FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Welcome to the FAQs section for the Spiritual Christian Counseling Certification. This area is provided to you as a source of information that may be more clarified, related to questions you may have in regards to our certification program. Information regarding recertification, as well as information about our online continuing education courses, is also provided. We highly recommend that you first thoroughly review all of the information on our website, under the main page for Spiritual Christian Counseling Certification. Access main page. If after reviewing all of the provided information and this FAQs section, any other questions may be addressed by completing our request for information form online here. Thank you for your interest in our Spiritual Christian Counseling Certification Program.

Spiritual Christian Counseling BLOG: Please visit our Spiritual Christian Counseling interactive web blog. Our blog contains articles, news, events and information related the Spiritual Christian Counseling field.

WHAT IS CERTIFICATION?

Answer: certification is a voluntary process, which is provided by a well organized organization, that through its qualified advisory boards, develops comprehensive and quality standards for the practice of a type of specialty. The developed standards address high quality requirements for the practice of a certain specialty. The defined standards speak to educational and/or practice requirements, any required prerequisites, and the need to adhere to a defined code of ethics for the practice specialty. Certification is a voluntary process. It is different than any type of licensing. Certification is one means by which professionals may be publicly recognized as achieving a high level of education, knowledge base and practice skills for a certain healthcare related specialty. Certification also assists employer organizations and clients in their assessment of appropriate qualifications for candidates seeking positions in organizations and/or involved in private practices. It is commonly held, today, that certification by a very well organized professional organization, is fast becoming a “gold standard” for specialty practices. Certification testifies and provides a verification of defined educational requirements, adherence to a solid code of ethics, and in many instances prerequisites of practice experience for the practice of Spiritual Christian Counseling and related services.

WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA/STANDARDS I WILL NEED TO MEET TO ACHIEVE CERTIFICATION?

Answer: The educational criteria and standards are well and clearly defined within our website. Please access our main page to preview these requirements. Access here.

MAY I APPLY FOR AND BE CONFERRED CERTIFICATION IF I HAVE BEEN PRACTICING AS A SPIRITUAL CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR WITH OUT THE NEED TO MEET THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS?

Answer: No. The Board that oversees the development and approval of defined criteria and standards for certification will not consider only practice experience as meeting requirements in full. This decision was made as those who are already in consulting practices have varied and different experiences related to Spiritual Christian Counseling and instruction and there is no insured uniformity that all who have practiced as a spiritual christian counselor have the same knowledge base and skills attainment. The evaluation of one’s past practice experience as a spiritual christian counselor is highly variable and subjective. As such, the Board has developed objective criteria/standards for the conferral of certification. For these reasons, practice experience without the attainment of education will not be considered as fulfilling criteria and standards for our certification.

OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE COMPLETED MANY SEMINARS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES RELATED TO SPIRITUAL CHRISTIAN COUNSELING, THEORY,PRACTICE AND INTERVENTIONS. WILL THESE APPLY TOWARD THE EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION?

Answer: Your past completed education may well qualified you as meeting the standards/criteria to apply for certification. To establish approval of your past education completion it is necessary that you submit, with your completed application, verification of all completed seminars and/or courses. This includes college-level courses and or continuing education courses. Once received, the administrative board and staff will review all of your submissions and verification and make the decision as to whether or not your past education achievements meets the standards and criteria for certification. You will be notified by postal mail within 7 to 14 days regarding the decision of the acceptance or disapproval of any past education completions. In many instances, submitted verification of education directly related to spiritual christian counseling/practice are accepted. Most rejections occur because the education completed was not directly related to the practice specialty of spiritual christian counseling or there is not enough broad-based knowledge related to multiple dimensions of spiritual christian counseling and interventions/instruction.

WHAT IS THE MAJOR PRACTICE FOCUS OF A SPIRITUAL CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR?

Answer: A Spiritual Christian Counselor approaches counseling from a Christ centered reality.  Christ is the center of all healing, guidance and mental and spiritual growth.   Within this paradigm, the teachings of Christ are applied to all situations in one’s life.  In doing, so the spiritual child becomes a disciple of Christ at home and in the market place, learning to deal and cope with all issues from a Christian perspective.

