Counseling Resources

Links to other sites are provided on this site. These sites are provided for informational purposes only and are not necessarily sponsored by the parish or church organization.

If you would like to speak to someone to help you find a professional therapist or counselor, feel free to contact members of our parish staff including:
Father Jeremy Miller – jmiller@ccup.org

PsychologyToday.com: A website that provides more information about many different mental health issues, as well as search tools that allow you to connect with a local therapist or counselor.

Local Resources

The Recovery Village has a list of Toledo Drug & Alcohol Rehab, Detox & Treatment Resources on its website. Resources include locations of local Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and SMART Recovery meetings, as well as phone numbers for The Recovery Village, alcohol abuse, drug abuse and poison control center hotlines, or you may click here for more information.

Questions?

We’ve summarized a number of mental health issues and addictions below for your reference, as well as resources for help in any of these areas.

Anxiety

Depression

Eating Disorders

Substance Abuse

Same-Sex Attraction

Hope after Abortion

Unplanned Pregnancy

Pornography Addiction

Anxiety

Definition: Anxiety refers to intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).

Common Symptoms:

  • Feeling nervous
  • Feeling powerless
  • Sense of impending danger, panic or doom
  • Increased heart rate
  • Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
  • Sweating
  • Trembling
  • Feeling weak or tired
  • Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry

Types of Anxiety Disorders:

  • Social Anxiety Disorder
  • Specific Phobias
  • Panic Disorders
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Depression

Definition: Depression is a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest.

Risk Factors:

  • Family history of depression
  • Traumatic experience in early childhood
  • Stress
  • Alcohol or tobacco use
  • Physical Illness

Common Symptoms:

  • Feelings of sadness, emptiness, and unhappiness
  • Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration over small matters
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
  • Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
  • Tiredness and lack of energy, so that even small tasks take extra effort
  • Changes in appetite — often reduced appetite and weight loss, but increased cravings for food and weight gain in some people
  • Anxiety, agitation or restlessness — for example, excessive worrying, pacing, hand-wringing or an inability to sit still
  • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself for things that are not your responsibility
  • Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
  • Frequent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
  • Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

Eating Disorders

Definition: Eating disorders refer to a group of conditions in which the individual is so preoccupied with food and eating habits that they can focus on little else. Eating disorders can affect both males and females.

Types of Eating Disorders and Symptoms:

  • Anorexia Nervosa
    • Refusal to eat and denial of hunger
    • An intense fear of gaining weight
    • A negative or distorted self-image
    • Excessive exercise
    • Fear of eating in public
    • Social withdrawal
    • Trouble sleeping
  • Bulimia Nervosa
    • Eating until the point of discomfort or pain, often with high-fat or sweet foods
    • Self-induced vomiting
    • Laxative use
    • Excessive exercise
    • An unhealthy focus on body shape and weight
    • A distorted, excessively negative body image
    • Going to the bathroom after eating or during meals
    • A feeling that you can’t control your eating behavior
  • Binge Eating Disorder
    • Eating to the point of discomfort or pain
    • Eating much more food during a binge episode than during a normal meal or snack
    • Eating faster during binge episodes
    • Feeling that your eating behavior is out of control
    • Frequently eating alone
    • Feeling depressed, disgusted or upset over the amount eaten

Substance Abuse

Definition: Drug addiction is a dependence on tobacco, alcohol or other drugs. It can cause an intense craving for the substance, potentially with physical symptoms accompanying cessation of the drug use. Casual drug use can lead to drug addiction. Drug addiction can cause serious, long-term consequences, including problems with physical and mental health, relationships, employment and the law.

Risk Factors:

  • Family history of addiction
  • Multiple stressors
  • Poor coping skills
  • Early drug or alcohol use

Common Symptoms:

  • Feeling that you have to use the drug regularly — this can be daily or even several times a day
  • Failing in your attempts to stop using the drug
  • Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug
  • Spending money on the drug, even though you can’t afford it
  • Doing things to obtain the drug that you normally wouldn’t do, such as stealing
  • Feeling that you need the drug to deal with your problems
  • Driving or doing other risky activities when you’re under the influence of the drug
  • Focusing more and more time and energy on getting and using the drug

Helpful Resources and Links:

If you or someone you know suffers with Substance Abuse, check out https://startyourrecovery.org/ for free and confidential help taking steps toward a healthier relationship with drugs and alcohol.

Same-sex Attraction

The Catholic Church offers support for Catholic men and women who experience same-sex attractions and desire to live chaste lives following the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

“As young adults who experience same-sex attractions, we do have options, even if they may seem difficult and challenging at first.

  • God Loves us: We are beloved children of God, regardless of our desires or inclinations.
  • God permits us to make choices: We are born with free will. Our emotions are good, but they must be guided by intellect and reason.
  • God is with us: And with His grace, He has promised that any hardship can be overcome, if we choose to seek Him first.

