CHRISTIAN
Counseling Handbook
A ministry of the Christian Family & Children's Center
WELCOME TO
THE CHRISTIAN COUNSELING SERVICES
Member of the American Association of Christian Counselors
The following information has been put together to help you know more about the Christian Counseling Services at the Center. This handbook is designed to answer many of the common questions that people have about using our counseling services. Please read the handbook completely and discuss any questions you might have with your counselor.
The Christian Counseling Services began in May 1995 as part of the Center's attempt to provide biblically based programs which support the family. We really believe there is help in these services for you and your family.
Starting counseling can be a difficult step. We hope and pray that we can make it as comfortable as possible for you. We want to join with you under God's direction to meet some of the needs you may be experiencing. It is important for you to know that many people (probably some of your friends) have used counseling to help them through tough issues. In reality, we all can benefit from discerning, godly counsel. In seeking help through counseling, you are making a wise choice that will help you the rest of your life.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the Christian Counseling Services, or the Center itself.
Sincerely,
D. Merle Skinner, Executive Director, Christian Family & Children's Center
STATEMENT OF FAITH:
The Indian Creek Valley Christian Family and Children's Center, and therefore the Christian Counseling Services which is a part of the Center, subscribes to the following statement of faith:
1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
3. We believe in the deity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful men regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by Whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
6. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS . . .
... that you may have can be addressed to the counselor, to the Director of the Christian Family & Children's Center, or to the Board of Directors of the Center by calling (724) 455-2122, Fax: (724) 455-6651, or by writing to:
CHRISTIAN COUNSELING SERVICES, 2166 INDIAN HEAD ROAD, CHAMPION, PA 15622, email: info@champion.org
REFERRALS:
Professional referrals from pastors, counselors, schools, or other institutions can be made by telephone, word or mouth, or letter. Those referral sources should supply:
1. The name, address, and telephone number of the person (or family, couple, etc.) in need of help.
2. A short statement of the need, area of concern, or problem to be addressed.
3. Any expectations of the Christian Counseling Services in its role of helping the person referred.
4. Any other relevant/helpful information that may be shared with the Christian Counseling Services concerning situations, background, motivations, concerns, limitations, etc. relating to the person or his problem. Confidential information should be shared only by permission from the client in the context of his/her agreement with the referral process.
The referring agency should let the person know that the referral contact has been made with us, and assure the person of our readiness to be available to help in counseling. The person needing the help is then encouraged to take the initiative to call the Christian Counseling Services for an appointment.
Within an appropriate time frame, someone from the Christian Counseling Services will respond back to the referral source to confirm that the person has made contact for counseling. If appropriate, and if the client approves through a signed release, it is regular procedure of the Christian Counseling Services to periodically inform the referring agency of the general status of the counseling process.
SCRIPTURE AS NORMATIVE FOR COUNSELING:
The statement above, that the Bible is our authority, has very practical implications for counseling. The counselors at the Christian Counseling Services vitally depend upon "every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Mt. 4:4 and Deut. 8:3) for practical direction, counseling wisdom, and spiritual authority for the ministry of counseling. Scripture is our basis for counseling because it is "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness". (II Tim. 3:16) Our position is not to imply that we have any exclusive insight on "the right" position or scriptural interpretation, nor to be dogmatic about any particular issue, doctrine, or scriptural emphasis. Our counselors are committed to allowing God to deal with each person however He will, and to allowing each person to respond in freedom and integrity to the Lord and His Word.
As a generality, however, our counsel assumes that the family (based upon the scriptural terms of marriage) is a God-ordained phenomenon; that divorce, homosexuality, abortion, drunkenness, sex outside of marriage, and many other social, moral, or ethical prohibitions do not conform to God's norm as outlined in scripture. At the same time, it is not our role to stand in a judgmental position on any of these (or dozens of other) issues. Our role is to apply the grace, forgiveness, and healing of God to those areas of dysfunction that we are given freedom to address, and to do so with neither condemnation nor doctrinal predisposition.
