Holistic Treatment Model For Heart Diagnostics and Life Transformation

What God taught me through my psychiatric training and my own addiction

Karl Benzio, MD

Your wish Your wish is my is my

command!command!

SOLOMONSOLOMON1 Kings 3:5,9-11

The Most Important Spiritual Discipline:

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Heart Heart of Transformation: of Transformation: Decision-MakingDecision-Making

• No biological Intervention• But Brain Chemistry Improved/Renewed

Decision-making is exercise for brain• Good decisions = stronger brain• Bad decisions = injured brain

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Bible on Decision-Making

• Jesus• Proverbs• James• Peter• Paul• Many biographies and examples

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Deuteronomy 30

10 The Lord your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.

11This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is within your reach.

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19Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!

20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

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Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it flows the wellspring of life.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.Proverbs 23:7

Romans 12 : 1-2Romans 12 : 1-2

I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the your spiritual act of worship.

Do not be conformed to this world, but continually be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God's will is-what is proper, pleasing, and perfect.

1 Peter 1:13-151 Peter 1:13-15 Therefore, prepare your minds for action,

keep a clear head, and set your hope completely on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,

but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ

2 Corinthians 10:52 Corinthians 10:5

• The Holy Spirit is perfect, We are not• New creation, but no brain transplant.• DM is the key Spiritual Discipline• Specific strategies for everything, but usually a

vague one for DM• Nobody ever teaches us mechanics about

decision-making skills. • Bible squeezed by Science

There is a strategy to There is a strategy to transform!transform!

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SPEARSSPEARS• All the elements• Right sequence• Requires thought• Requires intention• Requires practice

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Stimuli

Perception

Emotion

Assessment

Response

Summary Thought

StimuliStimuli• Stimuli is anything that

acts on or mobilizes your coping mechanisms

• All stimuli is neutral• God is sovereign

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Stimuli

Perception

Emotion

Assessment

Response

Summary Thought

What word do you see?What word do you see?

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Test

• How many squares are there?

• Hint: What is the most important question?

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Perception Exercise

• Things are not always as they seem: 84!

• Assumptions• Jumping to

conclusions• Knee-jerk reactions

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Perception• Perception is what really

drives the decision-making process

• Subconscious• We are usually unaware of

perception because it occurs so fast in the decision-making process

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Stimuli

Perception

Emotion

Assessment

Response

Summary Thought

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Perception• Satan gets to us as early as

possible, when we are most gullible

• Our brains our easily influenced as kids (neuroplasticity)

• Relationships• Maturity is seeing life clearly

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Stimuli

Perception

Emotion

Assessment

Response

Summary Thought

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FiltersFilters

EmotionsEmotions

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God has lots of emotions!God has lots of emotions!

• Anger – Mat 23, Mark 3, John 2, 2 Kings 24• Jealousy – Exodus 20, Deut 6• Sad/Wept – Luke 19, John 11, Heb 5• Troubled – John 12• Forsaken – Matt 27• Abandoned – Matt 27• Tempted – Matt 4• Worried – Luke 22

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EmotionEmotion• Warning system• Not a decision-making

system

• Distort reality• Court• Doctors

• Volume Buttons

• Solomon(1 Kings 11)Copyright 2012 - Lighthouse

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Perception

Emotion

Assessment

Response

Summary Thought

Stimuli

AssessmentAssessment• Options• Pros and Cons

• Weigh pros and cons using the filters (GPT, GPN, LDO, C, M)– SMB Damage/growth– Motivators

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Stimuli

Perception

Emotion

Assessment

Response

Summary Thought

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Response• We need a relationship

with God • We need to put on the

Armor of God• Is this helping me or

others become more Christ-like?

• WWJD?• Mark 12:30

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Stimuli

Perception

Emotion

Assessment

Response

Summary Thought

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Summary Thought• After review of each

element• Celebrate our successes,

and learn from our failures• Are my responses working• Self-reflection and

assessment is paramount

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Stimuli

Perception

Emotion

Assessment

Response

Summary Thought

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Driving Force for Dysfunction

Stimuli

Perception

Emotion

Assessment

Response

Summary Thought

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Deconstruction/Reconstruction• Retrospective - Autopsy• Journaling• Thinking about it more – then real time use• Skills need Practice• Behavioral Change• Examination of Heart• Heart Change leads to Real Transformation• Motivators for Change

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• We all have pain and develop dysfunctional patterns to cope – addictions (SMB)

• To understand and renew the mind we must look at all 3 spheres - God’s design– Science and religion: DM is the meeting place

• Decision making is the exercise for the brain– Grows all 3 spheres SMB

• You can use and teach SPEARS strategy for every decision in life to treat almost anything– Slow life down, Reflect, Every Thought

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Key PointsKey Points

Lighthouse Network Lighthouse Network HelplineHelpline

• Finds addiction and MH treatment options.• Expertise about all elements of the system• Free to client• Saves the clinician incredible amounts of time• We find great options for struggling people

877-562-2565 x:101

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Lighthouse NETWORK Resources

• Within Reach: Disciplines for Real Life Change– 10+ Hours of DVD– 140 Page Workbook

• Edging Forward: Godly Decision Making • Parenting: Early Childhood and Teens (DVD)• Can Psych Meds Help Christians? (DVD)• Addiction: Sin vs. Disease DVD• kbenzio@lighthousenetwork.org• www.LighthouseNetwork.org• Stepping Stones Daily Devotional - Free

Any Questions?

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