The Christian perspective is not of this world.  It is at odd with the world and views how one deals with the world quite differently than other philosophies.  It is then the duty of the Christian Counselor to teach Christian principles for whatever problem is occurring.   Whether loss of loved one, divorce, moral dilemmas, or spiritual battles, the Christian Counselor in man ways is a spiritual mentor helping form a Christian World View in his or her client or spiritual child.

The Christian model is quite different.  It looks to turn the cheek instead of seeking revenge.  It looks to view suffering as a way to atonement when united with Christ.  It sees death as only temporary.  It embraces an objective code of rules that bind everyone.  It rejects excesses and teaches moderation.   It teaches obedience and humility over power and pride.  It is the anthesis to the material world view.

In applying these principles to life struggles, the Christian Counselor invites his or her spiritual child to put on Christ in all things and to accept Christ as one’s savior in facing the world.  Through Christ, the troubles of the world can become lighter and the cross one carries can become lighter.

While these mandates of a Christian life are difficult and a high standard, Christian Counselors through Christ, give individuals the tools and access to the Holy Spirit to receive the grace needed to carry on one’s spiritual vocation and journey on earth, until his or her time is called for one’s heavenly reward.

Christian Counselors hence, like a spiritual advisor or spiritual mentor, help those who come to them face the world but with Christ.

DOES THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE APPROVAL’S FOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS WHOSE GRADUATES WOULD QUALIFY FOR BEING CONFERRED CERTIFICATION?

Answer: Yes. We do provide a full program approval process for those education facilities and or organizations providing education related to Spiritual Christian Counseling. Applications for program approval are thoroughly reviewed and must adhere to the defined standards and criteria as established by the advisory board. Once a particular education program has been approved it is then posted as an approved program on our website (view approved programs). Graduates of programs we have approved may apply for certification. Any formal education program offering spirituality, spiritual christian counseling practice and instruction, education, meeting our standards, may apply for approval of their program. Once a program is approved, graduates of the program may apply for certification.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR ACHIEVING THIS CERTIFICATION?

Answer: There is a two-phase process. In order to provide clear and sufficient information on the process we have developed a separate page that defines the process. You may access this information on the certification process at this link: click here.

HOW CAN I MAKE APPLICATION?

Answer: Making application is an easy process. We provide on this website a link to a printable application. Those wishing to make application may access this link, print out the application form, completed it, and submit it to our office for review. You may access online applications at this link. Please note that incomplete applications will not be reviewed. All applications that are submitted must be complete and include all required documents and verification as specified for review and consideration of certification conferral.

ONCE I HAVE ACHIEVED CERTIFICATION, MUST I EVER BE RECERTIFIED?

Answer: Yes. A conferred certification has a period of 4 years. At the end of the four-year period the certification will expire. The American Institute of Health Care Professionals provides a full program for recertification. Detailed information on the criteria to be recertified, after the three-year initial certification period, is provided on our website. Access here.

OUR ORGANIZATION IS SPONSORING A ONE-DAY SEMINAR ON THE TOPIC OF SPIRITUALITY AND SPIRITUAL CARE. DOES THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE FOR PROGRAM APPROVALS FOR CE CREDITS?

Answer: Yes. We do offer a full program for the approval of education courses, seminars, and other related learning activities related to the topic of spirituality and practice. If an application for approval is approved, then the sponsoring organization may declare on its CE certificates that the program has been up reviewed and approved by the American Institute of Health Care Professionals. More information is available on our website, access here.

I AM CURRENTLY CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN SPIRITUAL CHRISTIAN COUNSELING. I KNOW I AM REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE ADDITIONAL EDUCATION IN SPIRITUAL CHRISTIAN COUNSELING/SPIRITUAL PRACTICE IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR RECERTIFICATION IN THE FUTURE. DO YOU OFFER ANY CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES THAT I MAY TAKE TO MEET MY RECERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS?

Answer: Yes. We do offer several courses at this time, which certified members may register for and take, to meet their education requirements for recertification. These courses are provided within online classrooms and are continuing education courses. Certified members may register for these courses at any time. Those who are not currently certified may also take any of our CE courses, if they wish. Access information.