Mental Health and Meaningful Suffering

In this inaugural talk of this year's Martyrs Speaker Series, parishioner Noelle Heffley shares her experience as a counselor as well as insights from both theology and psychology. After sharing some startling statistics on the current state of mental health in the US, Noelle discusses what counseling can offer and how the example of Saints with mental illnesses can help remove the stigma and shame that often accompany those who suffer from depression, addiction, anxiety, schizophrenia and other forms of mental illness. In the final part of her talk, Noelle dives into theology to help us begin to approach the mystery of suffering in God's loving plan of salvation. 

 

Noelle received her bachelors degree in psychology and theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville and her masters degree in clinical psychology from The Institute for the Psychological Sciences. She is currently working as a counselor with Sacred Ground Psychotherapy.