Why Would I Seek Counseling?
I’ve missed more annual well-checks to the doctor than I’ve made. It seems like a waste of time to tell the doctor that I’m not experiencing any physical difficulties, have…
I’ve missed more annual well-checks to the doctor than I’ve made. It seems like a waste of time to tell the doctor that I’m not experiencing any physical difficulties, have…
You married with the hope of sharing your life with someone who’s as pumped to make the most of it as you are, so how did the two of you…
Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. (Proverbs 2:11 NLT) Friendship is a wonderful thing and a gift from God to allow us to enjoy the company…
Have you ever wondered exactly what we mean when we invite you to experience hope? A lot of the people tuning in to listen to Intentional Living are at that reset point…
Five Questions to Ask when Thinking about Divorce During the global pandemic we’ve endured the past year, 31% of those divorcing say the lockdown caused their divorce or certainly contributed…
I was awakened Sunday by a telephone call from a friend telling me news I never expected to hear: that my friend and former student had been killed, run over…
Let’s start here. You’re leading in one of the most complex moments in generations. It’s not easy. Right now, nothing is easy. And with the Presidential election results being so…
It is natural for children/teens to push boundaries. What do you do when they misbehave? Do you simply say no? Or do you try to enter their world and assure…
Lysa Terkeurst shares five principles that help you to process pain. Forgiveness is more satisfying than revenge. Our God is not a do-nothing God. Your offender is also suffering. The…
Dear Roger, I’ve had a very hurtful past. My wife abused me. She was angry and mean to the children. Of course, we’ve all had our share of physical…
Dear Roger, I recently attended the funeral of one of my best friends. As I listened to the comments, I was surprised by how many people weren’t really…
You probably already have some regrets. Not only as a leader, but as a husband, dad and friend too. Leadership is so complicated that sometimes it’s hard to know what…
How can we identify the symptoms of grief in ourselves and others? What are some Bible principles that can help you heal today? Counselor Bobbie Rill and Dr. Deb Waterbury…
So you’ve been sheltering in place and quarantined with the people you’re supposed to love most for months now. And how exactly is that going? If you’re like most…
I am like the poster child of getting counseling. Seriously, in the last few years I have been to four different counselors. I’ve done individual sessions, group sessions, marriage counseling,…
Dear Roger, I’m a 25 yr. old Christian guy (former Casas member) living in Hollywood, and am establishing a successful career for myself in the popular music industry (I am…
“Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. And Elkenah, her husband, said to her, ‘Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart…
“How do you know the will of God?” At every Campus Crusade Christmas Conference that was the title of the workshop that always drew standing room numbers. Because every Christian has wondered…
My friend Paul and I just delivered presents to our adopted homeless community the other night. I don’t have the time or mental fortitude to turn it into an eloquent…
QUESTION: Hi Roger! The question I have is about boundaries. Over the years I’ve had a few friends at various times who were extremely needy. Whether Christian or still unbelievers,…
Dear Roger, I recently read in “People Magazine” about the high school principal in North Point, Florida, George Kinney, who hypnotized more than 70 students during his tenure as…
What if someone, especially someone you love, disappoints you with bad behavior? There are times when we the best of our logic fails to understand the worst of other’s behaviors. …
It’s great to do life with fellow brothers and sisters of the faith, but every once in awhile I get a thought about a different way of doing church. I…
Have you ever been in a volatile relationship? The word “volatile” means “liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse.” You may be sitting next to a terrorist:…
Children need us to be strong and confident in the Lord. We cannot impart what we don’t possess. If the parents are not experiencing freedom in Christ, they will have…
Depression is one of the most common serious mental disorders, and yet it is often misunderstood, unnoticed, or even ignored. Everyone feels down sometimes, but depressed people have a persistently…
The Greek word for “royal” translates as “support of/to the people”. It’s a title of service and humility. Not how we typically think of royalty. This is then tied to…
Hearing God’s voice is essential to your walk with God. There are several basic questions you must ask yourself. Have you trusted Christ? Do you have the Holy Spirit? Have…
A pastor friend told me last week that he had church members enraged with him when he suggested from the pulpit that we ought to pray for the salvation of…
Learn to make the hand-off. Try to do for the next generation of church leaders what the previous generation of church leaders has not done for you. We need to…
Nobody can take what you already have given away. Never write anybody off but always watch your balance sheet. Real love doesn’t leak, it overflows. Don’t look for people to…
I had been wearing a promise ring for a few days that meant eventually we’d be together forever. We had dated on and off for five and a half years.…
I fully agree (and have often said from the pulpit) that the kingdom of God does not depend on elections and will not be ushered in by politicians, I believe…
Keys to a genuine love relationship requires that we speak the truth in love and authentic humility, talk directly to the person rather than about the person and do so…
Paul gives us a picture of loving restoration in Galatians 6:1-10. We must restore people who have fallen into sin by gently counseling them and bearing their burdens. As a…
When we see and experience God’s glory, we receive grace. Our task is to help people to see Him. Beholding the glory of God (according to 2 Corinthians 3:18) is…
Unsafe people can sabotage relationships by dishonesty, selfishness, control, condemnation, codependence, betrayal and secrecy. Learn how to discern the relationships in your life that are healthy and productive.
It’s important to let the right people into our personal lives. Some people we should let into our personal lives and others just aren’t safe because we must guard our…
Who is in the driver’s seat? Who is the master of your life? Jesus says you have a driver’s seat. It will shape your decisions and reactions in life. John…
Who is in the driver’s seat? Who is the master of your life? Jesus says you have a driver’s seat. It will shape your decisions and reactions in life. John…
As it was in the days of Christ, so it is today: There are few true worshipers. Many believers work for God, perform Christian services, follow a disciplined ritual, but…
Life sometimes hurts. We heal hurt with comfort, anger with forgiveness, guilt with confession, fear with perfect love and condemnation with God’s unconditional love and acceptance.
Drs. Roger Barrier and Steve Dowdle discuss how to identify addictive behaviors, how to do an intervention for a loved one, and how to cope with a family member who…
Wellness tools such as diet, exercise, cognitive therapy and rest are recommended for mood disorder patients. Discerning behavioral and chemical issues is emphasized. Resources are recommended.
Dr. Steven Dowdle, well-known pastor, psychologist and educator describes four personality types that are resistant to counseling and church ministry. How does a pastor handle these difficult cases?
Four personality disorders (histrionic, dependent, anti-social and borderline) receive detailed examination because they are among the most commonly encountered in church ministry. The challenge posed by these difficult personalities force…
Symptoms for basic mood disorders such as mania, depression and bipolar disorder are discussed. The critical nature of diagnosis and treatment is emphasized. Support teams consist of a psychologist, a…
Every pastor needs safe people in his congregation to listen, love and support him. Ralph Tacker, father-in-law of Roger Barrier, chats about the pastors he has loved and the ways…
Wisdom is the ability to see and live with rare godly objectivity. Engage God’s wisdom through prayer and scripture. We can live wisely by seeking advice from godly people, by…
Our Heavenly Father suffers pain for His children who have been abused. God’s intention for relationships is for the parent to support the child and the strong to protect the…