Sometimes you know you need help.
You may know that something has happened to you that you haven’t been able to resolve. You may feel stuck in a pattern you can’t seem to change. You may even understand some of what is happening, but still not know how to move forward.
Or you may simply know that Sozo on its own isn’t quite what you need.
That’s one of the reasons Wonderfully Free Sessions exist.
They combine Sozo and counselling, bringing together two different approaches that can sometimes work particularly well alongside one another. This grew naturally out of our experience of working with people and discovering that Sozo wasn’t always the whole answer.
Why combine Sozo and counselling?
Bethel Sozo is a prayer ministry. It is centred on relationship with Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and on helping people discover freedom through hearing from God for themselves.
Counselling is different. Counselling provides a space to explore experiences, thoughts, emotions and relationships, often helping us understand more clearly what has happened and how it continues to affect us.
Sometimes one is exactly what someone needs. Sometimes the two approaches complement each other remarkably well.
That’s where a Wonderfully Free Session can be helpful.
A broader approach
A Wonderfully Free Session isn’t simply a Sozo with a bit of counselling added on. Nor is it counselling with a prayer at the beginning or end. It’s an opportunity to draw on both, according to what is helpful for you.
There may be times when prayer and hearing from God are the most important thing. There may be times when you need to explore something carefully through conversation. There may be times when understanding what has happened is important before you can begin to move forward.
And there may be times when God brings something into focus that you hadn’t previously recognised.
The combination gives us more than one way of helping you.
What might we explore?
There isn’t a fixed list of problems that Wonderfully Free Sessions are designed to address.
People are different. You may be struggling with something from your past. You may be experiencing difficulties in a relationship. You may feel trapped in a pattern of behaviour or thinking. You may be dealing with shame, fear, rejection, grief or unforgiveness. You may be struggling with your relationship with God.
Or you may simply know that something isn’t right without being able to explain exactly what it is.
You don’t have to arrive with a diagnosis. You can start by telling us where you are.
Where does Sozo fit?
Sozo gives us an opportunity to bring what we’re exploring into relationship with God. Rather than simply asking what we think about something, we can ask: “Father God, what do You want me to know?”
The aim isn’t for us to tell you what God is saying. It’s to help you engage with Him for yourself. That remains central to the Sozo part of a Wonderfully Free Session.
And where does counselling fit?
Counselling gives you space to talk. Sometimes being listened to carefully and without judgement is itself significant. It can help you make sense of experiences, recognise patterns, explore relationships and understand your responses. It can also help identify areas that may need further attention. The counselling element doesn’t replace Sozo. And Sozo doesn’t replace counselling. They bring different things to the conversation.
What makes a Wonderfully Free Session different?
Perhaps the most important thing is that we don’t assume everyone needs the same thing. We’ve learned through years of ministry that people are wonderfully individual. What helps one person may not be what another person needs, so we don’t want to fit you into a programme simply because that’s what we happen to offer. We want to understand where you are and help you find the right doorway.
That’s been part of the development of Wonderfully Free from the beginning.
Is this counselling?
Yes — but not counselling alone. Wonderfully Free Sessions combine counselling with Sozo. That’s an important distinction.
If you’re looking specifically for Bethel Sozo, then Bethel Sozo is the appropriate ministry. If you’re looking for counselling alone, a Wonderfully Free Session may not be what you’re looking for. But if you think that a combination of counselling and prayer ministry could be helpful, this may be right for you..
How do I know whether this is what I need?
You don’t have to know. That’s one of the reasons we’re here. Perhaps you’ve read about Bethel Sozo and think that sounds like what you’re looking for. Perhaps you know you need counselling. Perhaps you’re not sure whether either is the answer.
Tell us what’s going on. We’ll listen and help you work out what might be most appropriate. We’re not interested in persuading you into a particular ministry.
We’d rather help you find the right way forward.