The sight of shattered glass on the floor is something most of us have probably experienced. I often think of that imagery as I counsel people who are hurting. We frequently meet individuals in the counseling room who feel fragmented. They express conflicting thoughts and feel disconnected from what they know to be true about God, reality, and even themselves. This experience is often described in the counseling world as disintegration—the unraveling of inner coherence that occurs when suffering, sin, fear, shame, trauma, or confusion overwhelms the soul.
To help shattered people heal from disintegration, we help them slow down and acknowledge what has broken them. It is then that they can begin making coherent sense of life again. For those seeking Christian counseling, we point them to a God who created us and sent His Son into the world to restore what has been broken. Sin, suffering, and life in a fallen world disrupt wholeness. Christ meets people in their confusion by rescuing them from the bondage of sin and redeeming suffering. In moments of disintegration, counseling can become sacred ground where people begin to rediscover that God is neither absent nor hostile, but near to the brokenhearted and committed to making all things whole.
Whether you or someone you know is experiencing signs of disintegration, one of the first steps is to become curious about the whole picture. If you notice yourself feeling disconnected from God, others, or what you know to be true, gently explore why this may be happening. If you hear a friend expressing these kinds of struggles, ask thoughtful questions that help bring greater clarity to the parts of the soul that need healing.
If the struggles feel significant enough to seek professional counsel, look for a counselor who will care for the whole person—body, mind, and soul.
