Finding a counselor, Christian or not, can be a headache. The last thing you need when seeking help is to find more stress and trouble. Here are some simple steps that will teach you what to look for in a Christian counselor Chicago and how to make sure you find the counselor who best fits your personality and needs.
Step 1 Ask yourself ...
Ask yourself some basic questions, such as why are you seeking advice? What kind of advice do you need? What do you need from your counselor? These first few questions will be crucial in helping you narrow down your list of counselors later on and really identify the one who is best for you.
Step 2 Investigation of payments and prices
Before you can attend counseling, you must determine how you will pay for it. Generally, there are 8 different ways to pay for counseling, cash, credit, insurance, tiered billing, donations, using free services, payment plans, and government assistance. Not all counselors accept the same forms of payment. Find out which payment option will work best for you, and then remove advisers you couldn't afford from your list.
Step 3 Research the education of the counselors
When seeking Christian counseling, this is a critical step. Counseling degrees can offer a wide variety of experiences. Almost no two counselors receive the same education. Before you start attending a counselor, make sure it has been educated by a school that meets your religious needs. For example, if a school is notoriously liberal and promotes atheism and abortion, the counselor is most likely not a good fit for you. Similarly, if you are an abortion supporter and an agnostic or atheist, this counselor might be just what you are looking for.
Step 4 Research your reputation
People always review their favorite products and the products they consider to be the biggest waste of time or money. Surprisingly fewer people review something as important as a counselor, but if you look, you will usually find at least something. Browse the Internet by searching for the name of counselors between Google citations. Find out what others are saying about them, it could be a good indication of what you would experience.
Step 5 Understanding the counselor's theoretical orientation
Many theoretical orientations determine how a counselor approaches therapy. Most counselors use numerous theories, but they usually have a favorite one. Depending on what you are receiving in therapy, some theories may be more applicable than others. Another determining factor is the amount of time a therapist has. Certain theoretical orientations do not fit well with Christianity; make sure your counselor's theoretical orientation does not conflict with your religious beliefs. A conflict in belief systems could prevent a successful outcome of counseling.
Step 6 You know better
After completing steps 1 through 5, it all comes down to the fact that you know what is best. The counselor won't be able to tell you if they are right for you because they don't know you. They are miracle workers but not mind readers. Use your common sense, your intuition, and your acquired knowledge to make an informed decision.