Careers Related to Christian Counseling
A Christian counseling degree is useful for working in a number of fields. Christian Counselors offer faith-based help in schools, private offices, foster care and adoption agencies, churches, hospitals, funeral homes and even homeless shelters. Christian counselors differ from secular counselors in that they derive their advice from biblical teachings in addition to psychological principles. Christian counselors are useful in a variety of settings, providing advice on topics such as marital issues and substance abuse. The demand for faith-based counselors meants that a Christian counselor can expect to earn as much as a secular counselor. The typical annual counselor's salary is between $25,000 and $70,000. Agencies that hire out Christian Counseling agencies for local communities, such as JC Christian Counseling, can help Christian Counselors find jobs.
The aim of a Christian Counselor working in any setting should be to help people overcome hardship, to grow spiritually and emotionally to become well-adjusted individuals. In this way, the objective of a Christian Counselor is the same as that of a secular counselor. Like a secular counselor, a Christian Counselor must usually have a master's in counseling and a certain number of hours of supervised experience. Major elements of Christian Counseling include examining the past to repair the present, resolving conflicts between people, and examining possible physiological origins of personal issues. The difference between Christian counseling and secular practice means that these aims are addressed with a Christian perspective. Christian counselors believe that scriptural teachings are as important as psychological information when addressing personal problems. Christian counselors recognize the Bible, rather than psychology, as the final authority.
Christian counselors may choose to obtain education and licensing through a ministerial agency rather than the state. Because Christian counselors hold the Bible in higher regard than conventional psychology, many choose to obtain licensing through non-secular organizations that provide instruction with liturgical background. In addition, many states require that licensed counselors separate their religious beliefs from their counseling practice unless specifically asked for faith-based advice. Christian counselors believe that faith and counseling are inseparable. For this reason, many choose to obtain licensing from the Church rather than the federal government.
Christian counselors most commonly work for faith-based institutions. These institutions are not necessarily churches, but may be faith-based instutions serving the community at large, such as homeless shelters. Christian counselors seek to provide help in the form of Biblical advice to those in need of guidance. A Christian counselor aims to serve god and the community.
Sources:
American Association of Christian Therapists
