Finding a counselor, Christian or not, can be a headache. The last thing you need when looking for help is to encounter more stress and problems. These 10 easy steps will teach you what to look for in a Christian counselor and how to make sure you find the best fitting counselor for your personality and your needs.
Step 1 Ask yourself
Ask yourself some basic questions such as why are you seeking counseling? What type of counseling do you need? What do you need from your Ratgeber? These first questions will be crucial in helping you narrow down your list of counselors later and really pinpoint the one who is best for you.
Step 2 Researching Payment and Pricing
Before you can attend counseling you need to determine how you will pay for it. Generally there are 8 different ways to pay for counseling, cash, credit, insurance, scaled billing, donations, utilizing free services, payment plans and government aid. Not all counselors accept the same forms of payment. Find out which payment option will work best for you then eliminate those counselors off your list that you could not pay for.
Step 3 Research the Counselors Education
When you are seeking Christian counseling this is a critical step. Counseling degrees can offer a wide variety of experiences. Almost no two counselors receive the same education. Before you start attending a counselor make sure that they were educated by a school that meets your religious needs. For example, if a school is notoriously liberal and promotes atheism and abortion then the counselor will more than likely not be a good fit for you. Similarly if you are pro abortion and are agnostic or atheist this counselor might be just what you were looking for.
Step 4 Research Their Reputation
People always review their favorite products, and the products they felt were the biggest waste of time and or money. Amazingly, fewer people review something as important as a counselor but if you look you will usually find at least something. Scour the internet by searching the counselors name in quotations in Google. Find out what others are saying about them, it might by a good indication of what you would experience.
Step 5 Understanding the Counselors Theoretical Orientation
There are many theoretical orientations that determine how a counselor approaches therapy. Most counselors utilize numerous theories but usually have a favorite. Depending on what you are going into therapy for some theories may be more applicable to you than others. Another determining factor is the amount of time that a therapist has. Certain theoretical orientations do not mesh well with Christianity; make sure that the theoretical orientation of your counselor does not clash with your religious beliefs. A conflict in belief systems could prevent a successful counseling outcome.
Step 6 Who Does the Counselor Reporting To?
Every counselor is licensed by an organization and they must report to that organization. The organization sets up their code of conduct and requires that the counselor perform in a certain way in order to maintain their license. For a state licensed counselor a state department will be in charge of their practice. A Christian counselor on the other hand reports to an organization known as NCCA as well as a church. In most cases the church is going to monitor their practice more closely than the NCCA. You will want to find out which church they are working under and learn a little about the church. The relationship between the church and counselor can tell you a lot about the counselor.
Step 7 Code of Conduct
Every counselor has a code of conduct that is outlined by either the state or NCCA. Every client should read this code of conduct in order to be informed about their rights and responsibilities of themselves as well as their counselor. Most individuals never read this code of conduct, they usually sign paperwork saying that they are aware of their rights but how could they if they never took the time to read the code of conduct? Take the time to protect yourself and your counselor.
Step 8 Contact the Counselor
Once you have narrowed down the list contact the counselor you think will be the closest match based on the information you have gathered. Tell them that you are looking for a counselor and you would like to meet them prior to deciding if you would like to become a patient of theirs.
Step 9 Meet With the Counselor
This is your opportunity to determine how well the counselor fits your needs. Can you see yourself having a successful counseling relationship with this person? Do you see eye to eye on important issues relating to religion? This is your opportunity to voice your opinions and your concerns. Be up front with the counselor that way there are no surprises later. If the counselor does not work out for you don’t be afraid to ask for a referral the counselor probably knows of another counselor who could help you.
Step 10 You Know Best
After completing steps 1 through 9 it really all comes down to the fact that you know best. The Ratgeber  won’t be able to tell you if they are a good fit for you because they don’t know you. They are miracle workers but not mind readers. Use your common sense, your intuition, and your acquired knowledge to make an informed decision.
