Dr. Anthony Harper Testimonial

Your life is no good," the sinister voice whispered. "Why not end it? You're not going to turn out to be anything, anyway. Give up."

"Why not?" I agreed, tipping the cleanser bottle closer to my mouth. "Death would be better than hanging around this sick place."

It certainly appeared that my father's warnings had come true. Here I was, ready to drop over the edge of suicide, confined in the same mental hospital where my mother had once been.

"You're just like your mother....nuts," Dad would grumble whenever one of our frequent conflicts arose during my childhood.

My parents had six children in all. We experienced only limited evidence of the happy Christian life we heard about at church every Sunday. (pictured below is me second from the left while living in Idaho Falls, Idaho - 1969)

Though I had a born-again experience at the age of nine, I never quite fit into the church scene. The youth group seemed extremely cliquish, making me feel like an outsider.

By the time I reached my senior year of high school, the only people at school who seemed to be having fun were classmates who drank, smoked and took drugs. The temptation to use drugs was strong.

Click Here To View Anthony's High School's Web Site ( Bonneville High School )

But temporarily, I managed to avoid serious trouble. And when family finances prevented me from accepting a partial music scholarship to the University of Wyoming, life degenerated into a downward spiral.

Depressed because I had told all my friends about the scholarship, I drifted through a succession of menial jobs like washing dishes, bagging groceries and working as a laborer.

When I was suicidal at the age of 18 and called the Idaho Falls, Idaho Suicide Hotline, the counselor I talked with who befriended me turned out to be a drug dealer and introduced me to drugs. How I wish I would have told my parents about this experience. This experience led to many other experiences cruising the streets at night and to bars and parties, where I used drugs like alcohol, hashish, marijuana, mescaline and LSD.

At age 18 I was helped greatly by the Shiloh Youth Revival Centers from 1969-1975. I lived in a Shiloh home in Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1971. Shiloh Youth Revival Centers (a part of the JESUS Movement associated with Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, California) was the largest network of Christian ministry homes that helped kids and adults on drugs - for more information regarding the Shiloh homes and ministry, click on the following link: http://www.shilohyrc.com Learn more about the JESUS movement by clicking on the following link: http://www.one-way.org/jesusmovement.

Married at 20, I worked while I tried auto mechanics school, but I quickly learned my gifts lay elsewhere.

Click Here To View Eastern Idaho Vocational-Technical School's Web Site

Soon we had a daughter and I was not able to handle this extra responsibility very well.

Floundering in the mechanical arena, I was extremely frustrated, unable to use the musical talent I felt the Lord had given me. In addition, my health was bad-- I suffered from hypoglycemia for many years before it was properly diagnosed and treated--and emotionally I was very unstable.

I reached my lowest point just six months after our daughter was born. Losing my temper when she wouldn't stop crying, I reacted abusively to her. I had also been abusive with my wife earlier. On such occasions, I felt like I was losing my mind.

However, a year after our marriage I had managed to gather enough resources to enroll at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho.

Click Here To View Idaho State University's web site

I also got involved in the Christian coffee house ministry (the Son Shine Inn) near my home in Idaho Falls, where some people prayed for me and I rededicated my life to Jesus.

As a result, I developed more excitement about the Lord and found a new boldness to talk about Jesus. I wish I could say that this experience brought an end to all my troubles. Instead, they were just beginning.

The first shock came when my wife one day said, "You leave or I'll leave." The local headquarters of a well-known religious cult, The Way International, had moved in next door and recruited her into the group. I was forced to leave my wife and child and didn't have enough money to fight for custody of my daughter Amy.

Over the next four years, I struggled through the equivalent of two academic years while working to stay in school.

I still fought mental battles and finally decided to visit a psychiatrist for the third time in the fall of 1978. (Previously, I had seen a psychiatrist in 1972 and 1974, with no positive assistance. The psychiatrist's ungodly advice kept me in bondage for years to come.)

That proved to be a major mistake. The psychiatrist I had seen in 1978 gave me tranquilizer shots, which triggered severe allergic reactions, such as convulsions and symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.

