Resources
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Alpha Center: alphacenter.org
Majella House: majellahouse.org
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For recommendations of counselors across Northwest Florida who can deal specifically with marital and familial issues, please contact the Office of Marriage and Family Life directly at 850-435-3553The options listed below are remote options from reputable Catholic organizations and individuals.
REMOTE OPTIONS
Kelly Mayor (LCSW) lives in Crestview. She works with clients who experience depression, anxiety/phobias, relationship/interpersonal conflict, stress from chronic illnesses, marriage counseling, faith-based struggles, and abuse/sexual assault. She also has experience treating clients with Panic Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Illness-Anxiety Disorder, Specific Phobia, Post-Partum Depression, and Major Depressive Disorder. She is a practicing Catholic, wife, and mother of four who loves providing faith-based counseling for those interested. You can reach out via her website Click Here
Robert Mayor, LMHC (Ft. Walton Beach): Besides treating trauma and PTSD, Robert has also assisted clients with family issues, life stress, depression, parenting challenges, and anxiety. He is a practicing Catholic and was part of the Catholic Student Union at FSU. He can provide faith-based counseling if requested. He is happy to work with any Christian denomination to explore spiritual challenges or concerns and can help clients create a plan for virtuous living. Click Here
Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida is partnering with Catholic Charities of Palm Beach to provide remote sessions for anyone in the state of Florida. To set up face-to-face video appointments, simply call (844) 848-6777. For more information, visit the Catholic Charities of Palm Beach website.
Catholic Counselors.com is an initiative of the Pastoral Solutions Institute founded by renowned Catholic therapist Dr. Gregory Popcak. Since its founding in 1999, The Pastoral Solutions Institute has become nationally recognized for its leadership in integrating cutting-edge counseling psychology with solid Catholic theological principles. The Pastoral Solutions Institute offers a wide variety of resources and professional services intended to help committed Catholics overcome problems like marital conflict, childrearing problems, depression, anxiety, stress, and the difficulties associated with major life transitions. Go to catholiccounselors.com/services/ to check out their various counselors.
Regina Boyd (LMHC) from the Diocese of Orlando is a faith-filled, skilled counselor who offers telehealth sessions for Catholics across Florida. You can get some preliminary information by calling (321) 345-9129 or emailing [email protected]
Amanda Perez (LMFT) in the Diocese of St. Petersburg offers individual, couples, and family telehealth sessions across Florida and for Catholic missionaries in other countries (where the marriage and family licensing board permits). Her areas of focus include anxiety, foster families/ foster children, trauma, attachment and relationship issues, marriage enrichment, couples in conflict, substance abuse, and parent-child relationships. For a free consultation, you can reach her by calling (727) 265-1147 or emailing [email protected]
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Today's technologically driven culture has made pornography accessible on a vast scale. Both men and women, the young and the old, single and married people, deal with the temptation to use pornography. In some cases, this use can become an addiction that can tear apart lives, relationships, and families. If you or a loved one are suffering through something like please consult the following resources to break free from pornography and experience true healing.
STRIVE
STRIVE is a powerful 21-Day Porn Detox that helps men understand why they go to porn and equips them with the knowledge, tools, and accountability needed to quit porn. Any man can join by simply texting "STRIVE" to 66866 to start this anonymous and life-changing journey today.
COVENANT EYES
An internet accountability service designed to help you overcome porn by monitoring your Internet activity and sending a report to a trusted friend who holds you accountable for your online choices. Useful for individuals, families, and organizations.
RECLAIM SEXUAL HEALTH
A science-based, Catholic Online Recovery Program and other resources for those who desire to reclaim God's plan for their lives and the lives of loved ones impacted by pornography or other unhealthy sexual behaviors.
INTEGRITY RESTORED
Integrity Restored is to help restore the integrity of individuals, spouses, and families that have been affected by pornography and pornography addiction. Integrity Restored provides education, training, encouragement, and resources to break free from pornography, heal relationships, and to assist parents in preventing and responding to pornography exposure, which is so devastating in the lives of our children.
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SAME-SEX ATTRACTION
The Diocesan Office of Marriage and Family seeks to provide as much support as possible to people dealing with same-sex attraction so that they may achieve the ultimate fulfillment of every human heart - an intimate relationship with God Himself through Jesus Christ (CCC 2359). We also reach out to any family members of people dealing with same-sex attraction to help understand these issues from a Catholic standpoint.
A quick summary of the Catholic teaching on same-sex attraction (SSA):-
The Church views every human person through the lens of Jesus Christ. All the baptized are adopted sons and daughters of God the Father (Ephesians 1: 3, Romans 8: 37-38).
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The Church recognizes that there are many people in the world who experience deep-seated sexual attraction to members of the same sex (CCC 2358). This attraction can be a source of suffering as it is often tied to familial difficulties, social alienation, and personal confusion.
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SSA is not a sin on its own. However, it is considered disordered as it can lead a person to gravely sinful acts. This is in keeping with the Catholic view that any attraction or inclination to any sinful act is disordered, as such feelings can lead us away from our true happiness - communion with God.
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Sexual acts between members of the same sex are gravely sinful. The Scriptures and Church doctrine speak to this fact on many occasions. These acts do not embody the fruitful, sacrificial, and total offering of self that Jesus Christ accomplished on the Cross and, therefore, are not worthy of the dignity of the human person.
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The Church calls those experiencing SSA to do the same as any other person experiencing an inclination to sin: the constant practice of prayer, frequent use of the sacraments, particularly Confession and Eucharist, and to stay very close to the Church community for support and guidance.
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The Church condemns unjust discrimination to those experiencing SSA (CCC 2358). They are to be welcomed, received, and encouraged by the Christian community to cast their burdens on the Lord and pursue the call of all the baptized - Christian perfection (CCC 2359, Matthew 5: 48).
Below is a list of resources that serve to address the issue of same-sex attraction with the compassion and mercy of Jesus in the Gospels.COURAGE AND ENCOURAGE
An international apostolate of the Catholic Church, which ministers to persons with same-sex attractions as well as family members of those dealing with SSA. For those looking for meetings in the Pensacola/Niceville/Ft. Walton Beach area of the diocese,
please email [email protected] for further informationEDEN INVITATION
An initiative organized by Catholic laity who experience same-sex attraction with the intention of fostering personal integration and promoting solidarity beyond the LGBT+ paradigm. Providing authentic community through retreats, book clubs, and encounters.
THE THIRD WAY
A film by Blackstone video which highlights Catholic teaching about same-sex attraction and following the Lord.
THE DESIRE OF THE EVERLASTING HILLS
A film giving three intimate and candid portraits of Catholics who try to navigate the waters of self-understanding, faith, and homosexuality
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