsel from a secular worldview. While I cannot separate my worldview from my counseling, I do not impose my beliefs on clients. If they are open to discussing scripture as part of therapy, then we do. If they are opposed, I respect their wishes. God is the ultimate Healer, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of his healing work.
What significant events in your life have shaped your counseling?
Losing my first husband to suicide rocked my world. Well-meaning Christians told us that his depression was either a result of sin or due to a lack of faith. These two falsehoods led to further despair. Michael's depression was physiological and the tendency to overspiritualize his problems may have hurt him more. I resolved to approach counseling from a biopsychosocialspiritual perspective in hopes of seeing individuals from a holistic perspective.
How does your Christian faith inform your counseling?
My faith permeates every area of my life; I cannot separate (nor do I want to) who I am in Christ from who I am as a counselor. I may not always quote scripture in a therapy session, but I will do my best to filter all that I say and do through the lens of scripture so that my counseling is biblical. If a secular theory does not contradict the scriptures, then I will consider using it in counseling.