The American Institute of Health Care Professionals (AIHCP) offers a certification in Christian Counseling to help counselors with Christian beliefs to better guide their spiritual clients. Unlike other counseling professions, Christian Counselors are not required to possess a licensed counselor certificate. Ministry licenses however are definitely an excellent license to possess if one wishes to be certified in this field. The AIHCP Christian counseling certification program is designed to provide health care professionals, as well as clergy who have a health care ministry, to acquire the skills, knowledge and theory base for assisting clients who are in the health care system with spiritual assessments and needs.
What makes Christian Counseling unique is its world view. The world view is biblically based and Christ centered. Hence, issues regarding abortion, drinking, or sexuality are presented in a Christian light. While psychology is very important, Christian Counseling parts way with any secular views of psychology that fail to conform to the teachings of Christ. AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Program is Integrated with Psychology and professional counseling. This means it offers a unique perspective that secular psychology and its theories and techniques can be utilized with Christian principles. Some schools of Christian Counseling dismiss modern psychology and purely rely on Scripture for not only spiritual messages, but also treatment and care. Integrated approaches use Scripture as a starting point but utilize modern psychology and various schools of counseling to help heal clients. The belief is centered around that God is the source of all truth in all sciences. His truth spiritually is found in Scripture, but His truth can be found in the empirical sciences. Integrated approaches remove any un-Christian bias in any theories and use the time tested techniques in unison with Christian morality. This perfect balance of integration retains the usefulness of modern psychology and balances it with Scriptural foundations.
Within this unique ideal, social workers, counselors, priests, ministers, lay leaders, grief counselors and others can help spread the teachings of Christ to the lives of the troubled and dis-hearted. Most utilize their Christian Counseling services within their already existing ministry or private practice. Some serve the Church and give their services to other members. Some certified members are clinical in practice and others are only pastoral. This certification serves both but all professionals must retain their services to the scope of their professional practice. Obviously, pastoral non-clinical professionals have limitations in scope of care as compared to clinical counselors, social workers or psychologists. All certified Christian Counselors whether non-clinical or clinical, however, must retain to the highest level of ethical standards in accordance with APA and regulatory laws regarding counseling.
Christian Counselors utilize the gifts of the Holy Spirit in their sessions. They impart wisdom, knowledge and counsel to the afflicted. In some cases, they become confessors, spiritual mentors and spiritual directors to their spiritual children. The Paul-Timothy relationship as found in Scripture develops between spiritual parent and spiritual child.
The program at AIHCP in Christian Counseling attempts to teach or enhance already existing knowledge of counselors or clergy who everyday give counsel to the doubtful. The courses are aimed at introducing the student to Christian Counseling themes and ideas for mentorship. The program also carries a pastoral level of care which is complemented in other programs at AIHCP-notably, Christian Grief Counseling and Pastoral Thanatology.
It is the hope of AIHCP that those who become certified in this program continue to share the light of Christ to their spiritual clients and find in Christ, the ultimate paradigm. Christ ultimately is the greatest counselor who can heal our inner suffering and despair.
SOME OF THE ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CERTIFIED CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR:
- Provide spiritual assessments of clients
- Provide spiritual support based on a Christian perspective
- Assist clients with spiritual issues that may be affecting their health care status or conditions
- Teach clients principles related to Christianity when issues come up regarding health care and health decision making
- Participate with clients in prayer as requested by the clients and/or families
- Provide spiritual assessment and support to health care professional staff when requested
- Provide a common spiritual bridge for clients who are facing challenging issues with their health care and need support in decision making
- Refer clients to appropriate clergy based on defined assessment of the client’s spiritual needs
- Provide spiritual support and education to client’s families when appropriate and requested
- Assist clients by providing spiritual support and education when they are faced with issues related to death and dying
- Be a liaison with the client’s church community when they are away from the community due to health challenges
- Maintain ongoing education in spiritual practices and in Christian counseling for professional development and continued competency in spiritual work and counseling
While the above highlights major role responsibilities, they are not exhaustive. Over all the role is developed as the relationships with the clients are established and is based on client’s needs and what the client and certified Christian counselor agree upon as appropriate and value based for both parties. The role is always in a dynamic development and is practiced with strong legal and ethical considerations at all times. The role is strongly supported by solid and sound spiritual and Christian teachings, principles and philosophies.
SETTINGS WHERE CERTIFIED CHRISTIAN COUNSELORS MIGHT PRACTICE:
- Health care organizations
- Acute care hospitals
- Long-Term care facilities
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Churches
- Hospices
- Home health agencies
- Social service agencies
- Outpatient care centers
- Private settings
Are you interested in becoming a Certified Christian Spiritual Counselor? If this practice specialty interests you then please review our program and feel free to speak with our advisors regarding our complete education program and courses leading to qualifications to achieve the certification.