Biblical Soul Care
What is an Observer?:
An Observer is a person who has fulfilled all the requirements of the Observer Role and desires to watch, learn, and grow in the area of biblical counseling. By observing a biblical counselor, you will see how biblical content is applied in counseling cases and real circumstances. The goal is for you to see practically how God’s Word sufficiently addresses the everyday or complex problems people face so that you might be equipped to admonish the unruly, encourage those who are struggling, help the weak, and be patient with everyone (1 Thess. 5:14; 2 Pet. 1:3).
- Responsibilities of an Observer During Counseling
- As an Observer, you will have a variety of opportunities to learn, grow and serve. Below are some specific ways in which we will ask the Observer to serve.
- Offer intercessory prayer (Romans 12:11-12; Jeremiah 33:3).
- Pray for the counselee and care team.
- Listen intently and take good notes, gathering questions to be asked to the counselor after the counseling session.
- Consider the direction the counselor is going and ask yourself “Do you understand why he or she is doing what is being done?”
- Be prepared to share your thoughts or suggestions if asked by the counselor, especially regarding helpful Scripture or homework assignments that could be used. This will most commonly happen after the counseling session.
- Be a witness to what God is doing (Mark 2:1-12; 2 Timothy 2:24-26).
- Stand as an ambassador for biblical counseling (2 Corinthians 1:3-5 and 5:14-21).
- Privacy and Confidentiality
- As a part of the care team, you must be committed to our confidentiality guidelines. It is best for the counselee if they trust that ALL information given during the session is not going to be repeated. It is the counselee's trust in us that enables them to be vulnerable with us. This is necessary to MINISTER to them. Do not repeat or share information with others about biblical counseling, give prayer requests, or relieve your own troubled mind/heart. While the other reasons for sharing details of a case (besides ministry) may SEEM valid:
- Please do not tell others the name of your counselee.
- Do not share with your friends the struggles of your counselee-- even without saying their name. Remember that the purpose is to minister to the counselee.
- Remember that you are part of a care team. We can express freely to each other and take our burdens to the Lord in order to process what we hear and see.
- Expectations of an Observer
- You will observe the actual 1to 1 to 1.5 hour session.
- You will be asked to stay after each session for possibly 15-30 minutes to assist in processing the session.
- Please do not talk during the counseling session unless specifically asked to do so by the counselor. You are acting as an observer. Any comments you have can be made in the debrief after each session.
- Please do not provide opposing counsel to the counselee and/or advocates in public or private. If at any time you have difficulty with the counsel given, address those concerns with the counselor in private.
- If you have difficulty understanding the counsel given, address this with the counselor alone.
- You may be asked by the lead counselor to read Scripture or pray during the session.
- Please bring your Bible and take notes.
- Requirements to be an Observer
- Watch ten counseling sessions from the Biblical Counseling Observation videos. (This counts towards the needed 10 observation hours in ACBC certification Phase One)
- Read Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands by Paul Tripp and Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
- Ideally, has completed ACBC Fundamental training. (This counts towards ACBC certification Phase One)
- Additional Guidelines
- If the counselee asks YOU to take a message to the team or counselor for them, lovingly support them by asking them to be present at the conversation with the team/counselor. You do not speak for the team, so you should not offer to let the rest of the team know something major. The counselee is to communicate to the team. If you need clarification, contact the lead counselor.
- If you disagree with the counseling advice or something said during the session by the counselor or advocate, use discretion. It is usually best to give the person the benefit of the doubt and immediately ask for clarification as you may have misunderstood. Then, if you still disagree, save the discussion for the care team meeting afterwards. Remember, you are there to observe the counseling session and minister to the counselee, not lead the counseling session. If the lead counselor misunderstands something said by the counselee, it is ok to clarify. You may also be asked your opinion or experience by the counselor during the session. If so, share freely!
- The Role of an Observer Outside of the Counseling Session
- Please pray without ceasing--for your love for the hurting to grow, for the counselee to grow and change, and for the Spirit to move and speak through the process.
- Participate actively in the care team meeting after the session. You have the unique perspective of getting to listen during the session without having to respond. You can watch body language and hear words of all the active parties in the room. You are part of this team, and the team needs your prayer and informational support. We welcome you and trust God to use this experience to grow and change you... as it does every member of the care team in every case!