Phototherapy

What is phototherapy?


I discovered there is a world wide movement of this.
Just google it.

Some programmes I would endorse and some I wouldn't.

For some people taking photos is a creative therapeutic  activity in itself.

How other people photograph us gives insight to our place in their world

How we photograph ourselves in a self portrait helps us to express how we feel.

Looking at our family albums can be helpful in reviewing our life so far.

What we like to photograph may reveal something of our goals and dreams and our view of our world.

For a person with a disability photography can be a way to open up a creative outlet and also to develop a feeling of purpose and connection  in life that may be missing

Modern technology means that most people have a possibilty of being a creative photographer
Even blindness does not prevent someone from being a photographer


Creating a relaxation slide show with music can have a very positive outcome
Share them with friends and help others

Phototherapy  with a counsellor can bring about new insights and possibilties of healing to a troubled life.

By viewing your family album(s) and perhaps a wedding album with a counsellor you can  use discussion about the photos to explore how you feel about the people in your photos and how you feel about your relationship to them.

An appreciation of the natural world through photography and your camera viewfinder can lead you to a faith in the Creator who loves you.

Some Australian Photographers who have partly found their faith while capturing the creation are photographers such as;
Ken Duncan
Pete Dobre
Jocelyn Burrt
Geoff Thompson

Byusing creative visualisation and photography you can bring the Creator into your life.

Using your imagination you can create:

A slide show featuring scripture illustrating our place in the world and God’s purpose for us.

A slide show using images and audio tapes  to help free bound up people. (or just
 watch some of the great wildlife documentaries like "Travelling Birds" )

A prayer photo gallery for the use of photography in interceding prayer.
By regularly viewing such a gallery and praying for the people pictured.
Frank Laubach in his book "Prayer, the Mightiest Force in the World" floats the idea of putting pictures of people you need to pray for on a wall and in a darkened room shine a torch on them one at a time and pray for them.
My idea is just an extension of that.

Over the last two and a bit years I suffered a serious bout of Depression.
It is now behind me.

Spinifex Pigeon Central Australiia

Wedge tailed Eagle  Central Australia

During the initial stages I could not even look at family photos or pick up a camera.
But God in part used my passion for Photography, birds in particular, to help lift me out of the depression.

Wedge tailed Eagle  Central Australia

Zebra Finch Central Australia

There was a lot more to it than that but in the early stages of the dreaded "black cloud" I only had relief from symptoms through being occupied with photography.

I had asked God to give me some Eagle shots on a trip to Central Australia. I couldn't believe the opportunities that presented to me.

Part of the solution of why I think photography has an impact is that we are told in the Bible to think on things that are pure,wholesome and many other virtues.
By concentrating on His creation through a lens we are doing just that.
That sense of wonder helps us to realise there is a God watching over us who even is concerned when a sparrow falls to the ground.

So God gave us light and photography for our pleasure and more than that.

HIS NAME IS : COUNSELLOR

“ His name shall be called: Counsellor.”  Isaiah 9:6 Be careful when you look at the word : Counsellor. I would suggest as you apply that word to Jesus you divest your mind of all the humanistic counselling we are often advised to seek. Counselling is the “in” thing today.Everyone needs counselling. Flood victims, bushfire victims, accident victims, mothers, fathers, children, all need counselling for one reason or another. Life is simply too much, too overwhelming for most of us without the help of a counsellor of some sort or another. Look at that word: counsellor. Who or what is a counsellor? A short answer is : A counsellor is someone who is trained to give advice, expert advice in some area of mal adjustment in human behaviour.  We are placing more and more dependence on such counselling advice for people with all sorts of need. However, counselling such as is everywhere being offered to people in need or in crisis has, no matter how good and wise it may be , an inbuilt weakness. It is humanistically based. It is the study of man by man. It is man trying to help man. This follows the advice given by Alexander Pope: “Know then  thyself, presume not God to scan. The proper study of man is man.” The proper study of man is man ,and that confines us to all the limitations and inadequacies of human beings. And this is not good enough. Counsellor when applied to Jesus has connotations above and beyond all that is human. It introduces  the limitless ability of God. As Counsellor we are able to call on Jesus and all whom He is and can do to our side. We have Jesus who is coming to our side not to blame, find fault, criticise or judge, but to aid us , to help us. Jesus comes to aid us , to make good our  insufficiencies, to make us complete and whole. And no one else can do this. Sin can and literally does ravage  a man or woman’s life. In the region of the soul sin can leave sores that never heal until they are healed by the atoning death of Jesus. Some trail memories  along with them from their past that cripple and crush their personalities and which make the beginning of each day a nightmare. There are areas of the soul which only Jesus does , when called to our side , heal and make whole and restore. His name shall be called Counsellor and fulfilling this role by being called to our side, Jesus guides us with the wisdom of God. He can heal and restore , and finally adjust the deepest regions of our being. He makes the wounded spirit whole. He sets the prisoner free. Why?          Because His Name is called Counsellor. Taken from the booklet “Is this the real Christmas? The way it really was.”    By Frank Hunting