What Counseling Here Is, and What It Isn’t
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom.”
What It Is
Careful Listening
Many questions before much of an answer, so counsel fits your actual life.
Intensely Practical
Real work between sessions, not just conversation in the room.
A Ministry of the Church
Free to members, regular attenders, and active participants.
Confidential
Carefully guarded, within the limits we state up front.
A Season, Not a Fixture
Aimed at an end, leading back into the ordinary life of discipleship.
What It Isn’t
Licensed Psychotherapy
We are not mental health professionals or health care providers.
Medical Care
We give no medical advice, and never advise changing a medication.
Legal or Financial Counsel
For those matters, please see an independent professional.
A Dismissal of Suffering
Real pain, physical illness, and trauma are taken seriously here.
An Emergency Service
When someone is in danger, call 911 or 988 first, then tell us.
We are certified through the ACBC (Association of Certified Biblical Counselors) or IBCD (Institute of Biblical Counseling and Discipleship), or are working toward certification under supervision. They are not licensed psychotherapists or mental health professionals, and should not be expected to follow the methods of such specialists.
How It Works
Nothing about the process is meant to be mysterious. Here is what to expect from the first email to the last session.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Reach Out
Contact the church office and let us know you'd like counseling. There's no polished way to ask. A short email is enough.
Personal Data Inventory
You'll fill out our intake form before your first session. It helps your counselor understand your history and your situation before you sit down.
Informed Consent
Before counseling begins, you'll read and sign the Informed Consent Agreement, so nothing about how we counsel is a surprise to you.
Weekly Sessions
You'll meet with a counselor, usually weekly. Sessions involve listening, Scripture, prayer, and homework to work through between meetings. A trainee may observe, and an advocate may attend with you.
Conclusion & Discipleship
Counseling is a season, not a permanent arrangement. When it concludes, the goal is that you keep growing in the ordinary life of the church.
If You Are In Danger
Counseling is not an emergency service. If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, or is at risk of harming themselves or someone else, please call for help right now. Then tell us, because we want to walk with you through it.
- Emergency:911
- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:988(call or text)
- Alabama Domestic Violence Hotline:1-800-500-1119
- Morgan County DHR:(256) 301-8800
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
We follow written protocols for domestic abuse, child abuse reporting, and risk of harm to self or others, in keeping with Alabama law and our duty to protect the vulnerable.
Ready When You Are
You don’t need to have it figured out. Request care through our portal, or reach out to the church office, and we’ll go from there.