Faith And Life:

Individuals have many components: psychological issues (depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder and the like); personality issues (narcissism, dependent personality, borderline personality, etc.); and there are sin issues. All of these need spiritual, emotional and psychological healing.

Psychological issues are typically genetic. Personality disorders are determined by our childhood and establish how we view the world. Then we have the issue of spirituality, knowing that integrating God and spirituality can help with these problems, but usually not completely cure them. We need a professional in addition to prayer.

Healing from our childhood can be curable from attachment theory work. It is a great way to discover our past and how it plays into who we are today. A child of an alcoholic dad, a child from a conflictual home, a father who beat his kids, moms who were not emotionally present for their kids, early childhood trauma and or abuse — these all form who adults are today and why they suffer in certain areas of their lives. Being around someone with these issues is also a reason to seek personal therapy in how to deal with another’s dysfunction.

God and His use of therapy can truly change a person’s life. But these deeper issues are healed through professional means and prayer. God gave us the gift of integrating psychology and His Word, theology, to accomplish this. But one does not have to integrate theology to be healed through attachment theory. However, for those who do practice faith, it is beneficial in the healing process.

?The Rev. KIMBERLIE ZAKARIAN’s column runs the first Wednesday of the month. Reach her by e-mail at Kimberlie.zakarian@gmail.com or by mail at the Rev. Kimberlie Zakarian, M.S. La Vie Counseling Center, 650 Sierra Madre Villa, Suite 110, Pasadena, CA 91107.