However, when I told the doctor he was giving me too much of this anti-psychotic drug Prolixin, he didn't care for my advice. Soon after that, he suggested admitting me to the mental hospital.

Within a week, I checked out because I couldn't stand the place. I was also scared by my bad reactions to this medicine and constantly battled overwhelming, powerful demons of depression.

After a lonely Christmas, I went to see some friends in a nearby town and on my way home, suicidal thoughts invaded. When I got home, I swallowed a whole bottle of tranquilizers.

Fortunately, a friend took me to the hospital. Since it was a crime in Idaho to attempt suicide, when my psychiatrist found out, he had me arrested and handcuffed me and placed me into an isolated and cold jail cell. I was barbarically treated like a criminal with a mug photo shot taken of me and fingerprinted. The following day, I was handcuffed and taken back to the ungodly state mental hospital to be further tortured by humanistic psychology and drugs. There was no attempt to take a healthy approach in treatment.

There's no worse setting for those struggling with emotional problems than a non-Christian psychiatric hospital where nutrition, vitamin and mineral, light and exercise therapy are not part of treatment. It was a negative, depressing and spiritually oppressive environment. I still remember a lady there who would often cry out every day at lunch, "My God, my God, they're killing me." I realized at this moment she was talking about the demonic attack on her through the ungodly staff there at the hospital.

In addition, most of the staff seemed cold and detached (too Freudian). The hospital didn't have enough people to handle the work and counselors were so overburdened with paperwork they had little time left for the patients.

Satan and the presence of evil were so strong that I finally yielded to the enemy's oppression. A month after being there, the demonic voices I heard in my head started whispering and in a fit of desperation, I gave in again to the temptation of suicide.

But when I swallowed the cleanser....nothing happened! Nor did anything happen again a week later when I swallowed petroleum-based cleaning fluids!

I realized then that God had kept me from getting sick or dying. I was living proof of Mark 16:18: "...when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all..."

Though the staff had told me if I didn't take the drugs they prescribed, I would be there forever, they released me just two months after I arrived.

One counselor didn't think I fit the standard profile of a state hospital patient and when I secured a job as a gas station attendant, they agreed to let me go.

That job only lasted for a month, and after living with my sister a short time, I then moved to Nampa to live with my grandmother. She sent me to see her doctor to find out what was wrong with me and he discovered that I was suffering from Hypoglycemia, or low-blood sugar.

Immediately I began eating a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. I avoided sugar, white flour and other foods that were causing allergic reactions. The improvement was remarkable!

I discovered a year-and-a-half later that the state hospital diagnosed my condition of Hypoglycemia while I was there, but never emphasized the importance of this problem in relation to brain health.

Today in my counseling ministry, I often recommend proper diet and exercise for people suffering from depression and other problems, and many see similar benefits to implementing a healthier treatment plan.

Two-and-a-half months after my release from the mental hospital, I was able to attend the Ron Bailie School of Broadcast in Portland, Oregon. There, after two months, I completed my First Class Broadcast License. This was the first real accomplishment I had felt good about.

After receiving my broadcast license, I went to work as a switcher/engineer for a television station in Idaho Falls. While there I was not able to function adequately enough to please my supervisors, so I decided to go back to stay with my grandmother, after a short stay with my dad in Boise.

My nine-month stay at my grandmother's helped me get back on my feet in numerous ways. In addition to finding the road to good health, I resumed my music studies at Boise State University and an active relationship with the Lord.

Click Here To View Boise State University's web site

In August of 1980, I remarried, to a beautiful woman who proved to be a strong, additional supportive influence in my life.

However, it would still take awhile before I found the calling that the Lord had for me. At first, I thought it was in music. My exciting adventure of recording my first solo gospel inspirational record album near in Aurora, Colorado in May of 1981 was a real dream come true.

In early 1982 with the help of God, I organized my first gospel concert tour and periodically traveled throughout 1987, singing and sharing my testimony in a total of 32 states and part of Canada. Click here To View my music web site.

But I still felt there was more. And as I prayed, I heard Him telling me to be of help to people. For awhile, I struggled with exactly what that meant.

