Christian counseling is the process in which a professional counselor uses the tools of the mental health profession, the truths of the Bible, and the wisdom of life experience to help those in need.
A professional counselor is one who has a graduate degree at the masters or doctoral level and is credentialed by a governing body upon completion of rigorous requirements and examinations. At ACC, this includes psychologists (PhD or PsyD), licensed professional counselors (LPC), and licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT).
The tools of the mental health profession include a wide range of techniques and assessment tools such as individual psychotherapy, marital, family, and group therapy, psychological testing, etc.
The truths of the Bible include all the teachings of Scripture but especially those that bear on our relationship with God and with one another. The Bible offers profound truths regarding human nature, sin, redemption, and grace. The Christian counselor measures all other concepts or ideas by the truths of Scripture. Though we are guided by these teachings, we do not impose our views on our clients but rather meet them where they are.
The wisdom of life experience is the learning that each counselor and client bring to the counseling situation to aid in the process of understanding or change.
Those in need are the clients who find their way to a counselor’s office. They are adults, children, couples, and families. They may be self-referred, or may come at the suggestion of a pastor, physician, loved one, former client, teacher, or friend. The needs they bring can range from being helped through a job change, to recovering from profound abuse.