Orthodox Christianity & Therapy - Bishop Alexei of Alaska

Bishop Alexei (Trader) of Alaska discusses secular therapy, his work on Aaron Beck, and the Orthodox Christian spiritual path.
***This is Part One of the FULL interview released two weeks ago! (Full interview now available only to patrons.)

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His Grace Bp. Alexei (Trader), was tonsured at St. Tikhon's Monastery before relocating to Karakallou Monastery on Mt. Athos, and most recently was made OCA bishop of Sitka and Alaska. He is a seasoned monastic as well as a well-read theologian, who wrote his Th.D. at the University of Thessalonica before returning to the States.

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[ProtectingVeil]

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[asonofAbba]

I am high-church Anglo-Catholic (who rejects the Filioque). Considering becoming an EO chatechumen - conversation for another time...just wanted to reveal my place on the map.

When I was young (in a conservative Evangelical household), I was diagnosed with severe OCD. My parents gave me the choice to take meds prescribed by a psychologist or to work through CBT. I chose CBT. We worked with Christian psychologists and used CBT that was centered around the simple truths of the Gospel, but utilized CBT principles to work on my neural pathways. After years of work (including lab testing for chemical imbalances and naturopathic treatment), the Gospel-oriented CBT worked, and I completely overcame the bondage of severe OCD and depression that came with it. I believe the intervention of the Holy Spirit worked through the CBT, as well as His direct work on my heart. How much easier that journey would have been had I had access to the Sacrements at that point in time! But God cured me with CBT - just like He works alongside the surgeons knife according to His will! Sometimes He heals, sometimes He allows our suffering to continue so we continue to rely on His grace (like Paul's thorn in the flesh). For anyone out there struggling - take hope! Our Lord is strong in our weakness.

The Bishop's advice and commentary on CBT being applied as a supplement to our living Faith is 100% spot on in my experience. Thank you, Bishop, for your insight and your encouraging words!

[bradgolding]

I could listen to this very wise and humble man for hours.

[PokrovDiaries]

If one is dealing with severe mental illness, I have observed that it is important to have a spiritual father who is either experienced with this or is able to communicate with someone who is. Further, heterodox Christian counseling may muddy the waters more than transparently secular CBT. May Christ have mercy on all of us who are struggling.

[MegaVicar]

This wonderful talk reminds of two books I've read...'Our Thoughts Determine our Lives' from Elder Thaddeus, and Fr. Joshua Makoul's 'Healing Work'. Bp. Alexei comes across as a profound and humble man. We are truly best by his presence.

[OrthodoxFit]

I'm really enjoying these videos with Bishop Alexei. I am currently studying psychology, so this has given me a new perspective on the field and the practice of therapy. Thanks! 🙏

[cpucilowski]

I listened to this a second time! There is so much noise in my head, but I heard you … “to love one another” is where we find health … mental health. So very simple, thank you!

[silvypetrisor]

He came to my church yesterday, was a great day

[cpucilowski]

JUST met (listened to in church) Bishop Alexi a few days ago and now he pops up first on my YouTube feed. Thank you Your Eminence. I JUST came to terms a couple of days ago that I may have ADHD and most of my life I’ve confused it with sin. That confusion has spun me around and made me church-hop and relationship-hop. I’m learning now that I must be kind to myself, transparent with God during prayer, and constantly asking if I’ve sinned or is my brain misfiring! Thank you for this talk. I think I can be more candid with my priest now!

[Μύρων-βτ]

I am reading his book and I'm loving it.

[Orthodoxi]

Have any of the Fathers, Priests, Bishops, ever been in this man made God excluded therapy? Gone and put themselves into the hands of a therapist? For extended periods of time? For any healing? I would like to hear about what they think about man made therapy after that. How it is or is not a good idea.

[pg]

It might be a surprise to some that the concept of psychology is extremely modern. The first man to ever be called a psychologist died in 1920.

[Michael_Binkley]

Cognitive behavioral therapy is based on the computer model, which would be great if we were computers, but as Orthodox we know that we are human beings.

This model has been proved false.