New Hope CE Exam Key, July 2003
William Gaultiere, Ph.D.
Director of New Hope & Psychologist with ChristianSoulCare.com
(714) 971-4213, DrBill@CrystalCathedral.org

Here's an inspiring example of what the Spirit-Directed approach to New Hope Counseling can look like.  This conversation is from an actual transcript of a New Hope Online chat with no editing except the elimination of some portions of the conversation to shorten it.  Hats off to Jean Coombs who did a wonderful job of caring for this woman in a way that saved her life and her soul.

Chatter: feeling desperately suicidal

Counselor: Welcome to New Hope. Tell me about it.

Chatter: just feel like nothing matters anymore

Counselor: you are feeling overwhelmed this morning

Chatter: yes, I can't go through life anymore, it's too much for me.

Counselor: are you seriously thinking of killing yourself?

Chatter: yes

Counselor: do you have a plan?

Chatter: I have one, but I am scared to do it

Counselor: what is your plan?

Chatter: to hang myself

Counselor: what would be the advantage to yourself of doing this?

Chatter: I will kill the pain I am going through now.  My life of misery. I hate life!!!!!!!!!!

Counselor: What is happening that has brought you to this place of desperation?

Chatter: I have suffered from bipolar disorder all my life. Nothing has helped me so far. I am 25 years old with a good job, but my emotional disorder is causing me much grief, and I may be losing my job because of it. I am academically gifted, but emotionally unstable, and I can't go through life like this anymore. And I don't know what to do.

Counselor: so you have had years of suffering without help and you are feeling tired of the struggle.  Have you been on medications and had them monitored?

Chatter: yes, it does not help me!!!!!.  I just need to get rid of the pain I am feeling right now. I don't know how else to get rid of it except by killing myself.

Counselor: You are suffering and wanting out of it and that is understandable. What would be the advantages of continuing to keep living?

Chatter: I don't know.

Counselor: You have told me you are gifted with a good job but the bipolar disorder is giving you such trouble you are desperate. Has anything helped you in the past when you have felt such pain?

Chatter: yes, talking to someone until the pain subsides/crying until i ended up throwing up and then was too exhausted to kill myself, then fell off to sleep and awoke in the morning.

Counselor: then talk with me. Tell me about your life. Do you have a family? Friends? A faith?

Chatter: I am far away from family. I have no friends. I don't have a faith as yet.

Counselor: you are all alone in your pain and that makes it harder. I cannot get your family to you nor find you friends, but I could help you find a faith in a God who would be your friend and hold your hand as you walk through the anguish

Chatter: if He can do that for me, then tell me.

Counselor: God knows and understands you more than any family member or therapist. He sent Jesus to die for you and pay for all that you have ever done or ever will do that is wrong. All you need to do is tell Him exactly how you feel and that you want Him to come into your life and take over. He will.

Chatter: I'm scared.

Counselor: You can tell God you are scared. God isn't "religious."  God loves you exactly as you are and longs to be your best friend that you can tell everything to

Chatter: I don't know God, how will He take over my life?

Counselor: I don't know because I don't know you, but God knows you. He can lead you to find a friend or the right therapist. He can give you the desire to choose life instead of death.

Counselor: Do you have a Bible? If you do you could look into the middle of it in the Psalms and find words to express your longings and your fears and your hopes.

Chatter: Yes, I have a bible. I've read it in and out, and could not understand why God would want me to suffer like this despite my crying out. I've turned to so many Gods.

Counselor: In the Bible there are others who have cried out to God with some of the same questions you have. I don't think God does want you to suffer...He wants to give you life.

Chatter: Then why do I suffer so. If God loved me, he would not let me suffer so.

Counselor: I don't know the answer to that. Suffering is a great mystery and nobody has the answer. But in the middle of your pain God can be with you. Having somebody with you in your anguish is the beginning of hope.

Chatter: I wish for God to take away my pain.

Counselor: I can't promise that He will take away your pain but I can promise He will be WITH you comforting you in the pain if you will allow Him to.

Chatter: I need to go, I've been crying and feel like throwing up now.

Counselor: Promise me you will not kill yourself today and that when you feel this way again you will come to New Hope Online and talk or telephone 1 -714 -NEWHOPE....?

Chatter: I wish you could be here to hold my hand or give me a hug.

Counselor: I am sending you a virtual hug....a big fat one..... I am hugging you through the computer.... a bit weird but try to feel it

Counselor: I want you to know that God loves you very, very much and wants to hold you in His arms as a mother and rock you and comfort you and tell you that you are very beloved.

Chatter: Thank you for your help. You have been very good to me. I wish you could be here with me right now, but you have been so good to me. Thank you.

Chatter: Are you still there?

Counselor: yes.  I am praying for you...asking God to breathe life into you through our words together.... I am not capable of taking away your pain but I pray that God will comfort you and hold your hand in your situation

Chatter: Thank you for your prayer.

Counselor: you're welcome

Chatter: I felt something touch me!!!!!!!! Is that God's healing hand???!!!!!

Counselor: I don't know but I do know He loves you.

Chatter: I feel like something has touched and soothed me inside, like a sense of calmness covering my body!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Counselor: Oh praise God. He does really care very much for you and He is rocking you like a mother rocks and soothes her child

Chatter: I've never felt soothed like this before in my entire life!!!! What is happening to me? I feel so warm and calm at the same time.

Counselor: just enjoy it....accept the peace that God gives and bathe in it

Counselor: I'd like to offer you Dr. Schuller's Benediction as blessing for you:
And may the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
And may God grant unto you His peace 26
in your going out and in your coming in,
in your lying down and in your rising up,
in your labor and in your leisure,
in your laughter and in your tears,
until you come to stand before Jesus
in that day in which there is no sunset and no dawning.
Amen.

Chatter: THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Counselor: you're welcome. I am leaving you now in loving hands.

Chatter: I will now take my leave, don't feel like killing myself anymore. God has a plan for me and He saved me tonight. Bye.

Counselor: praise God. Bye