Have Faith Christian Counseling

     Studies show most people in crisis prefer to seek assistance from a pastor, rather than a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, nurse specialist, professional counselor or a community mental health professional.  Many pastors are sensitive to parishioners concerns, but may also be aware they do not have the education and/or training to deal with some of the complex issues parishioners present to them.  Thus, they sometimes inadvertantly do more harm.      

     So what does the pastor do when (s)he is confronted with complex issues for which (s)he is not trained to resolve?  In these situations, pastors need to make a referral, and they must have confidence in the professional to whom such a referral is made. 

     Finding the right counselor can have profound implications for one’s spiritual, emotional, mental and physical well being.  So knowing the difference between a secular counselor and a Christian counselor is important. A licensed counselor or therapist specializing in Christian Counseling who engages in spiritually sensitive therapy can be an important ally for a pastor.

      A professional counselor or therapist is licensed by a state board to practice traditional or what is also known in the religious community as secular counseling.  Some traditional counselors are agnostic or atheist, believing that religion is for the weak and merely a crutch that prevents individuals from accepting responsibility for their life.  Due to their training some secular  counselors choose to focus only on the emotional and mental challenges an individual may be experiencing, ignoring theological and/or spiritual formation and related spiritual issues.  Thus, being a professionally licensed counselor, who is a Christian and affiliated with a Christian church does not automatically make that counselor a Christian Counselor.

     Christian counselors are licensed therapists by appropriate state boards to practice as clinical therapists, and they  are also people of  faith. They are additionally trained and/or experienced in such areas as: systematic Christian theology, spiritual formation, Biblical culture and history, and spiritually specific therapeutic interventions.  This enables the Christian counselor to incorporate a more holistic approach to the counseling experience; assisting people with emotional, mental and spiritual healing and growth.  At Have  Faith Christian Counseling this is done without condemnation or judgement, as we provide "A Caring Hand In Life's Journey."

       There are many ways the Lord ministers to us, and the Christian counseling relationship is a practical way of responding to God’s transforming mercy for those who are unable to resolve complex issues.  This relationship can assist in restoring hope and wholeness to those who seek problem solving through Christian counseling.