Adam’s Substack Introduction

Hello everyone, and welcome! My name is Adam Cross, and I’m so glad you’re here. For those of you who don’t know me yet, I’ve been working in the field of psychotherapy for the past ten years. Over that time, I’ve woven my Catholic faith into my therapeutic practice, and it’s truly become a passion of mine. Out of that passion was born The Catholic Therapy Center, my group practice that I’m excited to share more about here as well.

Much of what I’ll be sharing here has been inspired by countless retreat experiences—those sacred pauses that reawaken our hearts to God’s presence and remind us of who we truly are. Just as retreats invite us to step away from the noise to encounter the Lord, this space is meant to be a kind of ongoing retreat for the soul: a place to breathe, reflect, and rediscover hope.

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The Intersection of Faith and Therapy

I hold a Master’s in Theology and another in Clinical Psychology—which basically means I love exploring and nerd-ing out about where faith and therapy meet. As St. Augustine once said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” That truth beautifully captures how our deepest healing comes through communion with God.

After a decade in the field, it’s hard for me to imagine doing therapy without relying on the hope and healing that faith promises. In the midst of suffering, faith reminds us that we are not alone and that every wound can become a place where God’s grace breaks through.

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The Heavens Were Opened

A foundational Scripture that has shaped both my life and my practice is Matthew 3:17:

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

At Jesus’ baptism, the heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father proclaims His delight. This verse has become a cornerstone for me, reminding us of our identity as beloved sons and daughters of God.

When I was in college, I struggled deeply with anxiety and insecurity rooted in a performance-based mindset. Although I’d probably heard this verse a thousand times growing up Catholic, encountering it personally in my twenties changed everything. I began to realize that I didn’t have to earn goodness or holiness—I already belonged to the Father who delighted in me.

A powerful reminder is that while Scripture tells us the heavens opened at Jesus’ baptism, it never says they closed again. That means the Father’s love and the Spirit’s presence remain open and available to us—here and now—each day of our lives.

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Embracing Our True Identity

Understanding that our worth is rooted in God’s love frees us from performance-based anxiety. As St. Thérèse of Lisieux said,

“Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them.”

This gentle truth reminds us that our value doesn’t come from our success or perfection, but from being loved by the Lord. When we rest in that love, we begin to live not out of fear or striving, but with confidence and peace in God’s grace.

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Prayer on the Brain

I love integrating healing prayer into therapy while also utilizing evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, EMDR, and Attachment Theory. It’s amazing to see how God works through both spiritual and psychological tools.

St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body teaches that our bodies reveal God’s design and dignity—and that they are essential to our healing. True wholeness is a collaboration between faith and psychology, integrating body, mind, and soul in the work of restoration.

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The Trinity and the Healing of the Person

St. Augustine once wrote about the Trinitarian image within the human soul—memory, understanding, and will—as reflections of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I often think of this analogy when considering the integration of the human person in therapy. Our memory holds our story, our understanding helps us make sense of it, and our will chooses how we respond. Healing involves allowing God to dwell within all three, restoring harmony between them.

In that sense, therapy—especially when rooted in faith—isn’t just about managing symptoms. It’s about reuniting the divided parts of ourselves into communion with the God who is perfect relationship.

Any time we seek to better know and love ourselves as God knows and loves, we are directly reflecting the Trinitarian life, which is love. Any pursuit we have of mental health and holiness means that we are mirroring God as love and relationship itself.

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A Truly Catholic Lens

Ultimately, I love working with anyone who desires healing and wholeness, but I have a special heart for those seeking a truly Catholic foundation. As St. Thomas Aquinas wrote,

“Grace does not destroy nature but perfects it.”

Our faith and therapeutic work go hand in hand, helping us heal and grow into the fullness of who God created us to be. As we explore our emotions, thoughts, experiences, wounds, and joys, we encounter the living God who made us in His image and who continually draws us closer to His heart.

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Feel free to explore more of my writings at catholictherapycenter.com, and I’m excited to journey together here on Substack.

https://catholictherapist.substack.com/p/when-faith-walks-into-therapy