Ethics for Christian Counselors – 50 Great Resources
As professional therapists, Christian counselors help people overcome life's obstacles, integrating the core beliefs of Christianity into their counseling services. Some of the common issues faced by Christian counselors on a daily basis include marriage and family troubles, addiction, abuse and recovery and Christian psychology.
Such issues are not always easy to deal with even for trained counselors, and the following websites, associations, books, conferences, and videos are useful resources for practicing counselors looking for some extra support or new ideas. These fifty links approach all the biggest issues Christian counselors are likely to face on a day-to-day basis.
Christian Counseling General Resources - Marriage and Family Guidance Resources - Addiction, Abuse and Recovery Resources - Christian Living Psychology and Life Coaching Resourses
Christian Counseling General Resources
Websites, Organizations and Associations
- American Association of Christian counselors is one of the best resources for Christian counselors. With over 50,000 members, the AACC connects Christian counselors to conferences, events, classes, associations and articles relevant to anyone in the industry.
- Awakening Movement is an excellent organization that helps Christian counselors gain the confidence to become leaders in their field. In conjunction with student training, Awakening Movement aims to guide counseling students on their way to becoming the Christian counselors the Lord has called them to be.
- Black African American Christian counselors Association (BAACC) is another excellent resource for aspiring counselors and practicing counselors who want to stay in touch with the latest news, events and available resources. The BAACC is committed to providing cultural competency for the Christian counselors who serve African Americans and those in urban communities.
- Another great organization that any Christian Counselor should look into is Association of Biblical Counselors. Members benefit from monthly teaching videos, audio clips and savings on counseling DVDs and courses.
- New Life Ministries is another organization worth membership. This organization is a community of professional Christian counselors looking to serve as an agent of healing and transformation in the lives of people worldwide. The website includes advice and articles on abuse and addiction, emotional health, love and sex and relationships, as well as videos, a blog and upcoming events. New Life is aimed at both counselors and Christians seeking help.
- National Association of Nouthetic Counselors is an association that promotes excellence in Christian Counseling. The best thing about this association is that you can connect to other counselors and members of the NANC. The NANC also sponsors a number of Counseling and Discipline Training as well as an annual National Conference.
- The International Association of Christian Counseling Professionals is another excellent organization for Christian counselors. Membership of this organization can boost your credentials and give you full access to some of the extensive research and resources the IACCP offers.
Blogs, Books and Videos
- Christian Counseling and Education Foundation has an excellent blog about real-life counseling questions and how to handle those tricky topics. Written by Ed Welch and Mike Emlet, this blog tackles everything and anything from Successful Parenting to Homosexuality, from Marriage Counseling to Chastity.
- Another excellent blog is offered through the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network, an organization that aims to equip Christian counselors to be able to change lives with Christ's truth. The blog includes hundreds of informative articles including Trends in Christian Counseling, Dealing with Anxiety, and Counseling and Marriage Abuse.
- Christian Counseling That Really Works: Compass Therapy in Action by Dan Montgomery is a book staple for both expert counselors as well as those just starting out. Featuring 25 techniques used in everyday counseling, Montgomery's book is a quick and informative read that should not be missed.
- Christ-Centered Therapy by Neil T. Anderson integrates psychology and theology with the overall goal of endorsing a biblical psychology that can also guide Christ-centered counseling. This is a great read for anyone in the industry, whether you are just starting out or looking for fresh inspiration.
- Christian Counseling Distance Learning DVD is a more visual approach to Christian Counseling. This 13-part DVD set seeks to educate the whole person within a framework of a reasoned Christian worldview. Students of Christian Counseling as well as veterans can benefit from this collection, which is sponsored by Liberty University.
- The Biblical Counseling Community at Amazon is a great place to connect to other biblical counselor book-lovers and discuss some of the much-loved books on biblical counseling. The forum includes lists and guides to must-read books as well as a community chat about prevalent topics pertaining to biblical counseling.
Upcoming Conferences and Events:
- The 2010 National Christian Counseling Conference takes place in September 2010 in Branson, MO and is a must-see for any Christian Counselor. Some of the highlights of the conference include plenary addresses from some of the best Christian counseling experts in the world, clinical presentations and demonstrations, Pre-Conference Learning Institutes and 12 professional counseling workshops.
- Wild Fire Weekend is a two-day event for men to connect to God in the great outdoors with plenty of time for outdoor events as well as prayer, exhibitions, guest speakers and workshops. Held in September 2010 in Lynchburg, VA, the event aims to bring thousands of guys together to worship God and to learn more about the life of true adventure.
