Christian Counseling East Pasadena, CA. Find a Christian Therapist Near You.

I am a professional therapist who knows the importance of living my life according to my role model Jesus Christ. I have had my share of troubles in my life and have found that talking to someone who has valuable scriptural knowledge that I trusted and respected made a significant difference in my life. Combining my Christian Worldview with the principles of psychology provides help to those who suffer and want to be respected for their Christian beliefs, it is my desire to help you to trust God and His help in our work together.

I hold a masters degree in psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary and am committed to the integration of faith and psychology. I, however, do not provide pastoral counseling. I am committed to walking with individuals and couples in any stage of their faith journey, believers and non-believers alike, to facilitate a process of authentic self-discovery and freedom. I am interested in how your faith has informed who you are what you are wrestling with today. The whole range of human emotions, longings and desires are validated and explored in my practice in order to participate fully in the journey of healing.

Our deepest wounds are often those that are at the hands of another person. Human brokenness is the root of our need for redemption. This holds true in therapy and growth work as well. When we encounter our deep wounds, we encounter our need for our Big God. Here, we are able to reconcile the broken our hurt parts of our ourselves. Dr. Vanes been a pastor's wife for 15 years and is trained in integrated counseling with Masters degrees in Theology, Clinical Psychology, and Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Master's in Clinical Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific Universality. Jace Draper is an LMFT with an MA from Azusa Pacific.

Very often negative thinking, anxiety, depression, trauma, broken relationships and anger can get in the way of God’s plan for us to live wholly and fully. For those seeking a faith-based alternative to traditional therapy, Christian Counseling provides a safe, non-judgmental setting where you can wrestle with life challenges, while having the added support of exploring scripture and bringing it to bear on your current struggles. Whether you are seeking to discuss your faith in depth, or simply want peace of mind in knowing that your therapist “gets” your faith, I would be honored to help guide you on your journey to a fuller understanding of your challenges and how you can best meet them both as a human being and a person of God.

The presence of God in therapy can be experienced when there is a more direct and open dialogue. As we become more present to each other a sacred space is created. The "space between" where we meet each other and the possibility of the Divine presence. This healing presence has power to transform you and your circumstances. As the philosopher Martin Buber once said,"Religion is Presence."

Some persons are concerned that couples counseling or psychotherapy may challenge their faith and they want to work with someone who supports, understands and even shares the importance of faith. Dr. Brainerd also holds a Masters degree in Christian Theology along with his doctorate in Clinical Psychology and not only values faith but can also help with persons who have found that sometime in their life, religion has hurt them.

As Christians, we are called to live a life of greatness. With that, we face a multitude of social, emotional, mental and spiritual challenges. My approach to Christian Counseling is simple: "...be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." -Romans 12:2 NIV. In our work together I want to help you become all that God has made you be, in every facet of your life (family, friends, career, etc). Part of the work is seeing where God is uniquely calling you, the other part of the work is seeing what God is calling you out of (aka. understanding what is holding you back). If you're ready to renew--take the first step and reach out. I'd love to meet you and see how I can help you in your journey.

You make sense, and your story matters. I’m so glad you’re here. As your therapist, it is my goal to bring mindful awareness and empathic understanding to the unique story of your life. For over seven years I have walked alongside clients as they create peace, authenticity, and alignment with their deepest values. Together, we can uncover the enduring peace and resilience that have always been within you. You’ve likely heard the saying, “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result.” But have you ever really explored why you repeat the thing that isn’t working for you? I want you to know, there is a beautiful reason behind it, born from your incredible

A Christian Counselor is different than a counselor who is a Christian. Counselors are taught to not push their faith or value system on clients. That means that even if your Therapist is a Christian, you may not be getting Christian Counseling unless you ask for it! For those who choose to have their faith applied throughout counseling, Christian Counseling offers Bible based, spiritual solutions to emotional and relational difficulties. The faith-based therapist doesn't just quote Scripture or judge sin. The Christian counselor will ask questions, offer insight, and explore possible outcomes based on the leading of the Holy Spirit, the client's life circumstances, and proper doctrine.