PHILOSOPHY OF
TREATMENT
At Shalom Center we see “wellness” as a person’s ability to experience God’s love through one’s own capacity to love oneself and to give love to others in friendship, community and service. This goes beyond living only for our own peace, for the peace of a few others, or the measured living that can come from fear. It means being rooted in the abundance of God’s love and being able to respond openly to the many invitations and challenges of adult Christian living that create greater wholeness in our lives.
This type of lifestyle involves:
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Recognizing one’s basic self-worth
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Acknowledging and responsibly managing one’s weaknesses and limitations
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Naming one’s gifts and using them in service to the community
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Valuing community and learning to relate honestly and compassion- ately with others
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Taking responsibility for one’s life and being able to discern, choose and recommit to one’s vocation
“With an everlasting love I have loved you and I have kept my mercy toward you.
I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt.”
— Jeremiah 31:3
Tranquility
Our approach to counseling and education helps individuals develop the aforementioned qualities of wellness. This approach includes helping people to:
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Recognize God’s presence in their life stories
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Develop greater self- awareness through dialogue and feedback
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Identify emotions that are working as positive and negative motivators
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Reconcile past hurts and disappointments so as to move on in life
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Assess and learn skills for community living, communication, time management and decision making
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Clarify their priorities and values
This direction includes the use of psychological assessment, individual and group counseling, expressive art therapy, spiritual direction and specialization groups (for example, alcoholism, addictions, formation and education seminars in various areas of psychological, sexual and spiritual development).