The Catholic Therapist

← The Catholic Therapist27 jul · 12 min

Why Contemplation is Healing

Why Contemplation is Healing27 jul12 min

Why does slowing down feel so unsafe, even when we know it's good for us?

In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) unpacks why contemplative prayer isn't just a spiritual discipline, it's a genuine tool for psychological healing. Drawing on a recent conversation with Dr. Tim White of St. Mary's University and patterns he sees constantly in his clinical work, Adam explains why clients with anxiety, OCD, and scrupulosity often struggle most to be still, and why that stillness is exactly where healing begins.

Topics covered:

Lectio Divina and Ignatian prayer as contemplative practices

Contemplation as receiving, not analyzing

Bringing God into ordinary daily moments

Catholic contemplation versus secular mindfulness

Fr. Jacques Philippe on God's unwavering presence

Becoming childlike again as a path to healing

Slowing down isn't unproductive. It might be the very thing you need most.

Have questions? Visit my website: adamcrossmft.com Adam Cross, LMFT #116623