How to Find a Christian Counselor

If you are struggling with something in your life you may be interested in getting help from a qualified Christian counselor. But located the right counselor for you and your situation can sometimes be challenging and frustrating. Most of us aren’t aware of the counselors that are available in our local area.

Because for most of us scheduling an appointment with a counselor is not as easy as scheduling a checkup with the family doctor, knowing some effective ways of locating the right counselor can be extremely useful.

In this article we’ll look at a few methods for finding a counselor and how you should start your search.

1. Start with Your Pastor

For those who attend church, the pastor can be a great resource. Many pastors offer counseling services to people of the congregation who may be in need. However, most pastors will not have the experience to deal with all situations. In these cases, the pastor may do what they are capable of, and refer other people to counselors in the area.

In situations where your pastor cannot help you, there may be someone else on the church staff that can help, or they may have a great referral for you to a local counselor. If this is the case, you’ll probably feel more comfortable with the counselor knowing that he/she was referred by your pastor.

Starting with your pastor or church staff members will allow you to see if any help is available within the church, and if not, to get the opinion of someone you trust on who you should see.

2. Pray for Your Search

Prayer is always a great response when you do not know what else to do. If you’re having trouble finding a counselor, set aside some time each day to ask God to help you find the right person for your situation.

3. Consult Friends and Family

Depending on the nature of the situation and how much you are willing to share with others, don’t be afraid to ask family or friends if they have experience with any Christian counselors or if they have anyone that they could refer you to in your local area. If others that you know have been through counseling before, you may be able to get a good referral this way to find the right person for you.

4. Use the Internet

If your search is not leading to any referrals from people that you know, the internet is also a great resource that can provide plenty of information. To find a counselor that is close to you, do a Google search for Christian counselor and include your state or town. This should lead you to at least a few pages that can help you. If you search for directories of counselors you will find several that allow you to search by zip code to find one in your area.

The author provides counseling services with CCES in Hanover, PA. You can get more information about their Christian counseling services from their website.