Camille, Just Speak Up: One Assignment Is Complete, but More Is Ahead

Camille McDaniel, LPC (00:28)
Welcome back to Christ in Private Practice. Thank you so much for joining me for this special episode. You know, when I reflect on why Christ in Private Practice even began, I go back to something that the Lord spoke to me very clearly. And He said, speak up.

And if anybody has heard the very first episode, then you know how this all came to be. And if it’s been a really long time since you heard the first episode, or if you’ve never heard the first first episode, then I will just give you a little refresher, or I will just tell you that it was at a time that there was just a lot going on in online spaces. Not that that has totally stopped, but at that particular time I was coming across a lot of posts of

a lot of people sharing their thoughts in the mental health profession.

that really didn’t feel like faith belonged in the counseling room. Felt as though it was wrong for clinicians to bring their faith into the clo counseling room. There was no ethical way to do it, no professional way to do it. There were some strong feelings also about the faith that I have as a Christian that was being shared. And it was getting to the place where, you know, I’m talking to the Lord and I’m like, wow, do you see this father? Obviously he does see all things. And

And I know that just some colleagues even just

Commented by just sharing that, well, you know, the Bible does talk about these things will happen. And so I knew that these things would happen. I know what the Bible says about it, but it didn’t make it feel any better. And it just didn’t feel as though it belonged in our field. Not in the way that it was being shared, not in the way that some of the things were shared in such disparaging, negative, attacking ways. And the Lord said, Well, Camille, then speak up.

And I thought, okay, okay. Now I share this in the very first episode as well. He did not tell me to start a podcast specifically. He just told me to speak up. And I chose to then speak up using the vehicle of a podcast. And I just never imagined that, you know, following instruction would have led to all of this.

Because I’ve been able to definitely speak up for sure, you know, about things that matter most as it relates to Christian mental health, the Christian mental health community, encourage conversations about clinical competence and being ethical when integrating faith at a client’s, you know.

discretion and how to be ethical even when your faith kind of shapes your worldview and the way that you practice within your field, you know, and just being responsible as we encourage one another to move forward in counseling. And so I was able to do that.

Over the course of more than 100 episodes. I can’t even believe that. I don’t think I would have ever thought of doing more than a hundred podcast episodes when I first started the journey. And isn’t that how things go? You know, you’re just looking at the first step. You can’t even imagine where it’s going to take off and how far it’s going to lead you. But I’ve had the opportunity to speak about issues that I really believed were very important.

I have been able to even invite other people on as guests and some who have requested to be guests. And then we were able to have really meaningful conversations, ones that others have been able to benefit from, some that challenged us as professionals just to think a little bit deeper about how we actually practice. And you know, when I stop and take a look.

on this whole journey. I just really and truly believe that I have accomplished what the Lord has asked me to do through this podcast. And I really feel at peace. Like I took last week and just asked myself again and just wanted to make sure, but it kept coming back to the same thing. You have done what he asked you to do.

You know, in the book of Ecclesiastes, there’s a section in that book of the Bible that reminds us that there is a season for everything. And I really think that part of walking in faith is just recognizing not only like when you have been called to do something, but also when it’s actually time to bring that to a close.

And that doesn’t mean that the work was, you know, not needed, you know, anymore, because obviously there’s still more work to be done, but there are many people who are still doing this work.

through podcasting. And then there are many people who are researching ethical faith integration and its impact on clients and its impact on mental health. There’s just a lot that’s being done. So, you know, when we do what we are supposed to be doing in the seasons that we are doing it, we are being obedient and we are using our gifts and talents the way the Lord is asking us to use them. It definitely doesn’t mean when we have to close a chapter.

that the Lord is done using our gifts and talents. As long as we have breath in our lungs, He is using our gifts and talents. Sometimes it’s just that the assignment is complete.

You have finished the assignment the way you’re supposed to, even though you will be called to continue to serve. And that is what I will continue to do in other ways. I’ll continue to meet with people one-on-one as I’m doing now. because there are those who come to me who are looking for direction and support and integrating faith ethically and professionally. there are those who are looking for business support, and there are those who are, you know, going to join the group, the faith in

integration consultation circle and that’s going to be starting up in January again. So I’ll still be moving. I’ll still be serving

And I will still also be seeing clients in my counseling practice through Healing Psychotherapy Practices of Georgia. So I’m definitely not stepping away from serving people and serving also those who are called to integrate their Christian faith into their practice or they want it in their counseling experience. I’m going to continue to do that work.

with both individuals as well as clinicians and helping everyone navigate the road well. And this kind of has me wanting to ask you, do you know what the Lord is telling you to particularly do in this season?

And are you comfortable? Are you all right with knowing when your assignment is over? Can you tell when your assignment is over? And now it’s time to pivot to doing something else with the gifts and talents that you’ve been given? Is there anything that you’re doing right now that maybe you have been pushing along, but maybe you’ve pushed it beyond its expiration date just because you don’t really know how to bring it to an end?

I hope this can be an example and an encouragement for you or validation for you and confirmation. You know, I can look back and

Over these 102 episodes, this one being, you know, the 102nd episode. And I am so thankful. I am humbled. I am, you know, just grateful in knowing that I was able to speak up when I believed that.

That was what needed to be done. And that the Lord, you know, I I knew something. Let me let me say it this way. I knew something needed to be done. The Lord said, speak up, and I am so grateful that I had the strength and courage to do so. Because it’s not really always, although anyone who really knows me knows I can be a talker, but but that’s not really always my natural inclination when I don’t always know people.

And there have been many people who have listened to these podcast episodes. People who represent many different states in the United States of America, and people who represent many different countries outside of the United States of America. It’s amazing and it’s it’s awesome. And I am very grateful for the opportunity to even bring a message that could go that far. So

I want to say thank you. Thank you to every single listener across the globe. Thank you to every guest who has shown up on this podcast.

Thank you to everyone who has shared this podcast. Some of you have shared this podcast even in your classroom settings. For those of you who are educators, thank you so much for that. Some of you have shared this with colleagues, shared it online in groups that I didn’t even know it was being shared in.

I’m humbled and I’m grateful. And it is awesome to know that this message will go way into the future. It’s like evergreen. It keeps on lasting, even though I am stopping with episode 102. And so

As I close this final episode for the Christ in Private Practice podcast, I just want to encourage you to continue doing the work you’ve been called to do. And just continue to be willing to ask difficult questions, speak up when something needs to be addressed, and remain committed to ethical.

Professional, compassionate care in the counseling field that integrates your faith. So until we see each other again or talk again, which might be on a different platform or in a different circle, take care of yourself and God bless.