1. What can I expect?
Intent Listening: We encourage the counselee to openly and honestly discuss his thoughts, anxieties, and resentments so that the counselor will have a clear understanding of the central problems.
Team Counseling: There are times when a counseling situation may call for a team approach. In this event, we may ask another counselor to become involved in a session. The counselors can then share insights and opinions with one another which may help bring clarity and resolution to the problem. Team Counseling can be especially helpful in marital counseling; a male and female team can help put both counselees at ease. Also, counselors-in-training may sit in on the counseling sessions to further their own training, with counselee consent.
Assignments: Counselees make more rapid progress when they are required to study or to perform specific informational or behavioral assignments which pertain to the problem. We tailor these assignments to the individual counselee and the circumstances.
Accountability: Counselors are interested in individuals learning how to experience the peace and joy that result from a walk of obedience to God’s Word, and we hold the counselees accountable for doing their assignments on schedule.
2. How long does biblical counseling take?
Counseling will vary in the amount of time required according to the individual, his motivation, and the particular problem. On the average, however, biblical counseling requires far less time than conventional secular counseling. Simple problems are often solved in just a few sessions. Severe problems may require a longer period. Substance abuse problems may require many more sessions, with intensive accountability and follow-up.
3. How much does it cost?
It’s FREE! All counseling is done free of charge as a ministry of Graham Church.
4. What about confidentiality?
Our counselors recognize the importance of confidentiality and exercise great care in guarding information you entrust to us. But if information is revealed in counseling which indicates a genuine potential for harm to a counselee or others, the counselor may be required by law or Biblical mandate to share that information with the appropriate authorities or family members. Absolute confidentiality is not Scriptural; matters of church discipline (cf. Mt. 18:15ff.) for instance, under certain circumstances, require one to disclose facts to others. There are also times when a counselor may consult fellow counselors for advice.
5. What type of problems do we address?
The Bible addresses all the complexities we face in life, and our counselors are trained to assist you in them. Marriage, parenting, anxiety, worry, fear, anger, depression, addictions, self-injury, eating disorders, abuse, ADD, compulsive behavior, panic attacks, etc. are all areas in which we can provide guidance. We can not address physiological issues, but we may request to consult your medical doctor for better assistance.
Please note that our counselors’ priority is toward our church attenders, and then those outside of the church. Counseling is limited to availability.
For questions, or to coordinate counseling, please contact the church office at 517.675.5401 or send an e-mail to us at counseling@grahamchurch.org