Pastoral Counseling / Consejeros Pastorales
"We are each of us Angels with only one wing and we can only fly by embracing one another." -- Luciano de Crescenzo
Lumen Christi Counseling Center
Offers Saint Anthony of Padua Parish professional counseling services for individuals, couples and families in English and Spanish. The Counseling Center is located in the Parish Center of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church at 3305 Glen Carlyn Road in Falls Church, which is on the intersection of Leesburg Pike and Glen Carlyn Road between Bailey's Crossroads and Seven Corners. Please call 703-820-5874 or 703-820-7111 ext. 120 for an appointment.
The counseling is done in a pastoral context. Pastoral Counseling maintains openness to the importance of the spiritual dimension in healing. People who come to the center are encouraged by the therapist to investigate the psychological as well as the spiritual aspects of their lives as they seek a deeper understanding of themselves.
During the initial visit you will have the opportunity to decide whether you feel you can work well with the therapist. During this session the fee as well as the methods of payment will be discussed. Family size and income are factors considered in determiningthe amount of the fee. No parishioner or parish family is refused services because of inability to pay. All sessions are confidential except in the event of danger to self or others, as required by law.
Pastoral Counseling Helps Individuals, Couples, and Families
To ensure the most appropriate and effective treatment, the therapist uses psychiatric consultations when deemed necessary. Referrals are made to a psychiastrist if medication is indicated.
Individuals
The Pastoral Counseling program seeks to provide sound emotional help to individuals seeking growth and change in their lives when they are experiencing:
- Stress or anxiety
- Sadness or depression
- Loss of a loved one
- Loneliness
- Low self-esteem
- Fear of intimacy or trust
- Difficulty in relationships
- Communication problems
- Scrupulosity
- Pregnancy and abortion concerns
- Mid-life crisis
- Chronic or serious illness
- Career and vocational uncertainties
- A desire for personal growth
Couple and Families
The Pastoral Counseling program can help couples and families to develop skills for coping with:
- Lack of satisfaction in relationships
- Parenting concerns
- Communication difficulties
- Ineffective problem solving
- Dysfunctional interactions
- Generational and cultural differences
- Grief and loss
- Domestic Violence
- Individual Psychotherapy
- Marriage and Couples Counseling
- Pre-Marital Counseling
- Family Counseling
- Geriatric Counseling
- Post-Abortion Counseling
- Grief and Bereavement Counseling
Tenemos servicios de consejeros profesional para individuos, parejas, y familias en Español y en Inglés. El Centre se llama "Lumen Christi." Traducido de la lengua Romana, el nombre significa Luz de Cristo-brillando en la oscuridad para ayudarnos a hallar el camino, cuando tenemos dolor y pena, ansiedad y depresión-hacia la sanación esriritual y emocional. Más informacion está en folleto accesible a la entrada del iglesia (per ei teléfono a 703-820-5874 ó 703-820-7111 ext. 120).
Contact
Mari Elizabeth Suarez, Ph.D.
703-820-5874 or 703-820-7111 ext. 120
Dr. Suarez offers counseling in Spanish and English. She received her Doctorate in Social Psychology from Catholic University. Dr. Suarez has over 30 years of experience inhelping families, couples and individuals. Before coming to Lumen Christi she worked for Fairfax, Arlington and Loudon counties reuniting families and helping them to develop effective communication skills. Dr. Suarez specializes in bereavement counseling and problems and bicultural issues resulting from living in two cultures.
Other Programs
Also Al-Anon, and AA Programs are sponsored on a regular schedule.
Tambien, tenemos programas regulares para personas afectadas por alcoholismo.