Have you been in a counselling or therapy group? Have you gone for counselling or therapy? If so, you will know the nervousness and fear before opening up on some personal problem.
The problem may refer to any area of life: emotions, relationships, studies, sexuality, prayer, vocation, family matter, …
Thus, a young man or woman may be feeling troubled over nervousness to give a talk, fear of strangers, inability to make friends, not succeeding in studies, guilt and shame over masturbation or pornography, difficulties in prayer, confused about vocational decisions, anger and shame over family problems.
I know seminarians who waited for years (not days or months, but years) before seeking help with a sexual problem. A woman (lay woman or sister) may feel deeply disturbed over her experience of having been sexually abused at home, but dread talking about it. (“What will he think?” “What will they do if I reveal this?” “Will they tell others?”).
In group counselling or therapy, something else happens. Andrew opens up about a long-standing sexual problem or anger towards his father. The others are listening intently. When he finishes, Peter chips in, saying, “Thank you, Andrew, for sharing your problem. I have been struggling with the same thing for years, but was afraid of opening up.”
Fr Joe Mannath SDB
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