WHEN TO SEEK OUT A COUNSELOR?

Are you thinking about trying talk therapy with a counselor? Maybe you’re finding yourself spending alot of time thinking about a particular incident or worrying about something or someone in your life? You might be struggling with anger, anxiety, depression, prolonged stress, a bumpy transition in life, or a traumatic event.

You don’t have to have a mental illness to seek out a counselor. Anytime thoughts, feelings or emotions begin to impact your work, school, home, or personal relationships…or anytime your friends tell you that you should talk to someone…it might be helpful to consider speaking with a counselor.

WHY A CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR?

Christian counselors can help you to identify patterns and mindsets that have trapped you. Together, you and your counselor can work to replace negative patterns and thought processes with more healthy ones that align with your faith and values.

Christian counselors are clinically trained and experienced, grounded in Biblical principles, and offer practical strategies. In addition, they:

-Support your values

-Help you stay grounded in your faith as you navigate messy emotions and thoughts

-Help you see life and problems from a Biblical worldview perspective

-Enable you to incorporate spiritual as well as emotional and mental wellness goals

-Focus on the whole person: mind, body, and spirit

-Encourage you to depend on God as your Healer

WHAT TO LOOK FOR?

You’ll want to seek out a Christian counselor who’s got extensive knowledge in psychology and is grounded in Scripture. This means they’re licensed in your state and also a practicing Christian who integrates faith into their work with Christian clients. 

You’ll be looking for licensed professionals who hold credentials, such as: 

LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), 

LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), 

LCPT (Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapist), and 

LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist).

Licensed professionals hold a Master’s degree or higher in psychology, social work, counseling, or a related field and have completed supervised internship and externship hours, as well as ongoing continuing education.

In addition, if necessary, you might look for a counselor who specializes in your particular issue, such as disordered eating, trauma, anxiety, OCD, teens, couples, etc.

Finally, it can be helpful to schedule a phone consult to ask a Christian counselor how they incorporate faith into counseling treatment plans and sessions, as well as how they would handle your particular issue (in general). 

Every Christian Counselor is different and incorporates faith differently. It helps to know up front what the process would look like. 

Plus, while you’re chatting with them on the phone, you’ll get an idea of how their personality, temperament, and character fits with yours…your comfort level with them…and whether they might be a good fit for you.

Note: you do not need to be a Christian in order to use a Christian counselor. Christian counselors do not impose their faith on others and are trained to work within each person’s point of reference.

WHERE TO FIND ONE?

If you desire to utilize your health insurance to cover some or all of the counseling fees, you can call your insurance company to find their in-network providers near you. You can then contact each of these providers (or checkout their websites) and ask if they are able to provide Christian counseling.

Some other helpful ways to search for Christian counselors include: 

https://christiancareconnect.com/

https://www.christiancounselorsnetwork.com/

Web search (type in: your city, your issue, + “Christian Counselor”)

Ask your church for names of counselors they often refer to.

Ask your school’s counselor(s) for local counselors they refer to.

Ask friends, coworkers, etc. if they know of any Christian counselors near you.

THE SEARCH PROCESS:

-Pray and ask the Lord to help you find a Christian Counselor who can assist your particular needs.

-Search the above places for counselors in your area.

-Read counselor websites and bio’s to determine which ones you resonate with.

-Narrow down to your top 2-3 Christian counselors in your area (or state, as many offer teletherapy).

-Contact these top 2-3 choices and ask about availability, fees, beliefs, and how they incorporate your Christian faith into the process.

-Choose one and begin the journey toward healing and freedom!

And if you’re a woman (13-35yrs old) living in Tennessee and wonder if Christian counseling would be right for you, reach out and let’s setup a 20-minute consultation call where we can determine what you need and whether I’m the best fit! I’d be honored to work with you.