Check out our earlier piece on how a pastor may recommend someone to counsel and what pastors can do to assist if you haven’t already. So you know how to send someone to therapy, but what should Christians and pastors look for while doing so?
The steps below will help you not only choose a qualified counsellor, but also one who will put your spiritual needs at the center of the therapy process. Furthermore, we do not go into detail regarding the differences between Biblical counseling and having a Christian counselor; nevertheless, this is something we will write about in the future.
Locating a Christian Counseling Facility
The first step in seeking Christian counseling in MN is to learn about what is available in general. Before we even consider incorporating Christianity into locating the correct treatment facility or counselor, there may be a number of considerations to consider.
Christian Counselors: Where Can You Find Them?
It is preferable to use your insurance card if you have one. You may usually find a phone number for Member Services on the back of your card. Request that they offer you a list of counselors or counseling facilities that cover under your policy. Depending on your insurance carrier, you can allow making particular requests at this time.
You can use the SAMHSA Treatment Locator to find all counseling programs in your area if you do not have insurance, need financial assistance, or are willing to pay out of pocket. You may also utilize the “Find a Professional” search engine provided by the Christian Associations for Psychological Studies. It provides a list of Christian counselors in your region, however, it should be noted that they are specific to CAPS members. Most Christian counselors do not pay an annual fee and are not included in this list.
What to Look For In a Clinical Setting
We urge that you not only seek a counselor who will be able to include your Christian religion in counseling sessions, but also one that has a strong clinical treatment, case management, and medication if required, as well as a complementary approach to what you want to work on. Eating disorders, trauma, drug abuse, adolescence, and marriage are all things that not everyone has dealt with.
5 Questions to Ponder When It Comes to Integrating Faith and Counselling
Now that we know what to look for in a counseling facility, we need to ask specific questions if we want to send someone or ourselves to therapy. To be clear, good Christian counselors may be found in a non -Christian hospital or mental institution. These counselors may often be just as excellent as a Christian therapy facility and have access to additional resources.
1. Inquire about the company’s purpose and vision statements.
There are several Christian-based treatment institutions and Christian counselors to choose from. It’s important to locate a center that shares your religious beliefs and ideals. Some regions may put a significant emphasis on family-centered therapy or refuse to allow drugs. Get a copy of the counselor’s or agency’s mission and vision statements before you sign up for services.
2. Request a Christian counselor explicitly.
You have the right to be informed of the intake process. Although it may not be explicitly stated, you can and should consult a Christian counselor if you need it. Before you go to the counseling facility, inquire whether they have Christian counselors that can include your religion in the session.
As Christian counselors, it is our goal to find you the ideal match. You may have to wait a little longer for the correct counselor or complete the intake evaluation with someone else before meeting with your main therapist, but you should feel at ease in therapy.
3. Request that spiritual leaders sign releases.
A mentor who is willing to not only help you recover, but also achieve long-term success, will start with adaptive skills, self-esteem, and other approaches. local before turning to external assistance. Christians rely heavily on their spiritual leaders for guidance.
We advise you to ask the counselor to sign a release of information for them, whether it’s for our pastor, an elder, our family, a church volunteer, or a church mentor. You also have the right to ask any of them to come for treatment. Although it is not the role of a counselor to serve as your spiritual advisor, bringing one into the session is more than acceptable.
4. Request that holistic methods be included in the session
I want to be clear right away that your counselor may not be an expert in incorporating religion into therapy. Furthermore, they must maintain their position as your counselor rather than your spiritual advisor. It should also be the counselor’s responsibility to clarify what constraints are in place for you so that you are aware of them. Although the customer is not responsible for being aware of any of this, you may need to advocate for it.
However, it is perfectly acceptable to request that your counselor include Scripture, spiritual teachings, prayer, and other Christian practices into your treatment plan.
5. Request more Christian resources or facilities.
Counseling is sometimes only a small component of the therapeutic and long-term recovery process. Ask for more, whether it’s the addition of Christian practices to the plan after care or something needed while we are in treatment.
Various Christian Counseling in MN may provide extra assistance. Find Christian mentors and caregivers through Stephen’s Ministry, or grief groups through your church.
Some Characteristics of an Effective Christian Counselor
Professional Christian counselors strive to speak and behave in a way that reflects the spirit and character of Jesus Christ. They exemplify the following virtues through following Christ’s example:
- Christians bear the difficulties of others out of love. It is extremely crucial to care for, invest in, and shoulder these responsibilities with people during times of hardship, and this certainly applies to counseling.
- Christians walk with respect and honesty when they walk with wounded people. A good therapeutic partnership and counselor code of ethics are upheld by Christian counselors. Finally, counselors should treat their clients with the dignity and respect that they deserve, as Christ would.
- Faith, prayer, and worship are essential spiritual tools for effective Christian therapy. To stay attentive to God’s instructions in the therapeutic relationship, Christian counselors come near to him. Faith also gives the counselor a genuine faith that God can act in the lives of sinful, distressed individuals.
- Compassion: Counselors must show compassion while dealing with their clients’ “real selves”–both good and terrible. Counselors must show enormous compassion for flawed humans created in God’s image while viewing the darkest aspects of a person or discovering their deeply hidden guilt.
- A modest heart is at the heart of a successful counselor. A posture of humility becomes critical in order to successfully care for those who come to them from areas of vulnerability in the middle of suffering.
These characteristics of a Christian counselor are, of course, essential biblical values for every Christian’s heart. However, it is critical that a Christian counselor exemplifies these qualities. Effective counselors can work as a catalyst for God’s heart change by engaging individuals in their pain and vulnerability.
Related Article: 5 Concepts of Christian Counseling