For those who are struggling with a particular issue and looking for some help from a Christian counselor, finding the right one in the local area can be difficult. Most people do not know anything about the counselors in their area, or where to turn when they are looking for one.
Since most of us don't know of someone offhand that can provide Christian counseling services, it can be incredibly helpful just to know where to start your search. Finding a counselor doesn't have to be difficult if you follow the steps discussed in this article.
To help you in your search for a Christian counselor, we will provide some tips that will point you in the right direction.
1. Ask Your Pastor for a Referral
If you are a church attender, one of the first things you should do is seek the advice of your pastor. Many pastors offer some type of counseling for church members, but frequently they will not be experienced or equipped to help with the specific area in which you are struggling. While most pastors do have some education in counseling, that's not what they spend the majority of their time doing, so don't be surprised if your pastor says that he is not the best person to help you in this situation.
In situations where your pastor cannot help you, there may be someone else on the church staff that can help, or they may have a great referral for you to a local counselor. If this is the case, you'll probably feel more comfortable with the counselor knowing that he/she was referred by your pastor.
Starting with your pastor or church staff members will allow you to see if any help is available within the church, and if not, to get the opinion of someone you trust on who you should see.
2. Ask God for His Assistance with Finding a Counselor
Don't forget to pray for God's help in finding a great Christian counselor! Take a few minutes every day to ask God to lead you to the right person that can help you with the issues that you are facing.
3. Consult Friends and Family
You may not even be aware that some of your friends or family have seen counselors, but many people have. If you feel comfortable approaching your friends and family for advice about finding a counselor, you may be able to get a good referral from someone you trust.
4. Search Online
If none of the other methods have helped you to find a counselor, the internet can be an incredible resource. One option is to do a Google search for a counselor in your local area. Additionally, there are a number of directories of counselors that allow you to search by zip code or city. One such directory can be found at http://www.aacc.net/resources/find-a-counselor/.
Since most of us don't know of someone offhand that can provide Christian counseling services, it can be incredibly helpful just to know where to start your search. Finding a counselor doesn't have to be difficult if you follow the steps discussed in this article.
To help you in your search for a Christian counselor, we will provide some tips that will point you in the right direction.
1. Ask Your Pastor for a Referral
If you are a church attender, one of the first things you should do is seek the advice of your pastor. Many pastors offer some type of counseling for church members, but frequently they will not be experienced or equipped to help with the specific area in which you are struggling. While most pastors do have some education in counseling, that's not what they spend the majority of their time doing, so don't be surprised if your pastor says that he is not the best person to help you in this situation.
In situations where your pastor cannot help you, there may be someone else on the church staff that can help, or they may have a great referral for you to a local counselor. If this is the case, you'll probably feel more comfortable with the counselor knowing that he/she was referred by your pastor.
Starting with your pastor or church staff members will allow you to see if any help is available within the church, and if not, to get the opinion of someone you trust on who you should see.
2. Ask God for His Assistance with Finding a Counselor
Don't forget to pray for God's help in finding a great Christian counselor! Take a few minutes every day to ask God to lead you to the right person that can help you with the issues that you are facing.
3. Consult Friends and Family
You may not even be aware that some of your friends or family have seen counselors, but many people have. If you feel comfortable approaching your friends and family for advice about finding a counselor, you may be able to get a good referral from someone you trust.
4. Search Online
If none of the other methods have helped you to find a counselor, the internet can be an incredible resource. One option is to do a Google search for a counselor in your local area. Additionally, there are a number of directories of counselors that allow you to search by zip code or city. One such directory can be found at http://www.aacc.net/resources/find-a-counselor/.
About the Author:
The author is a counselor for Christian Counseling & Educational Services. CCES provides Christian counselors in Pennsylvania.
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