Counseling, Spiritual Direction, and Consultation
Online and In-Person in Long Beach, CA
I work with individuals, couples, and families who are struggling emotionally and/or feeling stuck in unhealthy relational patterns. The work I do is trauma informed and focuses on helping clients 1) unpack their personal history 2) identify the pain points within their stories and 3) understand how past experiences may be unconsciously coloring present perspectives and practices.
Each of us have complex lives full of meaning. Exploring our stories in a safe relationship helps cultivate self-awareness and come to terms with God, ourselves, and our life situations. As we learn to connect the dots of our inner world, we can begin to identify the narratives that orchestrate intrusive thoughts, disrupt our emotions, and drive our relational practices. The relationship that forms as this process unfolds can also provide corrective experiences that help repair old wounds. As a person comes to better understand God and self amidst the challenges of life, healthier ways of relating to God, one’s self, and others can emerge.
Brent Bouton
Education and Experience
My educational background is in psychology (B.S. Psychology, Olivet Nazarene University; M.A. Clinical Psychology/Marriage and Family Therapy, Azusa Pacific University) and theology (M.A. Theology, University of Manchester). I previously worked as an interim preaching pastor while studying in Manchester, England. After returning to the U.S., I worked as a Primary Therapist caring for adolescents in residential mental health treatment, while leading the counseling ministry at my local church. From 2016 to 2020, my family lived in South East Asia where I preached for a network of Christian Fellowships and taught for the counseling department of Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary. Currently, I am researching White Christians who have developed and integrated their racial identities into their Christian identities and the influence this has had on their theology, worldviews and practices (PhD Practical Theology, University of Aberdeen).