Healing and Peace

05/07/2026

For those who can't make this Novena to the Sacred Heart, perhaps you can do one of your own.

See https://www.usccb.org/prayers/litany-sacred-heart-jesus .

05/06/2026

“The measure of our love to God is to love immeasurably” (St. Bernard of Clairvaux).

Because God has selflessly given Himself regardless of how we have treated Him, because He is Love, and because His love endures forever, it is right to say that His love for us is immeasurable.

It is, then, only fitting for us to love Him immeasurably in return.

Likewise, when a married couple’s practice of loving God in this way grows into the ability to love one another without closely watching for fairness, the marriage can thrive.

https://healingandpeace.com/

Catholic therapist Serving Oceanside, Camp Pendleton, Carlsbad, Encino, Vista, Fallbrook, Bonsall, Escondido, San Marcos, Poway, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Bernardo, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Capistrano Beach, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Rancho...

05/05/2026

“Nothing is more precious than peace, by which all war, both in heaven and on earth, is brought to an end” (St. Ignatius of Antioch).

Peace in relationships most readily results from a unity of faith despite our differences, that is, from regularly assembling at Mass, where we pray together with one voice.

The powers of Satan are destroyed by exactly this: by our coming together to give praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, the Prince of Peace.

If Catholics who are in conflict frequently attend and participate in Mass together, and their conflict still escalates, then they can rest assured that any efforts they put forth to restore peace through couples, family, or relational therapy will be amplified by the power of God’s grace, directly as a result of our communal prayer at Mass.

05/04/2026

The results of this study suggest that distracted minds contribute to poor lifestyle choices. Not much of a surprise, but it is good to have confirmation of what should be obvious.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/209563?seq=1

05/02/2026

So blessed to use this hymnal right here in Oceanside at St. Margaret's Catholic Church.

05/01/2026

“Christian, remember your dignity” (St. Leo the Great).

What a great honor it is to partake in the divine nature of God in a special way through the proper reception of the Eucharist.

We are the Body of Christ; this is our identity and an important source of our dignity. We are the Body of the King of the Universe, the Most Benevolent One whose generosity is unsurpassed.

Frequently remembering who we are and the special dignity granted to us through our unity with God through reception of the Eucharist inspires us to act in accordance with this dignity. It can help decrease the appeal of destructive habits and increase our draw toward what is true, good, and beautiful.

04/30/2026

“Who would not feel shame if he did not return thanks to those who are well deserving of it?” (St. Ambrose)

While shame is not a healthy response to failing to return thanks, the presence of guilt certainly suggests that one is other-focused—that is, that he cares about the wrong done to one who deserves thanks.

Unlike guilt, shame keeps us focused on ourselves and on our hurt egos. It disconnects us from our own vitality and from others.

When one feels guilt for not returning thanks to those who are well deserving of it, he is more likely to approach those who deserve his thanks, admit his guilt in a way that shows love and respect, and make things right between himself and the offended. Guilt is relational in this way. It is a necessary part of maintaining relationships.

In contrast, when one tends toward shame and pride, he is unlikely to even notice that he failed to return thanks. Such tendencies keep the focus on the self—on how to appear acceptable to others—and in this way blind a person to the good acts of others and prevent him from appreciating them.

Tendencies toward shame and pride are usually born of past traumas. Undergoing deep healing of these traumas reduces shame and pride.

Once one is freed from most shame and pride by receiving adequate healing of underlying traumas, he gains the ability to see the good acts of others, feel gratitude, feel guilt when failing to return thanks to those who are well deserving of it, ask for and receive forgiveness for the failure, and in this way maintain good relationships.

https://healingandpeace.com/

Catholic therapist Serving Oceanside, Camp Pendleton, Carlsbad, Encino, Vista, Fallbrook, Bonsall, Escondido, San Marcos, Poway, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Bernardo, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Capistrano Beach, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Rancho...

04/28/2026

“God became man so that man might become god” (St. Athanasius).

To become one with God, as we are all called to do, is impossible without partaking in the divine nature. To become one with God does not mean that He becomes like us, but that we become like Him.

Until modern psychology realizes what is actually possible for us as human beings, it will remain worldly.

Yet a psychology that happily acknowledges the preeminent position of the proper reception of the sacraments in our endeavors to partake in the divine nature can assist in the great task of unifying the world with Christ, in us becoming ‘not of this world.’

Proper reception of Christ in the Eucharist is the primary way “that man might become god.” May we have frequent recourse to it in our attempts to soar to the heights of goodness.

04/27/2026

Michael Greger, M.D., FACLM put out this podcast on fighting depression: https://youtu.be/ucOg0EMNu3Q?si=1Yb8W1JbUZWxvc6y. It is worth a listen.

1.4K likes, 87 comments. "Podcast: Fighting Depression"

04/24/2026

Last line: "...and that's because God is super awesome." This may be my favorite quote from Jimmy Akin.

04/23/2026

“A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds” (St. Basil the Great).

Clients who come to therapy to be healed of behavioral addictions and impulsive behaviors understandably feel guilt or shame when considering that they might be known by their deeds.

One aim of therapy is to accompany these clients as they face their healthy feelings of guilt, and another is to reduce their toxic shame. Like all of us, these clients were created in the image and likeness of God, which is the basis of their dignity and worth.

However, most of us will simply feel like frauds as Christians until we cease regularly engaging in gravely evil acts.

When clients with unwanted behaviors undergo deep personal and relational healing through good Catholic therapy, they can grow in virtue and be glad to be known by their deeds.

04/22/2026

“Grace does not destroy nature but perfects it” (St. Thomas Aquinas).

A Catholic therapist heals on the natural level while the grace of the sacraments perfects that healing.

https://healingandpeace.com/

Catholic therapist Serving Oceanside, Camp Pendleton, Carlsbad, Encino, Vista, Fallbrook, Bonsall, Escondido, San Marcos, Poway, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Bernardo, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Capistrano Beach, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Rancho...