Chronics Overload
When the needy get too needy.
Dan Schaeffer
October 1, 2007
A fter counseling troubled marriages eight to ten hours a week for three months, I was reaching a point of emotional and physical exhaustion. My counseling load was not too heavy until I preached a sermon series on marriage. All these marriages needed the touch of the pastor's wisdom and then all would be well again. I didn't anticipate adding multiple counseling sessions to my schedule, or the additional time necessary to prepare for each session. And I was already being taxed by my other pastoral responsibilities. What scared me the most was the effect this was having on me. Just the sight of my counselees at church made my heart beat faster. I went out of my way to avoid them. Impromptu conversations inevitably turned into spontaneous counseling sessions. Ministry was becoming a grind, a leeching of my strength and passion. I remember thinking this just wasn't what I had signed up for. There were days I seriously contemplated quitting. By the time the wave of marriage troubles subsided, I was being approached for all manner of counseling. I had never had such a heavy load. But I was a shepherd, not a professional counselor, and I simply had to balance my pastoral counseling with my pastoral calling. One Part Pastor
Over the next few years, I developed principles that enabled me to begin to bring my counseling load undercontrol. It began with Tina. I had been counseling with Tina about her depression for a number of weeks. When she came through the greeting line after the service, I noticed her looking dull and listless. "How are you?" I asked gently. Big mistake! She began sobbing uncontrollably. Taken aback, I excused myself from the line and led her and her husband to a place where we could talk. Within a few minutes ...
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