Many believers in the Lord would say, "You would be good in the ministry. You have a caring heart."

While they were right about my heart, they were wrong about the area of service. We certainly need all the good pastors we can get, but God equips believers to serve in countless other occupations and endeavors.

Through an external degree program from the University of The State of New York (Regents External Degrees - now called Excelsior College) located in Albany, New York, I had finished my Bachelor's degree (B.A. in Liberal Studies).

Click Here To View The University of The State of New York web site (now called Excelsior College)

Then, I felt the Lord's direction to obtain my Master's degree in General Guidance and Counseling from The College of Idaho.

At The College of Idaho, I witnessed to fellow counseling students and professionals in this field, many desperately in need of the answers only JESUS can provide. Though I often feel ostracized for standing on God's Word, many of my cohorts have thanked me for sharing my faith.

Because of my exposure to the secular counselor system and drug use, I gradually realized the Lord wanted me to reach those in the same type of dire situation that I had experienced.

Anthony Harper receives his master's degree, June 1987 , from The College of Idaho.

Click Here To View The College of Idaho web site.

After completion of this degree, I had a dream of completing a doctorate degree. This dream started when I enrolled in the doctorate degree program in psychology at California Coast University in Santa Ana, California during August 1989.

Seven months after obtaining my Master's degree in 1986, with the help of God I founded Shiloh Counseling Center, Inc., in Boise, Idaho.
Formed as a Christian nonprofit counseling center, the Shiloh Counseling Center's purpose is to be of help to individuals and families find true meaning and happiness in life.

With GOD's help, four years after greaduating from The College of Idaho, I enrolled in the post Master's credits in counseling from Liberty University and completed 18 semester credits. Click here to view Liberty University's web site.

Another accomplishment I was and still am excited about was when I passed the National Counselor Examination during the month of October 1989. Finally, after seven long years of working on my degree at California Coast University, I graduated in August of 1996 with a Ph.D. in psychology (what a miracle and a relief). I give my God (The Father, Jesus and The Holy Spirit all the credit for these and many other accomplishments - I can do nothing apart from Them and I praise Their Holy Names forever and ever!).

Anthony receives his doctorate (Ph.D.) in psychology from California Coast University, August 1996.

(picture of Anthony with doctoral psychology degree committee)

Click Here To View California Coast University's web site

Because so much traditional psychology is based on worldly humanistic answers and denies that God (The Father through Jesus His Son and The Holy Spirit) is the answer for human problems, often Christians often shun anything that smacks of "psychology".

But when someone faces feelings of helplessness or being overwhelmed, professional Christian counseling (that is based on God's word in the Bible) can steer them in the right direction. Business people with problems don't hesitate to consult experts. Likewise, an expert in true Christian counseling can be of service with life's problems.

And, the presence of Christians in the counseling ministry is especially critical today. There is a strong New Age flavor in modern counseling/psychological practices, but the world's trend towards "spirituality" is not the true spirituality of the Bible.

Rather, it's the type where persons are told they are a God unto themselves (too self occupied instead of being occupied with God).

The new age movement is a dangerous philosophy, yet it's taught in numerous ways (and in arenas ranging from our public schools to self-help business seminars).

Some of the forms of the New Age teaching are the human potential movement.....lessons on tapping your inner power....or those stressing past life experiences and the use of hypnosis. Some of it manipulates people like "neurolinguistic programming and hypnosis". It's nothingmore than a method of learning to control behavior without God's help.

Testimony Update:

Since completion of my doctorate degree (Ph.D.) from California Coast University in 1996, I've continued providing Christian counseling to those who cannot afford help and am now the publisher of our local Christian newspaper Intermountain Christian News (formerly known as Treasure Valley Christian News) (http://www.imcnews.org), and our outreach ministry to youth called Intermountain Teens (http://www.intermountainteens.com).

I've been suffering from a brain injury I received in an auto accident April 2, 2004 and would appreciate your prayers for a complete recovery soon.
Because of this injury, I've not been able to perform music or do other activities as I use to.

