Christians often hear, “You’re a child of the King!” or “You’re more than a conqueror!” or “You’re the head, not the tail!” or “You have the victory!” or “You’re a new creation!” 

What about Christians who struggle with anxiety, addictions, depression, poor self-worth, perfectionism, shame, and more?

Do those Christians feel like a victorious conqueror?

I doubt it. More than likely, what they feel is – “I’m a mess.”

Is that you?

Maybe you’re trapped in sin?

But you don’t want anybody at church to know, right?

Maybe you’re wondering if there’s something really wrong with you because it seems like everybody else is happy and “victorious.”

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

There’s a lot of Christians suffering from the same issues as you, and – they keep it hidden.

Why do Christians keep their problems hidden?

Christians keep their problems hidden because they’re ashamed. They’re ashamed because they’re afraid if somebody finds out about their problems, they’ll be rejected by a pastor, church leader, husband, wife, friend, or other Christians.

Why do Christians believe they’ll be rejected because of their problems?

Many Christians believe that as a Christian – you’re not supposed to have problems like – anxiety, depression, anger, shame, addictions, poor self-worth, perfectionism, or troubled relationships – but they do.

Why do Christians believe they’re not supposed to suffer from anxiety, depression, anger, shame, addictions, poor self-worth, perfectionism, or troubled relationships?

Christians believe they’re not supposed to have those problems because a preacher, pastor, teacher, elder, brother, or sister convinced them – if you’re living as a Christian should, you will not have those problems.

And here comes that inner voice…

“Am I really a Christian?”

“Am I a good Christian?”

“Is God mad at me?”

“What do I do?”

Okay, so how do I know these things about Christians?

I know these things because I was a pastor for many years, and every day, I worked to help people like you.

But my problem was a pastor has to wear many hats and do many things, and I just wanted to help God’s people get well.

That’s why I switched from being a traditional pastor to a Christian counselor and coach.

Hi, I’m Don Mondell, and I help Christians who suffer from anxiety, depression, anger, shame, addictions, poor self-worth, perfectionism, broken relationships, and more, usually as a result of unresolved childhood trauma & abuse.

I want you to know that I can help you, not just because I’ve been a pastor but because I’m also board-certified by the International Board of Christian Care, the Board of Christian Life Coaching, the American Association of Christian Counselors, and the International Christian Coaching Association.

I also have 35 years of experience helping broken Christians become healed and whole, and – I’m optimistic I can help you, too.

Also, I understand that the source of your problems is not always your fault.

As a child, you may have experienced physical, sexual, or verbal abuse.

You may have grown up in a home where mom or dad or both were an alcoholic or drug addict.

You may have been raised in a harsh military home or suffered the divorce of parents you loved.

All of those conditions can create the same type of trauma in a child that can predispose them to future problems.

What most Christians seldom realize is that those traumatic things that happened to them as a child can still affect them today –  even after they’ve become a Christian.

However, sometimes, well-intentioned pastors, teachers, preachers, and other church leaders may make you feel less of a good Christian because you have a particular problem. Then, you get the sense that your problem is because…

You don’t have enough faith.

You don’t pray enough.

You don’t love the Lord enough.

Maybe, you’re not really a Christian!

It’s no mystery, then, why Christians would hide their problems.

It gets worse because, week after week, you go to church, smile and sing, and do all the Christian stuff, and then you go home and fall back into your same secret problems and – loneliness.

Then, maybe, you get the nerve to tell a church leader your problem, and the leader, who’s well-intentioned but uneducated in these issues, gives you advice that doesn’t work. Then, you end up thinking…

“Well, they’re the expert, so I must be bad because it didn’t work for me.”

So, with these problems, how can you find peace? How can you feel safe and accepted and a part of the church?

How can you get the help you need without feeling judged or rejected?

I understand how you feel. That’s why, for over three decades, I’ve specialized in helping Christians who suffered trauma as a child and now, as adults, struggle with anxiety, depression, anger, shame, addictions, poor self-worth, perfectionism, or broken relationships.

I can help you, too, for free with SoulSTEPS.