Counseling Intensives with Stuart Coleman, M.A.

Stuart Coleman uses an Intensive Counseling Model to assist in the healing process for trauma and the wounded heart.

What is meant by an intensive counseling model?

An intensive counseling model is a faith-based, Christ-centered short-term counseling approach that primarily focuses on helping a person resolve key root issues such as unresolved personal spiritual conflicts and wounded heart issues that have contributed to adverse mental health symptoms.

What does Stuart mean by “spiritual conflicts”?

Spiritual conflicts are core habits or practices which, if repeated long enough (explicit memory) can result in the formation of unhealthy neuropathways (implicit memory).  These spiritual conflicts include but are not limited to deception, bitterness, unforgiveness, pride, rebellion, and generational patterns we may begin to emulate.  Such habits of the heart can contribute to the development and maintenance of a divided heart that seeks to protect itself rather than trusting God and others to meet one’s core need for community and companionship.  These unresolved spiritual conflicts can also foster the development of rigid defense mechanisms such as indiscriminate anger, avoidance, denial, hopelessness, minimization, addiction, compartmentalization, or victimization, to name a few.  All such attempts to control our pain distance us from the source of our healing and are thus disintegrative internally and interpersonally.   

What does Stuart mean by a “wounded heart”? 

The term “wounded heart” refers to the state of a heart that is unable to heal adequately due to, among other things, “foreign objects being lodged in the heart,” such as irrational and inaccurate thoughts and beliefs and unhealthy inner resolves or vows. A heart that is free of such “foreign objects” can naturally heal. Truth (seeing the situation from “Heaven’s Eyes”) can also contribute to “inner healing”.  Jesus said it this way, “The truth will set you free.”   

How are wounded heart issues resolved?

When a trauma occurs, such as sexual, physical, or emotional abuse, or a person experiences painful guilt, shame, or a sense of overwhelming loss, a person can be sufficiently distracted and become inordinately vulnerable to embracing unhealthy meaning-making, that once embraced, can hinder the heart from naturally healing.  As such, faulty conclusions regarding what one has suffered can serve like thorns in the heart, causing spiritual “inflammation” to the heart that can keep the heart from healing properly.  On the other hand, a healthy framing of one’s suffering can act like “good medicine” and promote the healing of the heart. Thus, the process of healing the wounded heart can include both the identification of lies that may have been embraced by the heart and the replacing of those lies with truth.  Many find that inviting God into this process can significantly speed up the process of discovery and resolution.

What does an intensive look like?  What is the goal of the intensive model?

Counseling Intensives are a series of 5-hour meetings (with a lunch break) for three consecutive weeks.  Stuart currently offers intensives on Fridays and on Saturdays. The intensive is a structured, short-term (15 hour), focused counseling experience which includes addressing root issues (spiritual conflicts and wounded heart issues) that may be affecting the client’s moods, thoughts, and behavior. The intensive process includes addressing unhelpful core beliefs and internal vows that a client may have adopted during traumatic experiences that may have subsequently served to undermine the client’s ability to vitally relate with self, others, and God.  Unaddressed, these deeply embedded root issues can prevent the heart from naturally healing and result in defenses being built that make it difficult, if not impossible, to progress without adequate resolution, much like a virus in the operating system of a computer.

Can Couples participate in an intensive experience together?

Yes. Core beliefs and wounded heart issues are explored for both. This leads to increased empathy for each other as relationship issues are healed. Typically, Couple intensives require four intensive sessions (20 hours).

What are the advantages of an intensive model in comparison to regular weekly sessions? 

The 15-hour (20 hours for couples) intensive model can be helpful for persons who are prevented from attending weekly sessions due to employment or family constraints, or who desire a discreet setting, away from their place of residence so that their receiving counseling potentially remains private. Persons may also be referred by their regular therapist if they and their therapist sense they are stuck and are finding it difficult to gain adequate traction and suspect that they could benefit from a short-term intervention before resuming their work with their regular counselor.  

Can I continue to see Stuart for more than the 15 hours included in the intensive?

Since the intensive model is a short-term counseling model and is not designed for a long-term counseling relationship, it is highly recommended that you consider establishing a relationship with a local counselor or other skilled helping professional before, or upon completion of the intensive. The Intensive Counseling Model is not a substitute for weekly counseling sessions with a licensed counselor, if warranted.   However, it can be a wonderful supplement and, in some cases, may be reparative to the extent that a person does not sense a need for further counselling. 

What if upon completing an intensive, I later have new issues surface or sense the need for an additional intensive?

For many, healing is like “peeling the layers of an onion”.  Though it is less typical, persons are free to request follow-up intensives.  However, it may require being placed on a wait list prior to being seen by Stuart for an additional intensive.  This underlines the importance of having a local therapist or skilled helper and a meaningful support system in place. For some, joining a WhySayItNow© group can provide that added layer of support (click here to learn more about this group).

What is the cost of an intensive?

For each of the three five-hour intensives, the charge is $700.00, payable at the beginning of the day (at a rate of $140.00 per hour).  This means that the entire 15-hour intensive would cost $2,100.00.  For couples, the cost for the 20-hour intensive would be $2,800.00.