- EWomen is an all-women's conference for Extraordinary Women embracing powerful peace. With guest speakers including Angela Thomas and Karen Kingsbury and performances by MercyMe and Newsong, Extraordinary Women's vision is to draw women closer to the heart of God and His extraordinary plan for their daily lives. Conferences take place across the country all year round and are two days each.
- The BAACC holds an annual Black African American Christian counselors Summit which is a great way to connect to other counselors, listen to guest speakers and attend a number of helpful workshops. The 2010 Summit has passed but information on the 2011 Summit can be accessed through the website.
Marriage and Family Guidance Resources
Organizations and Associations:
- The Marriage and Family Network is sponsored by the AACC and is designed for anyone interested in marriage and family therapy, education, ministry, mentoring, and policy. Christian counselors can benefit from membership which includes a quarterly newsletter, a “Relationship CD”, as well as savings to some of the Marriage and Family events put on by the AACC.
- Family Life is an excellent Christian organization that provides help and hope for healthier marriages and families. The website features every resource on the web for family counseling including an informative blog, videos, radio, marriage getaways and upcoming events.
- Peacemaker Ministries prepares church leaders, adults, and children for peacemaking through educational resources, seminars, and training. They also provide conflict coaching, mediation, and arbitration services to resolve church and ministry disputes, lawsuits, family divisions, and business conflicts.
Blogs, Books and Videos
- Active Parenting – this is an excellent website for Christian counselors focusing on parenting problems and concerns. The site aims to educate parents about the values needed for good parenting and how to influence your children for the better.
- Popp Life – A cute blog that narrates the life of a Christian family that has survived a number of trials and tribulations. This is a well-written and relatable blog that addresses family concerns that all Christian counselors will face in their lifetime.
- The Quick Reference Guide to Marriage and Family Counseling is an excellent book for all Christian counselors looking to enhance their understanding of marriage and family. Written by Dr Tim Clinton and Dr. Ron Hawkins and sponsored by the AACC, the guide addresses issues such as empty-nest syndrome, sibling rivalry and pornography.
- Another excellent read by Neil T Anderson, The Christ Centered Marriage shows couples how to draw upon God's promises to break free from old habits and patterns. Anderson aims for husbands and wives to enjoy greater intimacy, joy and fulfillment in every area of their marriages.
- The Quick Reference Guide to Sexuality and Relationship Counseling is another excellent book for Christian counselors specializing in relationship guidance. A great companion to The Quick Reference Guide to Marriage and Family Counseling, this guide delves into topics such as pre-mature ejaculation, fetishism and birth control.
- How to Counsel a Couple in Six Sessions or Less by H. Norman Wright aims to make it easier to counsel couples over a brief period of time, but also addresses major marital issues of communication, family issues, decision making and more. This is an excellent resource for pastors - or anyone in ministry - for quickly diagnosing problems and helping couples work towards a solution.
- Avoiding the Marital Path of Disaffection is a great video that addresses one of the biggest concerns in every marriage: how to keep the flame of affection burning strong. Sponsored by the Word of Life Institute, this hour-long video trains counselors to help couples rekindle the romance.
Upcoming Conferences and Events
- Live 2 Love Couples Cruise is meant to help Christian couples strengthen their bond; however, Christian counselors can also benefit from the seven day cruise around Florida, Coco Cay Island and Cozumel. Studying councilors can earn 12-15 continuing education credits while attending the Live 2 Love Couples Cruise.
Addiction, Abuse and Recovery Resources
Websites, Organizations and Associations
- The Board of Christian Professional and Pastoral Counselors is an organization that aims to serve Christian counselors throughout the world. The organization sponsors a number of specialty certifications, including one for aspiring Sexual Addiction Specialists for those counselors who want to further their education and polish their credentials.
- Setting Captives Free is an online course aimed at both sinners as well as mentors wanting to help them on the road to recovery. Christian counselors who want to specialize in addiction, abuse and recovery can benefit from the Setting Captive Free 60-day course and 120-day Mentorship Course, which is available through online study.
- The National Association for Christian Recovery is another excellent organization for both recovering addicts as well as counselors looking to help those in need. The NACR website features resources on recovery as well as forums, videos, book recommendation and online workshops for mentors. Be sure to check out the section entitled “Resources for Leaders” for a page of helpful downloads and documents.
