Is Mental Health Healing Possible? | An Interview with Steven Shields

Steven W. Shields, ACMHC, CETII, CECII is a therapist, podcast
host, speaker, executive coach, husband, and father who is adamant
that true healing is possible and can happen now for everyone. He
founded [ACCEPTED] to help clients struggling with addiction,
trauma, depression, and anxiety. Through one-on-one1 therapy,
groups, intensives, and workshops, clients experience healing.
Steven founded Unashamed Unafraid because he believes everyone’s
story matters and each individual can be a beacon of hope.
Unashamed Unafraid is a non-profit (501.3c) that shares recovery
stories of hope, offers scholarships for resources, and creates
community for those in recovery for sexual addictions and their
families. He also serves on the executive team for Warrior Heart
Ministries, a non-profit (501.3c) that runs spiritual retreats
nationally to help men restore their hearts and connect with God.
Steven knows you can truly be healed and move forward because he's
experienced it. While living the picture-perfect life with his
beautiful family and serving in church leadership, he had a secret
dual life battling with pornography and sexual addiction. Coming
forward and confronting his shame was a journey that changed his
heart, his profession, and his life. Links The Therapy Buffet:
Helping Individuals Heal Through Therapy Warrior Heart Unashamed
Unafraid [ACCEPTED] NF: Happy There is already a discussion started
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the transcript of this podcast Get 14-day access to the Core Leader
Library Highlights 01:45 Introduction. Can mental illness be
healed? 04:40 I’m not just a therapist but a guide. 06:10 What
Steve is seeing most in his office. What are people dealing with
the most? 13:00. When did we quit believing people can be healed?
Why do we not believe that mental illness cannot be healed? People
are led to believe that they just need to manage their mental
health and it’s just something they will always struggle with.
20:20 Steve shares an experience he had working with a burned out
therapist. You can’t give something that you don’t have. 26:00 As
leaders we have to do things in the spirit of healing and love. We
have to get back to what makes us feel alive and with the Spirit of
God. You have to do your own work so you have something to give.
28:00 The weight that the bishop has to hold. Just to hold all the
weight of everyone else's trauma you need God’s help and His
healing. None of us are just all good. 29:30 We have example after
example in the scriptures of mental health problems and the
healing. Do we not believe that anymore? We don’t believe that we
can be healed? It’s true that some things we have to endure but
most things can be healed. 36:45 Therapy doesn’t heal you.
Medication doesn’t heal you. The bishop, yoga class, friend, or a
12-step meeting don’t heal you. God does. He heals you through His
son. 38:30 The bishop doesn’t have to know everything and be
everything for everyone in the ward. The bishop can refer members
to other leaders in the ward to support them and refer them to
programs. The bishop is there to share resources and find the
appropriate help. 46:30 It’s mind-blowing that we look for answers
everywhere except for Christ. We look for problem solving
everywhere except Christ. 47:30 How does a bishop help people find
good therapy that actually leads them toward healing? There are two
things that the bishop needs to do. Let people know that Christ can
heal your addiction, marriage, etc. Show empathy and provide
resources. If one therapist doesn’t work then try another. If one
book doesn’t help then try another. 1:01:10 As a leader, the weight
of everyone’s problems and unwillingness to do things is not your
problem. Give it God and be yoked with Him. If people don’t want to
do ministering then give it to God. It’s His church and He will
deal with it. 1:04:50 Steve’s top secret tips for therapists.