Biblical Soul Care
Biblical Counseling:
Biblical Basis:
Counseling Roles:
Cost:
The goal of biblical counseling is to help you become more and more like Jesus Christ in attitude, thought, and action. We desire to assist you with the many challenges in your life biblically and practically. In doing so, we hope to help you live your entire life in a God-pleasing/God-honoring way. Although the biblical advice we provide is intended to be practical, it is entirely your decision how to (and whether to) implement that advice. We want to help you love God and love others as we walk with you through this process.
The Counseling Care You Receive Will Be:
- Christ-centered (Colossians 1:15‐20)
- Biblically-grounded with truth and grace (John 1:14)
- Spirit-led (John 6:63)
- Prayer-saturated (Colossians 4:2)
- Community-based (Hebrews 10:24‐ 25)
Biblical Basis:
We believe that the Holy Scriptures (the Bible) provide sufficient guidance and instruction for faith and life (2 Pet. 1:3). Therefore, our counseling is based on Scriptural (biblical) principles rather than those of secular psychology or psychiatry. We are not licensed or certified as psychotherapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health professionals, marriage and family therapists, or social workers, nor are we acting in such capacities.
- Uncertain about Biblical Counseling?
- You may attend one or two sessions to discover what biblical counseling is like.
- Your Responsibility
- Biblical counseling consists of the giving of Scriptural advice and the practical application of the same to each individual. Therefore, the counselee is held fully responsible for the implementation of that advice.
- If you are unwilling to use the Bible as the final authority in counseling or unwilling to do the homework assigned, sessions will be concluded.
- However, we do want to help, and we pray that you will decide to look to God’s Word for guidance as we follow the loving example of Jesus Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we believe that your life can be transformed.
- What Our Biblical Counselors Are Not:
- They do not provide Professional Advice:
- We do not provide legal, tax, financial, medical, or other technical or professional (non-psychological) advice. If you need such advice, you should seek advice from an outside, independent professional. Our ministry staff and lay counselors will be happy to cooperate with any of your other advisors and help you to consider their counsel in the light of relevant Scriptural principles.
- Our counselors are not part of a licensed discipline governed/regulated by any governmental agency.
- Although the counselor may have training in matters and/or employment beyond the scope of biblical counseling, he/she is not acting in that other capacity on behalf of the counselee. Further, the counselor is not liable for such counsel.
- We are not responsible for, nor shall we be liable for any physical, mental, or medical condition of any counselee, whether or not such condition is affected in any way by the counseling process or counsel provided.
- Failure of the counselor to interpret or apply the Bible in any particular way shall not subject the counselor to liability or give rise to complaint by any party. There shall be no legal or other liability that attaches to any counselor or institution for any advice, methods, conduct, or any act or omission related in any way to the service that is provided, and you acknowledge that you are voluntarily seeking this counsel (free from coercion, duress, or pressure).
- Do We Accept Insurance?
- We do not practice as licensed professionals; we do not make diagnoses, nor do we submit insurance claims. Our counseling is a ministry of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. For more information on the cost, please read the section at the end of this document.
- Counselor’s Role:
- Our counselors are not infallible, nor do they pretend to know all there is to know about biblical teaching and its applications to life.
- Our counselors are well equipped and competent to help people change.
- Our counselors will make a point to differentiate between God's commands and their personal recommendations.
- Our counselors will honestly tell you if they are stymied and need to seek help.
- Counselee's Role:
Our goal for you is to experience life lasting change, which cannot take place without a serious commitment from you to invest whole-heartedly in the process.
- Having a Learner’s Spirit
- Your ability to address your problems in a way that honors God and glorifies Him will be directly linked to your willingness to make serious changes in your life by applying new principles.
- We cannot help you if you do not approach this partnership with a learner's spirit.
- Time Invested:
- Your success in addressing your problems depends on the amount of time you invest in completing application assignments as well as implementing new principles in your life between visits.
- Your success requires that you keep counseling appointments.
- Progress will occur when you commit to long-term investments of time and effort toward God-honoring life change.
- Your counselor may discontinue the process if assignments are not completed as requested.
- Safety
- For our counselors to provide the best care you are required to provide them with any concerns you have for your safety.
- Non- Mt. Zion Baptist Church Counselees:
- Our counselors are available to meet with others from outside of our congregation.
- For those outside the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. family, please encourage your pastor from your local church or one of your church’s leaders to accompany you in counseling sessions. We recognize and respect the authority and the discipline of your church. This also makes transfer back to the pastoral care of your church much easier.
- If you are not attending a church, we expect you to attend Mt Zion Baptists Church or another Bible preaching and believing church weekly during the duration of your counseling. If you so desire, we will be glad to offer a recommendation.
- Additional Team Assistance:
- Certain others will be asked to participate during the sessions to create a care team, especially if you are a member of another church.
