Counseling Agreement for Hope Bible Church

Before Beginning Biblical Counseling

In order to make our first session as profitable as possible we would ask you to give careful attention to the following items. If you have any questions regarding the content of this agreement, please call the church office and we will be glad to answer any questions you might have. If you are unable to complete these before our first scheduled meeting, please call to reschedule your appointment.

If you are unfamiliar with biblical counseling, please click here to understand the kind of counseling we offer.

Consent and Commitment to Biblical Counseling

Our Goal — Our goal in providing biblical counseling is to help you meet the challenges of life in a way that will please and honor the Lord Jesus Christ and allow you to enjoy fully His love for you and His plans for your life.

Biblical Basis — We believe that the Bible provides guidance and instruction for faith and life. Therefore, our counseling is based on scriptural principles rather than those of secular psychology or psychiatry. The counselors of this ministry are neither licensed as psychotherapists or mental health professionals. It should be understood that biblical counseling consists of the giving of scriptural counsel and the practical application of the Bible to each individual. Yet, the counselee is held fully responsible for how he or she implements that counsel.

We are confident that the Bible has all of the information necessary for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). There are no problems between people that the Bible fails to address either in general or specific principles. Our counselors are not infallible, nor do they pretend to know all there is to know about biblical teaching and its applications to life, but they are well equipped and competent to help people change. They will make a point to differentiate between God's commands and their suggestions.

Professional Advice — In the process of biblical counseling there are often times when there is a need for significant advice with regards to legal, medical, financial or other technical areas. In those cases, you will be encouraged by your counselor to seek independent professional advice. Our counselors will cooperate with such advisors and help you to consider their advice in the light of relevant scriptural principles.

Confidentiality — Confidentiality is an important aspect of the counseling process and we will carefully guard the information you entrust to us.

However, absolute confidentiality is not biblical; in certain circumstances the Bible requires that facts be disclosed to selected others (Matt. 18:15ff). If church leadership should inquire about your situation, we will disclose to them only that information which we believe is necessary for them to effectively and biblically fulfill their responsibility to shepherd you.

There are five situations when it may be necessary for us to share certain information with others: 1) when a counselor is uncertain how to address a particular problem and needs to seek advice from another pastor or counselor; 2) when a counselee attends another church and it is necessary to talk with his or her pastor or elders, 3) when there is a clear indication that someone may be harmed unless others intervene, 4) when a person persistently refuses to renounce a particular sin and it becomes necessary to seek assistance from others in the church to encourage repentance and reconciliation (see Matthew 18:15-20; Proverbs 15:22; 24:11) or 5) when criminal activity has been committed and the counselee refuses to bring the matter to the attention of local authorities. Please be assured that our counselors strongly prefer not to disclose personal information to others, and they will make every effort to help you find ways to resolve a problem as privately as possible.

Resolution of Conflicts — On rare occasions a conflict may develop between a counselor and a counselee. In order to make sure that any such conflicts will be resolved in a biblically faithful manner, we require all of our counselees to agree that any dispute that arises with a counselor as a result of counseling will be settled by mediation and, if necessary, legally binding arbitration in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Institute for Christian Conciliation; judgment upon arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. (We will be happy to provide you with booklets that explain that Christian conciliation process and describe its benefits and procedures.)

Termination of Counseling — It is our desire that the counseling arrangement will conclude with a resumption of healthy participation into the church and your life contexts. However, at any time during the counseling process, the counselor or counselee, has the option to terminate the counseling arrangement.

Expectations and Commitments — As your counselor invests in you, he will also have some expectations of you. First, it is important that you be honest and be willing to trust your counselor. It will be very difficult to find help if you seek to hide or deceive away from the hard truth of your situation. Second, your counselor will regularly send you away from each meeting with a bit of homework. Since the hard work of change happens more outside of the counseling meeting, this homework will be purposeful and necessary to work toward genuine and lasting change. Last, your counselor will be looking for a commitment of time. Problems and bad habits develop over long periods of time and often cannot be broken in a matter of days. For this reason, your counselor will be looking for a commitment to attend regular meetings.

Normally, counseling sessions will last from one to one and one half hours each week or bi-weekly and will continue until as long as it is necessary, appropriate, and helpful to do so. If you accept and apply the counsel you are given, in most cases counseling will last less than 12 sessions. However, if the counselor does not observe noticeable change in heart, mind, or action in the first few weeks, he or she will seek to identify the cause and discuss it with you to help you to correct it.

If you are unable to come to any of the counseling sessions, please notify your counselor as soon as possible. You can help the counselor make wise use of their time by letting them know in advance that you cannot make it.

In order to achieve lasting victory over the problems of life, it is vital that each person becomes established in a consistent Christian walk. The Lord has provided the local church to help in this process (Heb. 10:24-25). Therefore, it is important that counseling sessions be accompanied by church activities that encourage discipleship and fellowship. For this reason, as part of your counseling we request that you attend at least two services or ministries each week (e.g., a weekly worship service and a Sunday school class). We also strongly encourage HBC members to join a small group which meets on various days during the week.

You will need a notebook and your Bible at all sessions, including the first. Be sure to bring them each time. Come with high expectations! You will find hope and encouragement even during your first session. From then on, with your cooperation, we are confident that you will find the true, good and acceptable answer to the difficulty that prompted you to come to us.

Having clarified the principles and policies of our counseling ministry, we welcome the opportunity to minister to you in the name of Christ and to be used by Him as He helps you to grow in spiritual maturity and prepares you for usefulness in His body. If you have any questions about these guidelines, please talk with Pastor Gabe.

I, ______________________, have carefully read the conditions for counseling set forth in this document and agree to enter into counseling in accordance with them.

Signature: _______________________   Date: _____________________

I am filling out this PDI form on behalf of the counselee:

My name: ___________________________ Relationship: _______________________