How to Become a Christian Counselor
Many people need counseling during times of crisis and because of difficult life situations. Christians who need this kind of help often feel uncomfortable about going to secular counselors, because they feel their faith and values will not be respected. Fortunately, there are a number of Christian counselors who can offer the aid they need, from a faith-based viewpoint. If you feel called to bring healing into the lives of others, then perhaps becoming a Christian counselor may be a job you want to consider. Read on to learn how to become a Christian counselor.
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Instructions
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Make sure you have a committed relationship with Christ. The clients who come to you are doing so because they want to hear advice from a Biblical, as well as practical, perspective. They can better identify with you if they know that you share their beliefs.
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Have a genuine compassion for others. Counseling involves your having to listen to people who have suffered some of the most traumatic experiences in life. It requires a lot of time, patience and understanding. Remember that this is not just a job, but a "ministry."
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Hone your communication skills. As a counselor, you must be able to effectively impart wisdom to others. You need to know how to get your clients to open up and feel comfortable sharing their deepest feelings with you.
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Get training. Attend a Christian college or university that offers courses in psychology and counseling. You can receive a Bachelor's Degree and even go on to obtain a Master's Degree or a Doctorate, depending upon how much time and money you are wiling and able to put into your education.
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Join a professional association of Christian counselors. You can network with others in your field, attend special conferences, ask for advice, get training and get other help related to Christian counseling. Professional associations can also help get you licensed and certified, as well as assist you in finding job openings.
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Comments
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I would love to become a christian counselor xoxo :)
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akknox
Nov 05, 2008
Hello, Thank you for your article. I have been researching becoming a Christian counselor, and I'm overwhelmed at all the different programs there are. Can you help me narrow down the choices a little bit? Once you have a degree or a certificate from one of these schools, can you go ahead and begin counseling right away? I would appreciate any further information you could give. I feel God's calling to do this, but it's very frustrating because I don't know which program is the best, and I'm afraid of spending a lot of money and then finding out that the degree is not accepted as valid. -
akknox
Nov 05, 2008
Hello, Thank you for your article. I have been researching becoming a Christian counselor, and I'm overwhelmed at all the different programs there are. Can you help me narrow down the choices a little bit? Once you have a degree or a certificate from one of these schools, can you go ahead and begin counseling right away? I would appreciate any further information you could give. I feel God's calling to do this, but it's very frustrating because I don't know which program is the best, and I'm afraid of spending a lot of money and then finding out that the degree is not accepted as valid.
