A Ministry of Presence
You never know where a path will lead. How does someone move from a biology background, teaching middle and high school students, to a career as a mental health counselor? Life’s unexpected twists and turns often guide us well. What Carmen Wong learned while teaching biology at a New York public school is this: What really mattered for her students in their academic pursuits was not what transpired in the classroom, but rather the conversations that took place around the lunch table.
“We had a diverse student population with so many factors impacting their learning,” Carmen recalled. “I began to recognize that the simple act of listening mattered and maybe was the most important thing I could offer.”
Not surprisingly, Carmen began hearing God’s call to become more equipped in this arena so she followed His lead and went back to school for a mental health degree. It was there that Carmen and the other students in her program were required to participate in their own personal therapy.
“This was the real growing place for me,” Carmen explained. “It helped me deal with my own childhood trauma, family dysfunction, depression and anxieties. And it solidified why I wanted to go into counseling.”
The book Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen also spoke to her. The reminder that it is only when we heal our own wounds that we are in a position to help others helped her find her way in her counseling career and, ultimately, to Beacon.
“Counseling is a sacred space that I share with my patients,” she explained. “I always feel like it comes down to a ministry of presence. While there are clinical tools, it is the basic sense of being seen, being heard, being understood and receiving unconditional love and acceptance that gives people voice … and that is where healing begins.”
“It is also important to remember that this person in front of me is created in God’s image,” Carmen added. “I pray for God to help me see my patients as He would see them, valued as his beloved creation.”
If a patient is a Christian, Carmen may share biblical truth. If not, she prays over them in her mind. Whether silent or spoken, her faith is an integral part of her work. And her work also impacts her faith.
“During my personal time, I try to search scripture and ask God to fill me with His wisdom so that I can best serve my patients in a holistic manner,” Carmen says.
Carmen notes that her time with patients may be limited to 45 minutes or an hour, but that God takes it from there. He does His good work in helping people move through their challenges and she bears witness to the progress.
“It is a privilege to be used as a vessel for transformation and healing,” she says “and it’s a blessing to be able to explicitly incorporate my faith into my work. Even if we are not called to full-time ministry, our career is still a ministry. When we strive to meet the needs of others, we are ministering.”
Carmen added that, especially now, there is a real need for mental health counselors. The pandemic has intensified symptoms of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, domestic violence and this crisis cries out to those who are passionate about mental health and advocating for patients.
Still, Carmen says, “While our career is a ministry, it is not our identity. First and foremost, we are children of God. This removes some of the pressure. Resting in this truth allows me to do my very best and trust that God will take it from there.”