- Every person asked to participate in the sessions, however, will fully agree to, understand, and be sensitive to the confidentiality requirements addressed below.
- We believe that all believers should strive to make disciples for the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:19-20). With that in mind, we not only seek additional training and/or education for ourselves, but we seek to train and educate others in the biblical counseling arena.
- To accomplish both counseling and training, we may have others assist us in counseling sessions and/or preparation who will have access to your personal information. These individuals are committed to our confidentiality guidelines.
- When a counselor meets with a counselee of the opposite gender, we do require that someone of the counselee's gender be present.
- Long Term Care:
- At Mt. Zion Baptist Church we desire to grow in caring for those in our flock and beyond who are hurting. It is imperative to our mission and your long‐term care that we stay in consistent and regular communication with the leadership of Mt. Zion Baptist Church (Elder/Deacons and Pastoral Staff) and/or the person you have designated/chosen as your Advocate/Mentor.
- This form gives us permission to discuss the necessary information in regard to your situation with the appropriate and concerned parties in accordance with the confidentiality guidelines explained below. Please read the following information carefully.
- Confidentiality:
- Confidentiality is an important aspect of the counseling process, and we will make every effort to protect the information you entrust to us. There are situations, however, when it may be necessary for us to share certain information with others besides the Advocate/Mentor, Observer, Elder/Deacons or pastoral staff:
- When there is a clear indication that someone may be harmed unless others intervene or are consulted
- When a counselor is uncertain of how to address a particular problem and needs to seek advice and wisdom from another pastor, elder/deacon, educator, counselor, professional, or Christian (Proverbs 11:14; 15:22; 24:6)
- When a counselee attends (or attended) another church and we believe it is important to talk with his or her pastor, elder/deacons, or others at that church and/or in leadership
- When a person persistently refuses to renounce a particular sin and it becomes necessary to seek the assistance of others in the church to encourage repentance, confession, and reconciliation (Proverbs 15:22; 24:11; Matthew 18:15‐20)
- When there is evidence or reasonable suspicion of criminal activity (Romans 13:1-7)
- When there is evidence or reasonable suspicion of abuse against a minor child, elderly person, or dependent adult (Romans 13:1-7)
- If we are subpoenaed or court ordered to disclose information (Romans 13:1-7)
- Counseling Minors: We believe the primary responsibility for shepherding and disciplining children and teenagers rests with their parents. Accordingly, when counseling children and teenagers, the counselor may share information from the counseling sessions with either or both custodial parents if the counselor believes it is wise to do so.
- Our Desire:
- Our counselors strongly prefer NOT to disclose any of this personal information to others.
- We will make every effort to be sensitive to your situation.
- We will strive to help you resolve the difficult situations you are experiencing as discreetly as possible.
- Resolution of Conflicts:
- On rare occasions, a conflict may develop between a counselor and a counselee. In order to make sure that any such conflicts will be resolved in a biblical manner, we require all of our counselees to agree that any dispute that arises with a counselor or with any person or entity associated with the counselor and related in any way to his/her biblical counsel, will be settled in the following manner:
- The parties agree to participate in biblical mediation to be conducted by an individual (or individuals) agreed upon by the parties or, if no agreement is reached, by a pastor or elder/deacon from Mt. Zion Baptist Church or, if one is not available, by a Christian, biblical mediator located in the city or region who is certified by Peacemaker Ministries and/or by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors.
- If mediation is unsuccessful, the parties will submit their dispute to legally binding arbitration in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Institute for Christian Conciliation (a copy is available upon request).
- Initially, the parties shall split the cost of the arbitration equally between the two sides. In light of the fact that this counseling is voluntary and not for compensation, counselee waives all rights to special and consequential damages of any nature and waives all claims for negligence arising out of any act or omission of the counselor or anyone working with him/her.
- This agreement and the issues raised in counseling are not matters of public interest; they are private and relate to personal faith and Scripture.
- Judgment upon an arbitration award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction so long as the terms of this agreement were followed.
- Each party will be responsible for his/her own attorneys’ fees, although the prevailing party in any such arbitration shall recover his/her arbitration costs (not attorneys’ fees). The determination of “prevailing party” shall be made by the conciliator/arbitrator after taking the circumstances and claims into consideration.
- This entire agreement shall be binding upon the counselee and his/her family members, assigns, and heirs.
- All counseling is done free of charge as a ministry of Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
- Sometimes, out of gratitude, one may wish to express his / her thanks in a tangible way. In such cases, checks should be made payable to the church, not to the counselor.
- The weekly homework assignments may require purchasing materials that correspond to the counseling.
Having clarified the principles and policies of our counseling ministry, we welcome the opportunity to minister to you in the name of Christ. We desire to be used by God as He helps you grow in spiritual maturity and prepares you for usefulness in His body.