Author: Brandon Ferruzza, AMFT

“God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress.”

‭‭Psalm ‭46‬:‭1

I consider myself to have an introverted personality. I love people with deep compassion, but I can be shy and burn out easily if I don’t take breaks to step away to restore myself. I became a therapist and not a missionary to Calcutta because when I hear Jesus’ words to “go and make disciples of ALL nations” at the end of the Gospel of Matthew (28:19), I anxiously think, “I can’t do that, there are a lot of people out there.” 

Ok, I never seriously considered becoming a missionary, but the following and final verse of Matthew is one of my favorites: “I am with you always, until the end of the age” (28:20). How awesome and consoling is that? It is like an iconic line in a Star Wars or Marvel movie. It is also the desire of my heart: to always live with Jesus, who knows and loves me, and through the power of His love, to accompany others on their journey of healing. 

As a therapist and a Catholic follower of Christ, I want to see each client’s story and whole personhood–mind, body, heart, and soul. I personally have gone to therapy with a Catholic therapist, and I have found great healing in being understood as a whole person and allowing God to enter into my wounds to bring light into the darkness. My approach to integrating faith in a sensitive and client-centered way is to first listen to my clients share with me their journey and their relationship with God, faith, and the Church. I then follow my client’s lead in considering the importance of including God and faith in the therapeutic process and to what degree (e.g., simply understanding my client’s faith-related values, or utilizing prayer and Scripture in the therapy process as sources of healing). 

I may be a vessel for healing, but I believe that we are created beings who come undone without our Creator and True Healer. Imagine a mother and a father who love their newborn baby: they hold the baby in their arms, they rock the baby back and forth, they feed the baby from the bottle, they sing lullabies and whisper in the baby’s ear how much they love them, they lay the baby in a comfy crib while they stand and watch with amazement in their eyes and joyful smiles on their faces, and they leave a nightlight on before leaving the room. Many people do not have as fond a memory of their relationship with their parents, but God did not make us to be alone or unloved. God is our ultimate caregiver and safe-haven, and faith is our trust in the security of our relationship with God. Like a child, we grow our faith and heal our distrust by remembering our identity as beloved children of God and by spending time with Him because security is formed through a trusting, nourishing, and intimate connection. There are many ways to find this healing connection with God, including through prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacraments, Scripture, or fellowship with trusted friends, priests, mentors, or even a therapist. 

I want to share one of the most healing experiences I have had from my own time in therapy. When I am anxious and don’t believe in my own loveability, my therapist encouraged me to create a sacred safe space in my imagination where I am with God in His home, the Church, and He is simply hugging me and gently whispering His Word of Love for me. I return to this image often in prayer and in my daily life. I pray that all of my clients gain a similar healing experience, and it is an experience that Jesus wants for us too: “when you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father” (Matthew 6:6). 

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

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Get in touch with Brandon today!

He is passionate about bringing God’s light, love, and healing to people’s attachment wounds and places of trauma that challenge their identity as sons and daughters worthy of love. Brandon works with couples, families, and individuals (from adolescents to older adults) who are struggling with relationship difficulties, development/life transitions, anxiety, depression, shame, and grief. 

In Isaiah 43, God assures us that He chooses you and is with you through it all because He treasures and loves you. We all would thrive to let God see us and hold us in this way. 

When he is not sitting with clients, you can find him spending time with God, going on walks, and enjoying movies and shows.