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Professional Counseling Resources

The Bible affirms on many occasions the importance of seeking counsel. When making plans or if lacking wisdom, it is wise to seek the Lord as well as a competent counselor (see Psalm 139:23-24; Proverbs 11:14; 15:22; 20:18; James 1:5; John 14:26). God is the healer, and He frequently uses His servants to facilitate the healing process. The Grace Church Ministry staff and ministries regularly make referrals to professional Christian counselors when more than brief pastoral counseling is needed. It is our hope that this information will be helpful to you as you pursue your healing journey.

Grace Church refers to a variety of mental health professionals, but the referrals identified in this resource list do not necessarily imply a complete endorsement by Grace Church. Although we try to avoid recommending clinics and clinicians whose views and practices are not in accord with the Grace Church Statement of Faith, values, or philosophy of ministry, it is not always possible to ensure complete agreement. Persons seeking a counselor or mental health professional are urged to carefully screen two or three prospective counseling providers to their own satisfaction.

A professional counselor will be glad to answer your questions directly, schedule permitting. If this is not your experience, then you are advised to seek another provider. You may wish to schedule a 10-minute phone appointment to interview the counselor prior to having an office visit. If insurance is a consideration, knowing your mental health provider options and restrictions is helpful before contacting a prospective provider.

A suggested list of important questions to ask the provider includes:

Licensing and education
While a license or education does not guarantee a professional's competence or suitability for your situation, they can be indicators of their professional qualifications. There are also skilled unlicensed providers who may be in the licensure process and are under the supervision of a licensed professional or who are in the final stages of completing their studies. In addition, in most cases insurance reimbursement for mental health care is a possibility only if the provider is licensed and a certain level of education has been completed.

Professional experience and specialization
Ask if the provider has experience in counseling people with your specific concern. How many years have they been in practice? Is this an area of their specialty? Be advised that interns are generally less experienced, offer a lower fee, and receive supervision from a more experienced provider.

Specific views and integration of Christianity
Ask the provider how they integrate their Christian faith into their counseling practice. You may want to explore how they utilize the Bible and prayer in counseling. You will also want to know how they approach certain issues pertaining to your situation (e.g. abuse, anxiety, depression, marital separation, divorce, etc.)

Fees and insurance eligibility
Ask about their fee and insurance reimbursement (if applicable). Some have a sliding fee scale or a minimum fee for which they will agree to provide counseling services. Know what you will be paying before beginning your counseling. If financial stress makes it nearly impossible to pursue professional counseling, asking for a lower fee intern is advised. In addition, a counseling scholarship may be available through application to the Grace Church Benevolent Fund for individuals who have been a regular part of the Grace Church family for a minimum of six months. Contact the Care and Connecting Office at 952-224-3023 for more information.

Scheduling availability
Some providers may not be taking new clients. Some may have a waiting list. Others may have openings in a month and some can be scheduled within a week or two. Whatever the case may be, ask about their availability and if you will be able to get an appointment in a timely manner, both to get started and for subsequent appointments.

Related questions for the provider

• How do you handle non-emergency calls?
• How do you handle emergency calls?
• If I need medication, who would evaluate me and prescribe it?
• Who would have access to my records and under what circumstances?
• What are your expectations of me as a client?
• Where exactly is your office located?

Moving forward 
After deciding from whom you desire to receive professional counseling, schedule your first appointment and complete any preliminary paperwork required. You may also wish to sign a release form that permits the provider to speak with a previous care provider with whom you have counseled in the past. This can be helpful to provide both a history of your situation as well as continuity of care with others in your support network. Commit yourself to praying for your counselor and for yourself as you work together to seek God's wisdom and healing in your life.

Continue to assess the provider you have chosen during your initial office visits. If you sense that the relationship is not a good fit, discuss your dissatisfaction with them or the clinic director. Also, do not quit counseling just because you hear something you don't like. The provider may be identifying a sensitive issue that needs attention. It is not wise, however, to try and maintain a therapeutic relationship that just does not seem to work. If you need to make a change, seek additional referrals and continue moving forward.

We pray that God's peace, comfort and wisdom will bring great blessings to you as you seek His healing and guidance. If additional assistance is desired in the referral process, please contact the Grace Church at 952-224-3023.

Transforming Prayer Ministry Resources

Transforming Prayer Ministry (TPM) is intentional and focused prayer with the desired outcome of an authentic encounter with the presence of Christ, resulting in mind renewal and subsequent transformed life.

TPM is not about diagnosing mental disorders but rather about helping people to discern the lies they believe and receiving truth from the Lord. A consultation with a qualified Christian mental health professional is recommended for people who appear to have significant mental health concerns.

More information about TPM can be found at www.theophostic.com; and the book, Healing Life's Hurts, is available through the Grace Church Care and Connecting office (952-224-3023).

The following counseling resources have at least one therapist who uses TPM. The addresses and phone numbers for these resources are listed in the table above:

• Center for Christian Spiritual Development
• Christian Marriage Center
• Christian Recovery Center
• Erickson, Donna
• Fleming, Dawn
• Johnson, Beverly
• Johnson, Brad
• Johnson, Vicki
• Pathways Psychological Services
• Shield of Faith
• Sweeney, Susan @ A Therapy Place

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Community and Other Resources*

*Not all of the Community resources listed are Christ-centered. Inquirers will need to "screen" the desired resource to their own satisfaction.

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