Disciplining The State of Idaho Counselor License Board
Unlicensed Counselors versus Licensed Counselors – A Call To Break Unholy Alliances by Rev. Anthony Harper, Ph.D., Boise, Idaho

So many people within the churches and general population believe that being a state licensed counselor, etc., is a more credible certification. In reality, the licensed counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker has an inferior certification. The superior credential to have is a Christian church ordination certificate in Pastoral Care and Counseling. The best qualifying requirements for a counselor is based on a personal relationship with JESUS as their SAVIOR from personal sin and the proper training in Godly counseling, based upon the best textbook on understanding human behavior “The Holy Bible.” How can these state agencies (hypocrites) that condone counselors who promote abortion, witchcraft, and homosexuality be looked upon as morally credible agencies to protect the public? In the Book of Matthew of the Holy Bible, JESUS speaks about Hypocrisy (common in the Psychiatric, Psychological, Counselor and Social Worker state license boards and their respective associations): “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!.... In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. NIV Matthew 23:27-28.*

In 1995, with the help of GOD and others, I was able to help in initiating legislation that led to a change in the law exempting ministers and faith based counselors from having to be licensed by the State of Idaho to counsel, advise and help people – click here to read the current faith based exemption in the State of Idaho Counselor Licensure Law. *The State of Idaho should not be involved with licensing or certifying of counselors, psychologists, social workers, or any other mental care worker because these are spiritual issues. (The following people helped me with disciplining the Idaho State Counselor license board: Rep. Bill Sali, Rep. Ruby Stone, Rep. Robert Schaefer, Rev. Alan Stroud, Nels Wilson of KBGN Christian Radio, Dr. Bob Comptom of Foundations in Genesis of Idaho, Dr. Ed Bulkley, The Rutherford Institute, and a majority of the Idaho Senate and House of Representatives).
http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title54/T54CH34SECT54-3402.htm

I want to encourage Christians and others to stay away from an unholy alliance with the state counselor, psychology, psychiatric and social work license boards (this scripture below is an admonition from GOD through the Apostle Paul in the book 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 (NIV) to not engage in unholy alliances):

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

In the Book of Matthew of the Holy Bible, JESUS speaks about Hypocrisy (common in the Psychiatric, Psychological, Counselor and Social Worker state license boards and their respective associations):

24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.
28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. (NIV Matthew 23:24-28)

The American Counseling Association (an influence on Idaho Counselor Licensing and several other state counselor licensing boards) and other secular associations in Psychiatry, Psychology and Social Work consider it unethical for counselors to persuade people out of homosexuality (Reparative Therapy) and do not see the practice of homosexuality as a sin.. In addition, since the American Psychiatric Association removed Homosexuality from the Diagnostic Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM), this gave way to acceptance of this sin - see this ACA link below that discusses the Reparative Therapy issue: http://www.counseling.org/PressRoom/NewsReleases.aspx?AGuid=b68aba97-2f08-40c2-a400-0630765f72f4

I recommend the following spiritually healthier Biblical Counseling Associations for counselors, social workers, psychiatrists and psychologist to join:

https://www.nanc.org
http://www.iabc.net
http://www.sbabc.org
http://www.christiancounseling.com

I thank GOD for this opportunity and honor in defending the practice of Biblical Counseling.

In conclusion, I would like to thank you for reading this response with an open mind and close with this final scripture from Psalms 1:1-6 (KJV):

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

To learn more about the Psychologizing of the Church issue, click here to read a review of the DVD and upcoming book titled “Psychology and the Church” and read the book by the same title due out in November 2007 – reference: http://www.thebereancall.org/node/4946

With my FATHER's help, I press onward toward the goal of CHRIST JESUS!

At one time, satan tried to convince me I was utterly worthless, because he knew I could be used for God's kingdom. Regardless of our talents or abilities, the enemy (satan and his fellow demon assistants) never wants us to accomplish anything good or help anyone.

Maybe you have listened to satan's lies and think you have little value. It's not true, because God loved you so much He gave His only begotten Son that you might rely upon His Son and have eternal life. No greater love, or caring, exists.

