Rachel never imagined she would find herself in a counseling office. “I didn’t know who needed to go to counseling or why.” Her perspective changed dramatically in November 2021 when trauma struck inside her home.
For three days, Rachel endured violence at the hands of her now ex-husband, leaving her in critical condition at Littleton Hospital. “As he was beating me, I kept praying to St. Michael the Archangel,” she said, recounting the ordeal that left her physically and emotionally shattered. As she hid in her closet, fearing for her life, she felt an overwhelming sense of a spiritual presence.
“I can swear to you, I saw St. Michael sitting on my island in my closet, reassuring me. And I just kept praying and kept praying. Then at one point, he (her ex-husband) decided to stop and went to bed and left me in the closet. I couldn’t move, but St. Michael literally came off the island with his wings and lifted me up to a window so that I could get air to breathe.” In her darkest moments, Rachel repeatedly prayed to St. Michael for protection.
In the days that followed, Rachel’s parish, Our Lady of Lourdes in Denver, rallied behind her and her three children and connected them with St. Raphael Counseling for early intervention. There she met her counselor, Dr. Michelle Connor Harris, executive director of St. Raphael Counseling and a licensed clinical psychologist, who understood and affirmed her visions of seeing St. Michael on her island in that closet. Dr. Michelle encouraged her to lean on her Catholic faith during her healing process.
St. Raphael Counseling, a ministry of Catholic Charities, is the largest Catholic therapy practice in the nation and serves individuals, couples and families at 24 locations across the Front Range. In addition, 19 Catholic schools are home to St. Raphael therapists, providing mental health services to thousands of students across the Archdiocese of Denver.
“Coming to a Catholic counseling place was amazing,” Rachel said. “It felt like a safe space where I could talk about everything—my trauma, my faith, my healing.”
The integration of faith into the therapeutic process proved transformative. “We pray before and after our sessions,” Rachel shares. “I could talk about my experiences without fear of being judged. Michelle didn’t think I was imagining things; she understood my journey.” This holistic approach allowed Rachel to address her mental health while nurturing her spiritual well-being.
Dr. Michelle has witnessed Rachel’s incredible resilience firsthand. “Her ability to rely on God throughout all of the trauma has been a witness of faith to me.”
The impact of Rachel’s journey extended to her children as well. After the incident, her boys who were students at Our Lady of Lourdes and Bishop Machebeuf at the time, went to school, where they were already connected with St. Raphael’s school counselors.
“Having a counselor available at their school was divine intervention for our family,” Rachel reflects. The continuity of care provided a natural next step for the boys as they navigated their own healing process.
Rachel’s story is a testament to the critical role St. Raphael Counseling plays within the community. “We are here to help students, teachers, and parents,” Dr. Michelle explains. “When tragedy strikes, we want to be the support system that families can turn to.”
The need for Catholic counseling services is more pressing than ever, and Rachel’s experience highlights how vital it is for individuals and families to seek help when they need it.
After three years of seeing Dr. Michelle and getting to know the St. Raphael team of therapists, Rachel emphasizes the importance of the ministry. “I never knew how much I needed this until I got here,” she says. “It’s life-changing work that deserves more attention.” Through her healing journey, Rachel has not only reclaimed her life but also found a deeper connection to her faith and community.
For those considering counseling, Rachel encourages them to take that step. “You might be surprised at how much it can change your life.” Her story is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is hope and healing available through faith and community support.