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November 2005: AACC World Conference
Click on the links below to go directly to that article.
Since returning from the American Association of Christian Counselors’ World Conference, we’ve been reflecting on the importance and value of truly Christian counseling.
The theme for this year’s World Conference was “Take Me to the Cross.” It was a joy to hear messages that uplifted and supported the standards that we at the Counseling Center adhere to day in and day out. It was reaffirmed to us that Christ is the center of our healing and that we as counselors must remain focused on the cross to be truly effective in our work with hurting persons. We further believe that the clinical practice of a Christian Counselor is to uphold high standards of professional care that are consistent with Biblical teaching.
The Makings of a Christian Counselor We are often asked: “What makes a counselor, a Christian counselor?” To begin with the commonalities, a professional Christian counselor, like the secular counselor, will meet the standards set forth by the state and profession for a counselor. So the same “standards of care” are adhered to by both counselors (i.e. maintaining confidentiality, keeping to the ethical guidelines set forth by the profession, working only within one’s training, continued education, etc.). But there is a great difference in the counsel from a “Christian counselor.”
At the Counseling Center, these principles are our standard for what makes a counselor a “Christian counselor”:
1. A Christian counselor strives to provide only counsel that is cross-centered in its focus. The counsel and direction given to the client is consistent with Biblical standards, such as grace, forgiveness, holiness, and hope. For example, rather than encouraging or settling for divorce, we would work with the couple toward the goal of reconciliation with a restoration of trust in the relationship.
2. A Christian counselor seeks to continually be guided by the Holy Spirit’s direction. We acknowledge that all healing is from God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and therefore, as Christian counselors, we must maintain a prayerful connection about how to lead, guide and work with the clients we see. Prayer for the client and the session is an important part of preparation for sessions.
3. A Christian counselor maintains a constant Christian character. That person is a Christian leader and is to live up to the Biblical principles for leaders as found in 1 Timothy 3 and in Titus 1. We expect that the counselor lives out their Christian faith in their professional and personal lives.
4. A Christian Counselor seeks to continually build their skills. We strive to utilize the best that the professional counseling skills have to offer as it agrees with the truth of the gospel, seeking out Continuing Education Units that are supportive of Christian values. We also hold our counselors to be accountable through ongoing supervision of their work. We hire an outside clinical psychologist to consult with us on our cases to keep our counselors sharp, focused and accountable for the work that we do. Further, we practice peer review on an ongoing basis.
If you are searching for a Christian counselor for yourself or for someone to whom you are ministering, We hope you’ll give us a call!
Do you know what to look for in Christian counselor or what to expect once you find one? Check out these sites to learn more!
How to Choose a Christian Counselor
What to Expect in a Christian Counselor
The Parsonage: Resources, links & services for those serving in ministry and their families. A website of Focus on the Family.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 317-575-6500. Any of us are happy to answer your questions and see if a referral for professional Christian counseling with one of our counselors would be helpful.
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