If you’ve been away from the Church, come back! Talk to the Lord; He is waiting for you!” The Church does not reject persons with same-sex attraction; all persons have a right to be welcomed into the Church community.

(Taken from “Where Do I Go From Here? A Guide for Young Adults Experiencing Same-Sex Attractions (SSA)” from Courage. The full text can be viewed here https://couragerc.org/wp-content/uploads/YABrochure2014.pdf) 

Courage exists to offer spiritual support and fellowship for men and women 18 years and older with same-sex attractions who are striving to live chaste lives.

Encourage is a support group for family members, spouses, and friends of men and women who experience same-sex attraction.

You can read about the five goals of Courage and Encourage here: https://couragerc.org/resource/5-goals-courage/

The contact for local Courage and Encourage chapters is Fr. Mike Dandurand. You can reach him at 419-644-4014 or at couragetoledo@gmail.com

Hope after Abortion

It’s normal to grieve a pregnancy loss, including the loss of a child by abortion. It can form a hole in one’s heart, a hole so deep that sometimes it seems nothing can fill the emptiness.

Since 1973, there have been more than 56 million abortions in the United States. While some women report relatively little trauma following abortion, for many, the experience is devastating, causing severe and long-lasting emotional, psychological and spiritual trauma.

Evidence of post-abortion trauma is increasingly attested to by psychologists, counselors and those involved in post-abortion ministry. We now know, for example, that women hurt by abortion may have some or many of the following symptoms:

  • Low self-esteem
  • Grief (mild to profound)
  • Depression (sometimes to the point of suicidal thoughts and attempts)
  • A sense of alienation from family and friends
  • A feeling of being ‘numb,’ not able to feel joy from activities that used to be pleasurable
  • Isolating self from others to avoid discussing the abortion experience with them
  • Guilt and shame
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Anger toward self, or the child’s father, or others involved in the abortion decision
  • Sleep disorders
  • Abortion-related nightmares, flashbacks or even sounds of a baby crying
  • Alcohol and drug problems, to dull the sorrow
  • Desire for a ‘replacement’ baby
  • Anniversary reactions of grief or depression on the date of the abortion or the baby’s expected due date
  • Problems bonding with her other children (being over-protective but emotionally distant)
  • Fear that God will punish her, or is punishing her
(Taken from Project Rachel’s website http://hopeafterabortion.com/?page_id=30)

If you or someone you know is suffering from a past abortion, check out Project Rachel Post-Abortion Healing Ministry.

Project Rachel Referral Line 1-888-456-HOPE or 419-583-6817 or email clapinski@toledodiocese.org.  To learn more about Project Rachel, please visit www.HopeAfterAbortion.org

Unplanned Pregnancy

An unplanned or “crisis” pregnancy can be a stressful and confusing experience for both men and women.  If you or someone you know finds themselves in this situation, there are multiple centers around Toledo that can offer free or reduced cost pre-natal care as well as resources for new parents.

Heartbeat of Toledo is a life-affirming organization whose mission is to be the best source of information and support to women facing pregnancies and to help moms, dads, and babies in need.

The Pregnancy Center is located conveniently close to UT’s campus and provides free pregnancy tests and free limited ultrasounds as well as abortion information. They do not provide or refer for abortion services. Your privacy is safeguarded. At the Pregnancy Center you can Get Answers. Find Hope.

Pornography Addiction

The making, viewing and purchasing of pornography is a growing problem in the United States. 70% of men (30% of all women) watch pornography (Huffington Post, 2013).  47% of Christians said pornography is a major problem in the home (Sagu.edu, 2015).

For those addicted, there may not seem to be a way out.  Due to guilt, shame, or a lack of desire to quit, those addicted to pornography hide their addiction all the while allowing it to have adverse effects on their lives and relationships.

There are many resources available to help you understand this addiction and find ways to overcome it and heal:

  • Integrity Restored is a Christian resource seeking to restore the integrity of individuals, spouses, and families that have been affected by pornography and pornography addiction.
  • Your Brain on Porn is primarily science-based and looks at pornography’s effect on the brain.
  • The Victory App provides a strategic battle plan for liberty in the struggle against pornography.
  • The Fortify Program will walk you through more than fifty short videos that cover the science of addiction, the harms of pornography, tools to help you break free, and other helpful information so that you can be empowered to overcome your struggle with pornography.
  • Fight the New Drug exists to provide individuals the opportunity to make an informed decision regarding pornography by raising awareness on its harmful effects using only science, facts, and personal accounts.
  • Beggar’s Daughter is a website and blog for Catholic women struggling with pornography addiction.

For men struggling with pornography addiction, you can join a Diocese of Toledo support group. Interested participants should contact reclaiminghearts@toledodiocese.org