While we as counselors may have strong personal convictions on any given issue; as an interdenominational ministry, our desire is to address each of those issues that may come up in a counseling session from your perspective as nearly as we can - and to do so in the framework of Biblical and personal integrity. Because of the Center's orientation, you may feel comfortable in knowing that your personal doctrinal positions on scripture will be respected and honored.
IN COUNSELING, WE ENCOURAGE . . .
SCRIPTURAL THERAPY:
One of the highest criteria of our counseling is that it is SCRIPTURAL, that is, based on the Bible and consistent with the principles that the Bible contains. We take Jesus' words seriously when He said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." We have seen that promise help people become free over and over in counseling. After all He promised us that He A...came that you might have life, and have it abundantly (that is that life would be full of meaning and purpose and fulfillment). That's our goal. That's His promise.
COUNSELING AS A PARTNERSHIP
We view therapy as a partnership between us, the counselor and the client. Unlike a visit to the physician, it requires your very active involvement. The Lord is an active Participant in the process of therapy as well.
KEEPING THE COUNSELOR-CLIENT ROLE OBJECTIVE
In your best interests and according to the APA's standards, the counselor cannot have any other major role in your life. He cannot be a close friend or socialize with any of his clients. He cannot be a therapist to someone who is already a close friend. Any personal, romantic, or business relationship with any of his clients other than the therapy relationship is completely excluded.
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU:
It is important to us to affirm each person's dignity, well-being, and privacy in every way possible. We want you to feel cared for, understood, and appreciated while we stand with you to help facilitate the healing process. This is true no matter what your situation or problem.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
If for any reason it would seem to be helpful to you or the counselor to confer with other agencies or professional people in the course of counseling, the client(s) involved would express their consent to sharing information with that other person by signing a "release of information" form. Our commitment to maintain confidentiality means that nothing will be shared with anyone outside the context of the Christian Counseling Services supervision process.
By state law, a counselor, pastor, or psychologist is legally required to share certain information with the appropriate authorities if the counselor learns of a crime about to be (or having been) committed; or certain information dealing with abuse situations, for the protection of the victim in such situations. Failure to make such legally required disclosure is a violation of the law.
COUNSELING IS PART OF THE CENTER:
The Christian Counseling Services is part of the Christian Family & Children's Center and thus from time to time we will be telling you through a newsletter some of the events that are happening at the Center.
TESTING:
After the first session (sometimes after the initial contact) it often becomes apparent that some testing would be helpful to the assessment and therapeutic process. Most tests cost $35.00 to administer (for individual or couple), which covers both the cost of the materials as well as the analyst's time in scoring and interpreting the tests.
SUPERVISION:
All counselors are professionally supervised by the consulting staff, the executive Director of the Center, and the Center Board of Directors, to assure the highest possible level of quality service and accountability to you, the client. Information discretely shared with supervisors is held in strictest confidence. That supervision is intended to address such issues as objectivity, professional integrity, assurance of the best therapeutic approach; and aims to provide accountability of method, direction, and results of counseling.
WRITTEN REPORTS FOR COURTS, REFERRALS, OR OTHER PROFESSIONALS:
If it is necessary for one of the counselors to write a report for any professional agency such as the court, another counselor, or a referral, the client will be charged a fee of $80.00 for each report requested.
FEES:
COUNSELING RATES ARE:
$80.00 for a two hour session
$60.00 for a one-&-one half hour (1 and 1/2 hr.)
$40.00 for a one hour session
SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT:
Prospective clients may contact the Center directly by calling (724) 455-2122 and asking for the Christian Counseling Services, or for one of the counselors by name. If a person from the Christian Counseling Services is not available, the client should leave his name and telephone number, and a counselor will return the call.
MISSED APPOINTMENTS:
If you need to cancel your appointment, please do so at least one hour before the scheduled meeting time. We reserve the right to bill clients for missed appointments if they do not notify at least 1 hour in advance. In the event an appointment is missed without notification, advance payment must be made before scheduling the next appointment.
WHAT ABOUT TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS?
