Interview those who want help, or whose behavior must change.

• Help them to affirm verbally what they are doing that is wrong. Do not let them hide from the truth.
• Let women counsel other women. If a man must counsel a woman, then let it be done where others can see.

Some people enjoy being victims and will take up all the time of a counselor.

• Do not enter into their make-believe world.
• When you see that this is the case, spend no further time talking about problems that they don't really intend to bring to an end.

Pastoral counseling, both personal and in small groups, has a much higher "cure rate" than secular counseling. Secular counselors usually overlooks the reality of sin that deserves punishment and real guilt, seeking rather rationalistic, mechanistic causes of human behavior--treating the person counseled like a machine.

• Original sin, human responsibility, the image of God in man and the help of the Holy Spirit in altering behavior patterns are usually neglected.
• Deal with bible passages that teach these things. Some of them are referred to below.
• Helping persons to understand why they behave the way they do now by delving into their childhood and past experiences often merely reinforces the bad behavior, because the victims assume that it gives them an excuse for it. It is much healthier to help them examine present behavior and make a concientious adult decision to change it.

Deal quickly with those who simply need information, direction, career counseling, premarital guidance or answers concerning the faith. Don't probe for other problems unless they bring them up.

Refer to professional psychologists or psychiatrists those who are seriously disturbed or have physical causes for erratic behavior.

Find in the book of Galatians the kind of faith and actions that keep us firm in our liberty in Christ.

Find in Galatians 5 guidelines for dealing with bad attitudes and behavior.

Find in Romans chapters 7 - 8 more guidelines for dealing with our old, unregenerate nature that clings to this earthly body.

Find in 1 Peter several guidelines for victorious living and for leading others.

Find in Romans steps in the Christian life toward maturity.

Find in Colossians guidelines for a life of truth and holiness.

Find in 1 Thessalonians examples of counsel to encourage our brothers in Christ.

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T&M Student Activity Guide pages 31a, 31b

For practical, easy to read "how to" for counseling for crisis: Crisis Counseling, H. Norman Wright. This deals with depression, suicide, death, divorce, children in crisis, adolescence and counseling technique in general.

For planning and communicating the purpose of counseling, and safeguards for legal liability and confidentiality, Leadership Handbooks of Practical Theology, 1992, Editor, James D. Berkley, Volume 2, Sections 18 and 20

See also section 21 for dealing with different, specific problems. It has articles by experienced experts in counseling, for the following:

For a general approach to non-professional counseling: Intentional Interviewing, Allen Ivey

Ask competent Christian counselors how they work, and how they got their experience.

• For professional counseling, inquire of the licensing board who are those they know who are sympathetic to believers.
• Seek to find one or two whom you can trust to deal with believers without attacking their faith or values.