My goal in providing Christian counseling is to help you meet the challenges of life in a way that will please and honor the Lord Jesus Christ and allow you to fully enjoy his love for you and his plans for your life.
I believe that the Bible provides thorough guidance and instruction for faith and life. Therefore, my counseling is based on scriptural principles first and foremost rather than those of secular psychology or psychiatry. However, some secular principles may be used. I, as a pastor, am not trained or licensed as a psychotherapist or mental health professional, nor should I be expected to follow the methods of such specialists.
If you have significant legal, financial, medical or other technical questions, you should seek advice from an independent professional. I will be happy to cooperate with such advisors and help you to consider their counsel in the light of relevant scriptural principles.
Counseling is a process in which we collaborate to help you to solve the problems that impact on your quality of life or your personal goals. You and I work together to look at the behaviors that cause these problems to occur and talk about alternative ways, including Scriptural ways, that may help you have a better outcome. As we examine and work together, I will bring as many of these problem areas to your attention as I possibly can.
You will participate in the development of your counseling/treatment plan. You and I will review it from time to time. Your plan of counseling/treatment may change as the issues change. Should you have any questions or comments, feel free to discuss them with me. Your counseling/treatment may be enhanced by educating yourself and seeking information outside of your sessions.
Although the counseling experience can be tremendously beneficial for most people, there are some potential risks about which you must be aware. Counseling can be an emotionally painful experience for you and some relationships in your life can become unbalanced. There may be tough decisions which you may want to make which may upset your status quo. These experiences are legitimate outcomes of the counseling process. I am available to discuss any of your problems or possible negative side effects of our work together. As a client, you have access to my resources and my willingness to apply them in good faith. Because of the many factors that influence counseling/treatment, no counseling/treatment outcomes are guaranteed.
Our relationship is a unique one. You will share with me many intimate details of your life. Confidentiality is an important aspect of the counseling process, and I will carefully guard the information you entrust to me. Under West Virginia law, I am mandated to protect this relationship. That is, without your written permission or by order of the Court, I am forbidden to disclose any information about our sessions or about you except in the following instances: 1) that I suspect that you may do harm to yourself or to others; 2) that you tell me of abuse to a child or and elderly or disabled person; 3) or if I or your records are ordered by a court of law; or 4) you waive your right to confidentiality.
From time to time, I may want to consult with another pastor (when a counselee attends another church and it is necessary to talk with his or her pastor) or provider regarding your counseling/treatment plan. You will be aware of these consultations (see above paragraph) and your confidentiality will be protected. Consultation and supervision are inherent in the standard of care and are supported by the Pastoral/Counseling profession.
On rare occasions a conflict may develop between the pastor and a counselee. In order to make sure that any such conflicts will be resolved in a biblically faithful manner, I require all of my counselees to agree that any dispute that arises with the pastor or with the church as a result of counseling will be settled by mediation and, if necessary, legally binding arbitration in accordance with the Rules and Procedures of the United Methodist Church. (I will be happy to provide you with information that explain the rules and procedures of the United Methodist Church.)
If you must cancel a session, at least 24 hours notice is expected. If I need to cancel a session with you, I will try to reschedule your session at the earliest convenience. As a
Pastor, I am subject to emergency calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I will tell you 24 hours in advance of any sessions I will have to cancel, unless I have been called away by an emergency. In such an event, I will give you as much notice as the emergency allows.
You may feel free to contact me between sessions at (304) 892 – 4325. Should you leave a message, I will call you back at my earliest convenience. Most calls are returned within 24 hours.
Although each of us has the right to terminate counseling/treatment at any time, it is customary to have a formal termination session when you and I feel that your work is completed. You and I decide together when this is appropriate and, together, we will evaluate your progress in the Counseling experience.
Having clearly stated the principles and policies of the counseling ministry, I welcome the opportunity to minister to you in the name of Christ and to be used by him as he helps you to grow in spiritual maturity and prepares you for usefulness in his body. If you have any questions about these guidelines, please ask before signing below. If these guidelines are acceptable to you, please sign below. By signing this Informed Consent, I am agreeing to provide Counseling services to you as explained above, and you are agreeing to the above guidelines and to attend your scheduled sessions.