How to Train to Be a Christian Counselor
As a Christian counselor, you have the opportunity to help people who are in pain and who need guidance. Christian counselors operate in much the same way as secular counselors, except that they counsel people according to a Biblical worldview. Different levels of schooling, training and certification exist, and a counselor who wants people to take him seriously will evaluate his options regarding how to train to be a Christian counselor.
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Instructions
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Decide whether you want to engage in counseling as a ministry or as a professional career. The decision you make determines what kind of degrees, licenses or certifications you need, if any. Professional counselors can charge for their services. Depending on state laws, members of the clergy may be able to charge for their services as well.
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Earn a degree in Christian counseling. A degree gives you the credentials and skills to operate as a professional counselor. You can specialize in counseling for certain groups of people, such as married couples or singles, or you can cater to the general population.
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Obtain a Christian counseling license from the state if you plan to operate as a professional counselor. Counselors who go this route will be bound by state laws, which forbid promoting one's faith or religious beliefs unless the counselee specifically asks for help in this area.
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Become certified by a Christian organization such as the National Christian Counselors Association or American Association of Christian Therapists. Certification allows counselors to freely use the Bible to provide guidance to counselees. You don’t have to have a degree to obtain certification as a Christian counselor.
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