Our Christian values are reflected in the name of our practice – Teleios Behavioral Health. The Greek word “Teleios” often gets translated to English with the word “perfect”. However, it means to be “complete” or “whole”.

Jesus used the word Teleios in the sermon on the Mount. Specifically, Jesus said “Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect”. He used the word “perfect” corresponding to “complete” or “whole” in the context of talking about loving other people.

In context, Jesus said  (Matt. 5:43-48) “⁴³ You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[i] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”.

We do not ask you or your family to conform to our religious beliefs nor will we attempt to impose our religious beliefs or values upon your family in any way.  Regardless of how one personally defines “wholeness” we find it helpful to remind ourselves and our patients to consider for themselves what it means to be “whole”.  We also find it helpful to remind ourselves and our patients to pursue “wholeness” as an outcome for life in general. Furthermore, we take Jesus’ admonition to be “perfect” in our love for other people as a personal challenge worth pursuing.

The picture of the tree in our logo represents the Tree of Life found in Genesis. Indirectly, it reminds us that Jesus became the Tree of Life for us. Jesus affirms this in John 15:5, when He says  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”.  As we pursue wholeness in our own lives, our families, and in our work, we do so while remembering our source of Life.