Because of emergency situations, need for clarification, counseling follow-up, or transportation difficulties, it is sometimes necessary to use the telephone rather than face-to-face conversations, with the counselor. Extended phone conversations (longer than 10 minutes) with the counselor will be charged at the same rate as the face-to-face sessions, $80.00 for 2 hr. and $40.00 an hour. Short phone consultations, or conversations specifically other than counseling, of course, are not charged.
WHAT ABOUT INSURANCE?
We do not accept insurance coverage for counseling. We have attempted to keep our costs low enough for the majority of our clients to afford counseling.
COUNSELING WITH CHILDREN:
While we do individual counseling with children and adolescents, it is always done in the context of family therapy. As a general policy, we do not work with children apart from counseling with their parents. Following the biblical model, we usually work primarily with the parents to equip them to offer long term change within the family.
WHEN, AND HOW, IS PAYMENT DUE?
Payment is due at the end of each session, and can be given directly to the counselor(s) or to the secretary/receptionist if there is one at the desk. Payments can be made by cash, check, Visa, MasterCard or Discovery Card. Checks should be written to: " Christian Counseling Services" or "CCS"
If you are unable to make payment at the end of the session, we will send a statement to you within the next few days to help you keep track of what is due. New sessions will not be scheduled or conducted if a client is more than one session behind in payment. If a different payment schedule needs to be made, please contact the office.
WHAT ABOUT SPECIAL PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS
FOR THOSE IN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY?
Arrangements may be made for financial assistance. One half of the counseling fee must be paid as scheduled. The other half can be taken care of by obtaining a job at the Center along with a scholarship from the Christian Counseling Services. If you chose this option, please contact the Center as soon as possible to make an appointment with the financial assistance office. You will need to pay the full amount for counseling until you have filled out the necessary papers and talked with the financial office. You may find out more about the financial aid program at the Center by visiting our Financial Aid Web Resource.
HOW THE COUNSELING SESSION WORKS:
As the appointment is made, it will be specified with whom the session is to take place; that is, whether it is to be attended by husband and wife together, one person only, or the whole family. At that time, clarification will be made as to who will be doing the counseling: an individual counselor or a team.
Unless other arrangements are made, the counseling session will take place in the upstairs counseling room in the administrative wing of the Christian Family and Children's Center, (South Campus). Located in Indian Head.
We have reserved parking at the west side (lower) of the facility which several different programs utilize. It is marked "counseling parking". After parking there, follow the sidewalk to the rear entrance and up the stairs to the counseling waiting area. Your counselor will meet you when it is time for your appointment.
You are encouraged to dress casually and comfortably. Restrooms, a drink of water, tissues, and any other amenity is provided to help you feel at ease, relaxed, and as comfortable as possible.
Typically, the majority of the first session or two will be dedicated to sharing and processing background information which will aid in assessment or diagnosis.
You are encouraged to freely ask any questions of the counselor about his background, experience or expertise, services offered, or counseling philosophy. It is very important that you feel comfortable with the counselor and have an open relationship of trust and harmony with him and the Center.
Often, before the session is finished, the counselor will provide an "assignment" for the client to do: sometimes an activity to work on, perhaps some scriptures to read, or a relational discipline to begin to undertake. We take seriously the problems and situations shared with us, and encourage each client to invest whatever is necessary to realize all the growth and healing that is possible.
ABOUT THE CENTER:
The Center is a non-profit interdenominational Christian organization dedicated to meeting the growing needs of families and children, by integrating psychological and developmental concepts within a biblical and Christian framework. It is the goal of the Center to help build the strong family unit as depicted in scripture. The Center currently also offers a Preschool Program, Champion Christian School K-12, New Horizons Crisis Pregnancy Center, and periodically does workshops, consulting, and Bible studies focused on family issues.
Any program offered by the Center will be available to anyone, regardless of their age, sex, nationality, race, color, handicap, ancestry, or religious orientation.
For more information about the Center or any of our services, stop in, call, write or find us on the web: www.champion.org
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