Counseling Ministry

The thought of leaving home, job, family and the security of being in control of one's own life can be an absolutely overwhelming and frightening prospect for men. After fifteen years of dealing with hundreds of families who have had to face this dilemma, there are a few things we can share.
 
First, is simply the promise from the lips of Jesus Himself found in Matthew 6: "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." This may seem like a trite or simplistic statement to someone who has a family to support, but it truly has been our experience that those who determine within their hearts to get their spiritual lives right, find an awesome God going to bat for them back home.

The other thing we should mention is that sometimes it does require sacrifice to get one's life back in order. Many people want the solution without dealing with sacrifice and that simply isn't realistic. We do have the promise that God will meet our needs.

Yes, it is true, there are addiction clinics you can be admitted to (usually the cost is between $10,000 and $40,000) for a much shorter duration. What you will receive there will be humanistically based answers which find their solution in the twelve step model. The "patient" will be given an immaculate, private room, probably with a private bathroom, and several sessions with a psychologist. These clinics have all of the credibility the world has to offer (it's not hard to make things perfect when you charge that kind of money!). The only problem is that there are typically no long-term changes in the person's life. The positive side to it is that it is often covered by a person's medical insurance and the person is made to feel as if he is being treated by real professionals. It really boils down to how you see your problem. If you see it as being emotionally based, then a sexual addiction clinic is the place you should go. If you see it as a sin problem, then you should go to a place that treats it spiritually. The presence of God cannot be bought.
 
It would be much simpler for us at PLM to offer a short-term visit to people looking for help. But if there is one thing we have learned in our years of experience it is this: it has taken years for thought patterns and habits to become entrenched in a person's life and it takes some time for them to be turned around. The staff of PLM is dedicated -- not to outward signs of success, nor to making money, nor to having an easy path in life. The Pure Life staff is dedicated to seeing people find the real change in life they need. This simply takes time. As one of our board members has said, "God can save a man in an instant, but it takes time to build character." We understand it is a terrific sacrifice for some to come to Pure Life for that long, but at least when they leave they are leaving with real change.
 
Men who come to Pure Life are generally those who are sick and tired of inflated promises and easy, band-aid answers that never seem to work. They are typically those who are at the place in life where they are desperate for change!  - Even if it means coming to Kentucky for six months.

The answer to all three questions is yes. Mail can be received daily. Phone calls and visits within reason. 

The answer is yes. The wife of a man in the live-in program can receive counseling through the Overcomer’s At Home Program (OCAH). This is a real blessing for the wife who has lost trust for her husband. She can hear for herself from the staff how her husband is doing. It is also wonderful for our counseling staff to be able to work with husband and wife so that the inevitable marital difficulties which arise from sexual sin can be resolved. For wives of live-in program students, our OCAH program is offered at a discounted cost of $50.00 per session plus a materials fee of $100.00. If you would like to participate in this program, you can enroll by downloading the appropriate application on our Request an Application page, or by calling 1.800.635.1866.  If you choose to enroll online, please select the Overcomer’s At Home Application form, and Wife of Live-In Student in the “I am” field.

You may also want to visit our Testimonies of Wives page to read encouraging stories of marriages that have been restored through our counseling programs.

First of all, every counselor on staff has gone through the program. They have all been sex addicts. They know how sex addicts think. They know all the tricks. But more than that, the Live-In program provides such a close, intimate setting that the staff almost always knows when someone is not doing well spiritually. With very few exceptions over the years, we know if a man is heading for a fall long before he gets there.
 
Secondly, the Live-In program is located on a farm out in the middle of nowhere! There simply isn't anywhere to go to get into trouble. The men are not allowed to leave the premises unattended. A man who goes through all of the trouble and expense required to enter the live-in program typically is not looking to make sin happen. Inner temptations will occasionally flare up, but there are safety barriers around them to keep them out of trouble.

Our Counseling Department comes under the direction of Pastor Jeff and Rose Colón. They both have a Masters of Ministry in Biblical Counseling from Master's Graduate School of Divinity and are certified through the International Association of Biblical Counselors. Our counselors are degreed and certified in biblical counseling. Each of the male counselors are graduates of our Live-In Program, and know what it takes to find victory over sexual addiction. Likewise, our female counselors have dealt with these issues in their own marriages. The combination of personal victory and credible training sets our counseling staff apart.