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Do I Need Counseling?

Everyone faces challenging seasons in life. Seeking support during those times is not a sign of weakness, but of wisdom and responsibility. Unfortunately, stigma surrounding counseling—such as fear of being seen as “crazy,” shame, inadequacy, or dependency—often causes people to delay getting help. As a result, many lose valuable time, health, and relationships while remaining trapped in cycles of failure, defeat, broken relationships, and loss.
 

While some problems can be managed independently with encouragement and structure, God also designed the Body of Christ to support one another. The Holy Spirit works through human helpers as well. You do not have to carry your burdens alone.
 

Seeking Christian counseling is an act of stewardship—it acknowledges where you are in life and
commits to change. Our counseling helps identify root causes, generational influences, soul
fragmentation, and unhealthy belief systems, while providing biblically grounded strategies and tools to promote healing and help you walk fully in your God-given purpose.

What to Expect in Counseling

Most clients attend weekly 50-minute sessions, continuing until stress levels decrease and daily functioning improves. During your first visit, we will discuss the recommended frequency of sessions based on your needs.

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First Session

Your initial session focuses on getting acquainted with your counselor and discussing your reasons for seeking Christian counseling. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and express any concerns about the process. Establishing safety, trust, and comfort is essential, as healing occurs best in a secure environment.

Second Session

During the second visit, we explore influences related to your challenges, including childhood experiences, family dynamics, health history, behavioral patterns, and spiritual background. We also review any insights gained since the first session. Together, we begin developing a clear and effective plan moving forward.

Ongoing Sessions

From there, biblical treatment plans and strategies are customized to your specific needs. Counseling may be short-term for focused concerns or longer-term for deeply rooted beliefs and behaviors. Some clients choose additional sessions to grow in areas such as temperament, emotional regulation, and spiritual maturity. Weekly sessions are most common.

How Can Christian Counseling Help Me?

Christian counseling offers many benefits within a safe, faith-centered environment. Your counselor can provide biblical insight, problem-solving skills, and practical coping strategies for issues such as relationship conflict, unresolved childhood wounds, grief, depression, anxiety, and spiritual struggles.
 

The effectiveness of counseling also depends on your willingness to engage in the process and apply
what you learn. Benefits may include:
 

  • Greater self-understanding, and confidence

  • New ways to resolve family or marital challenges

  • Improved communication and listening skill

  • Healing from past wounds and unresolved issues

  • Healthier stress and anxiety management

  • Support in processing anger, grief, and depression

  • Breaking destructive behavior patterns and forming healthy ones

Why Do People Choose Christian Counseling, and Is It Right for Me?

People seek Christian counseling for many reasons. Some are navigating major life transitions such as divorce, job loss, or career changes. Others struggle with ongoing stress, relationship difficulties, depression, anxiety, low self-worth, or spiritual conflict.

 

Christian counseling provides encouragement, biblical guidance, and practical tools to help individuals walk through these challenges with hope and clarity. Some clients come simply to grow in self-awareness, strengthen their faith, or become more effective in fulfilling their life goals. If you are willing to face challenges honestly and pursue change, Christian counseling may be right for you.

What Are the Benefits and Risks of Christian Counseling?

Christian counseling helps reduce negative, unfruitful thoughts, identities, and experiences while increasing godly self-understanding, forgiveness (of self and others), emotional healing, and healthier relationships.

 

At times, the process may involve emotional or spiritual discomfort as painful memories, behaviors, or conflicts are addressed. Healing often requires walking through difficult truths. Informed cooperation between the Counselor, God, and the Counselee is essential for lasting growth.

 

Expectations of progress may vary throughout the counseling relationship. We encourage patience with yourself and with God, as transformation unfolds. Christian counseling also teaches surrender: releasing what you cannot control into God’s hands. Ultimately, the decision to continue or end counseling always belongs to the client.

Are Our Discussions Confidential?

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the counseling relationship. Effective counseling requires trust,
especially when discussing sensitive personal matters. FIFCN Counseling provides a written Confidential Disclosure and Informed Consent Agreement, explaining how your information is protected and outlining any legal limitations.
 

Your counseling discussions will not be shared without your written consent. If you wish for your
counselor to communicate with another professional on your healthcare or support team (such as a
physician, nurse practitioner, or attorney), written authorization is required.

Legal and Ethical Exceptions to Confidentiality

These measures exist to protect everyone’s life and safety. By law and professional ethics, confidentiality must be broken only in the following situations:

  • Suspected past or present abuse or neglect of a child, adult, or elder

  • If the counselor believes the client poses a serious risk of harm to themselves

  • If the counselor believes the client has made a credible threat to harm another person

Treatment Approach We Use: Arno Profile System

The Temperament Analysis is the Arno Profile System (APS) and is used in conjunction with Christian-centered treatment approach and strategies. The APS identifies a person’s inborn, God-given temperament. Who God created us to be (temperament) and who we become (through learned behavior) can be entirely different. We need to find out who we really are, and find ways to become the person God wants us to be (the true self) instead of the person we have learned to be (the masked self). Based  on Scripture, the APS produce effective, positive, and immediate results with those in need of answers to life issues. ​The APS measures the strengths and weaknesses within a person’s temperament and is a proven tool to help people with personal growth issues and improving family relationship dynamics. In using this profile, consideration is given to learned behavior, personality, family of origin, and birth order, as well as the individual’s relationship with God.

Does My Insurance Cover My Sessions

To determine if you have coverage for a trained Minister of Pastoral Counseling through

your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage 

carefully and make sure you understand their answers.

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