1. What kind of counseling is offered?
2. What are common counseling issues that are addressed in counseling?
3. What are the qualifications of the counselors?
4. Why don’t you charge for counseling?
5. I attend a church other than Faith Baptist. Can I still receive counseling?
6. How long are the counseling sessions?
7. What can I expect in counseling?
8. I need counseling but don’t know about being “born-again” or anything like that. Can I still receive counseling?
9. How can I contact the Pastor in case of emergency or if I am in a Crisis?
10. What’s the difference between Biblical and “Christian” Counseling.

1. What kind of counseling is offered?

Biblical counseling (also known as ‘nouthetic’ counseling) is the type of counseling offered. It is the closest resemblance to what the bible describes as discipleship. It is the process of helping someone with a difficulty in life, identifying the problem biblically, and seeking the solution from the Scriptures. The goal of nouthetic counseling is to restore an individual to usefulness in the body of Christ. It does not seek to ‘cure’ the individual receiving counseling, it seeks to equip the individual with the necessary resources that lead them to deeper reliance upon the sufficiency of Christ and His help to overcome their problem.

2. What are common counseling issues that are addressed in counseling?

It is our belief that God’s word addresses all life issues that keep people from living a fruitful and productive life that pleases Him. God’s word is sufficient in addressing these issues either specifically or in a general manner. Although this is not an exhaustive list , we frequently help people in areas such as pre-marital counseling, marital, divorce, single’s concerns, family conflict, parent / child relationship issues, substance abuse, addictions, compulsions, fear, anxiety, depression, grief, self esteem/self image , codependency, physical or sexual abuse. We realize that each person’s problems are unique to them and we attempt to help each one with the compassion and care that are reflects Christ-like character in each counseling scenario.

3. What are the qualifications of the counselors?

Our counselors have had extensive training and experience in biblical counseling. Pastor Mike Woods holds a degree in Bible from Philadelphia Biblical University. He has also earned his Master’s degree in Christian counseling from Christian Bible College and Seminary. He served 12 years as the director of a Christ-centered addiction recovery ministry where he has helped thousands of people from all walks of life to find freedom from various life issues. Mike’s wife, Carole, holds a degree in Bible from Philadelphia Biblical University and a Master’s degree from Christian Bible College and Seminary as well. She has worked alongside Pastor Mike in addiction recovery ministry also. Her compassionate, caring heart for people is a tremendous asset to the counseling ministry of Faith Baptist Church.

4. Why don’t you charge for counseling?

Many counselors (Christian and non-Christian) charge anywhere from $100.00 -$150.00 per hour for counseling that oftentimes may take as long as a year to help someone with a difficulty. Our approach is significantly different. We do not charge because we do not want anything to hinder anyone from getting the help they need to overcome problems. We also believe as people are helped by our ministry, they will want to contribute as a way of saying thanks for receiving help. We do not ‘expect’ anyone to give, but if they could, we would appreciate any donations to Faith Baptist Church that are designated for the “counseling Fund.” Counselees will incur a small cost for homework material that they will need to purchase (books that will help with specific life issues).

5. I attend a church other than Faith Baptist. Can I still receive counseling?

Absolutely! We understand that some churches may not be structured to provide counseling to their members. If that is the case, we will work with your church leadership through the counseling process. We do require you to attend at least one of our services here at Faith Baptist on a weekly basis while you are engaged in the counseling process. We offer Sunday school at 9:45am; Sunday worship at 11am and 6pm. Our Wednesday mid-week service is at 7pm. We respect and appreciate the role of the local church in your life. It is also important to understand that people need more than just One hour a week in counseling. The total ministry of a church family is what is needed for lasting change to take place.

6. How long are the counseling sessions?

The typical length of a counseling session is no longer than 60 minutes. Each session begins and ends with prayer because we believe that as we commit our works to the Lord, Our thoughts will be established. Because each session is usually One hour, it is important that you come ready to discuss the issues that you feel need the most attention. Please do not wait until the last 15 minutes of your session to discuss issues that ought to have been discussed in the beginning of the session.

7. What can I expect in counseling?

There are a few things you can expect to take place as you are involved in the counseling process, one thing is work. You will be given homework. In order for change to take place, you must put for the effort to change. Some people look at their counseling appointment as the “magic hour” where change happens. Not true. You will be instructed in that counseling hour what principles to implement for that week, but the real change comes when you actually have to do something with what you were taught. That’s where homework comes in. In other words, many people want to ‘be changed’ and not pursue change. The latter is more effective than the former because the results are longer lasting. Another thing you can expect to take place in counseling is that things may get worse before they get better. As you go through the process of counseling. You may begin to see quick results in just a few sessions. Don’t let this false sense of accomplishment fool you into thinking that you no longer need counseling. You may just be getting ready to begin dealing with the root issues that have contributed to your time of difficulty. Your counselor’s experience in helping others work through issues will determine approximately how many weeks of counseling you should attend for proper help. Lastly, you can expect as a result of going through the process that God will use you in helping others with similar issues. The Apostle Paul refers to God in 2Corintians 1:3 as “…the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our affliction so that we may comfort others in any affliction with the same comfort that we have been comforted by God.”

8. I need counseling but don’t know about being “born-again” or anything like that. Can I still receive counseling?

It depends on a few factors. First, there at least would need to be openness to the gospel message. If someone did not know Christ but were willing to put their trust in His saving work on the cross, that’s the best kind of counselee to work with. Secondly, if they don’t know Christ as Savior, have not made a decision for Christ but are willing to do the assigned homework that too would be acceptable. As for everyone who comes to counseling, homework is a big part of the process. If anyone comes to counseling and does not do the homework, it generally indicates a half-hearted effort to pursue change. Therefore, counseling sessions may be postponed until the homework assignment is finished.

9. How can I contact the Pastor in case of emergency or if I am in a Crisis?

If anyone is in a life-threatening situation (suicidal thoughts, domestic violence, etc.), call the counseling line at (609)273-8537. We will do our best to be available to meet with you at the time you call. There may be times that phone counseling may be sufficient, oftentimes what some believe are “emergencies” aren’t always so. You may be advised to call 911 if the Pastor believes that you are in imminent danger.

10. What’s the difference between Biblical and “Christian” Counseling.

This is not just a play on words. To illustrate, let’s say there is an auto mechanic who is a Christian. Does this mean that the skills he learned to change oil are biblical in their essence? No. He may operate his business based on biblical ethics, and do his work with integrity and excellence; but his training is not rooted in the authority of God’s word nor the sufficiency of it. Now, let’s translate that into counseling. A counselor that may have attended a school that taught counseling skills from a Freudian, Skinnerian, or Rogerian approach may be a committed Christian in his life experience, but has not been trained to use the Bible as the sufficient authority for counseling purposes. They may operate their counseling practice with integrity, and excellence in their client relations, they may have biblically ethical business practices, but the counseling training is purely secular – syncretistic at best -- amalgamating a number of various approaches as authoritative and sufficient for lasting c hange. They may be a Christian who is a counselor – not a Christian (biblical) counselor. Faith Baptist Counseling Ministry believes the Bible is authoritative and sufficient in meeting the needs of anyone in need of guidance to overcome a problem in their life.