If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, ask Him to forgive you of your sins and invite Him to live inside you and be your God today (before it is too late). You, too, can be saved for His service!  Call toll free 1-888 NEED HIM ( 1-800-633-3446) to talk with someone 24 hours/7 days a week about knowing your CREATOR and how to develop a relationship with JESUS and by clicking on the following web sites about HIM:

Need HIM?
The CRISTO
Who Is JESUS?
Comparative Views of JESUS

Click here to send an e-mail to Dr. Harper.
Click here To View Anthony's music web site

Click here or on music video picture below of Anthony's guest music appearance - Faithline Television in San Diego, California January 27, 1986

Anthony's first experience in sky diving May 24, 1997 in Star, Idaho at Snake River SkyDiving. Anthony is on the bottom attached to the sky diving instructor. Click here or on picture below to view video of Anthony skydiving.

Resume of
Rev. Anthony Harper, Ph.D.
P.O. Box 1829 - Boise, Idaho 83701‑1829
E-Mail: drharper@afo.net Web Site: www.harpercounseling.com
(208) 658-8013 work

Experience

Counselor ( 8/87 - present ). Founder and executive director of a nonprofit Biblical counseling ministry Shiloh Counseling Center, Inc. and also in private practice from a Christian faith based treatment philosophy. Providing counseling services to economically disadvantaged children, adolescents and adult individuals and families dealing with the following topics: marriage and relationships, substance abuse and other addictions, sexual abuse, depression, anger control, hyperactivity, grief, sense of worth, personal growth and career/vocational. Substance abuse, mental status and career/vocational evaluations are also provided.

Instructor (1997 - 2006). Teaching the "Self Esteem - A Biblical View" workshops through the Community Education Program in Boise , Idaho .

Drug Abuse/Nutrition Guest Speaker (1/81 - present). As a traveling Gospel tenor soloist, I shared information on drug abuse, suicide, and nutrition (including my own story of recovery) on television, radio programs, and at churches, schools and other locations throughout the United States and Canada .

Assistant Drug Counselor (3/85 - 5/85). Co‑counseled individuals in a community residential drug abuse treatment center, Port of Hope , Caldwell , Idaho .

Education

8/96 Ph.D., Psychology, California Coast University , Santa Ana , California . Website: http://www.calcoast.edu

Dissertation topic: The Relationship Between Religiosity and Depression: A Correlational Study of The Harper Religion Scale, the A Religion Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory.

6/89 - 6/90 Post graduate work, Counseling, Liberty University , Lynchburg , Virginia .  Website: http://www.liberty.edu

12/86 M.Ed., General Guidance and Counseling, The College of Idaho, Caldwell , Idaho . Website: http://collegeofidaho.edu

3/84 B.A., Liberal Studies, The University of the State of New York , Albany , New York . Website: http://www.excelsior.edu

Professional Credentials

7/2000 Ordained Minister of Counseling and Pastoral Care by Shiloh Fellowship in Boise - Confirmation of Ordination at Crane Creek Baptist Church with a special calling to the field of Pastoral Care and Counseling - Boise , Idaho

Professional Affiliations

Southern Baptist Association of Biblical Counselors

Web Site: http://www.sbabc.org

Professional Publications

1990: Author of the Spiritual Relationship Scale (an assessment tool for eleventh step work in twelve step recovery therapy dealing with spirituality, substance abuse and other issues).

Professional Honors

10/89 ** Passed the National Counselor Examination                    

Listed in the Second Edition (1999/2000 issue) of Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare

Below is a very special poem which explains my purpose in life. I hope you enjoy it.

"When I Come Home To Heaven"
By Beth Stuckwisch
1984 Dicksons"

When I come home to Heaven
How joyful it will be!
For on that day at last
My risen Lord I'll see.
No greater happiness than
To see Him face to face.
To see the love in His eyes
And feel His warm embrace.
I've done nothing to deserve
That perfect home above.
It was given freely through
The grace of Jesus' love.
Then why should earthly cares
Weigh down upon me so?
They'll be a distant memory
When home at last I go.