Blogs, Books and Videos
- Bouncing Back –This is an inspiring blog by Rich Dixon about bouncing back from adversity and moving forward. Although this blog can provide inspiration to anyone facing life's tough obstacles, it is particularly helpful for those struggling to recover from a traumatic experience. Packed with lots of advice to support others, this blog can provide counselors with the rights words when they need it most.
- Christian Recovery Ministries is a forum and social network for recovering Christian alcohol and drug addicts. Although the network is meant for recovering addicts, Christian counselors can benefit from connecting to real-life people and helping with their problems.
- A Biblical Guide to Counseling the Sexual Addict is written by Pure Life Ministries founder Steve Gallagher who successfully battled a 15-year sex addiction and has relayed the tips for any pastor, priest or lay leader to follow. This books aims to effectively assist any sex addict to understand and ultimately end his or her compulsive behavior.
- Overcoming Addiction video by Faith Therapy is an excellent hour-long video that relates the problems and concerns of addiction, including eating addiction, sexual addiction and homosexuality. Examples come from the life of Samson, the life of Ruth, the life of Lot and the life of Levi.
- Another great video, Recovery for the Abuser is aimed at helping both the abuser and the victim of abuse--through the stories of Jacob and Joseph. The video is an hour long and part of a seven-part series by Faith Therapy.
Upcoming Conferences and Events
- The National Conference on Addiction Disorders is a five day event that will take place this year in September in Washington, DC. Although not specific to Christian counselors, the conference would benefit any counselor specializing in addiction therapy. There will be a number of keynote speakers and exhibitions, and numerous workshops over the five days.
Christian Living Psychology and Life Coaching Resources
Websites, Organizations and Associations
- The Christian Coaching Alliance is a fairly new organization but features a few useful articles on Christian Life Coaching as well as the difference between Life Coaching and Counseling.
- Another valuable organization, the Society for Christian Psychology provides members with an all-access pass to a weekly blog, newsletter, resources and publications on ancient and contemporary Christian Psychology.
- Faith Therapy aims to provide a more effective Bible-based Christian counseling and life coaching curriculum, training, and self-help resources for the church. The website features self-help articles as well as a list of videos addressing common life coaching problems including overcoming lust, dealing with depression, and overcoming eating addiction.
- Christian Care Network (CCN) is a network of Christian counselors and a division of the AACC. This is an excellent organization to be a part of if you are a practicing or aspiring Christian Counselor as you will strengthen your credentials and integrate your knowledge of Christian theology with psychology, psychiatry, and mental health.
Blogs, Books and Videos
- One of the best blogs on the web pertaining to Christian psychology is written by Phil Monroe, a veteran biblical counselor who writes about his sessions and his ideas on how Christian theology connects to daily life. Monroe is a father, husband and active member of the community. His blog, Musings of a Christian Psychologist deals with day-to-day questions, controversial topics and ethical enlightening.
- S.O.A.P. for Today is another great blog for counselors and helps readers focus more on the originality of self rather than looking for approval from others. This is an excellent lesson in self fulfillment and Christian living.
- Book lovers will adore the The Quick Reference Guide to Biblical Counseling which addresses several personal and emotional issues common in the practice of Christian Counseling. Sponsored by the AACC and written by Dr. Tim Clinton and Dr Ron Hawkins, this book addresses over 40 topics of Bible counseling including money problems, stress, parenting and loneliness.
- Seeing with New Eyes: Counseling and the Human Condition Through the Lens of Scripture is an informative and well-written collection of essays by David Powlison. The book aims to teach “to see how God sees” and bridge psychology of counseling with "moral-spiritual" issues. This book is a staple for anyone practicing Christian psychology.
- Compass Therapy: Christian Psychology in Action is an excellent book on counseling and Christian psychology by one of the gurus in Christian psychology, Dan Montgomery. Again, this book is a staple for any Christian counseling collection.
- Another must-read by Dan Montgomery is Trusting in the Trinity: Compass Psychotheology Applied. Montgomery and his wife and partner Kate apply their counseling method in developing a thoroughly biblical Trinitarian theology. This book includes treatment plans that have been tried, tested, and proven successful.
- For those who would prefer a more visual approach to Christian psychology and counseling, Brian Campbell's' Take Captive Every Thought is an excellent PowerPoint presentation on a cognitive-behavior approach to Christian counseling. The presentation centers on our beliefs, how they are shaped, and how we can transform these beliefs to better ourselves.
Upcoming Conferences and Events
- The Society for Christian Psychology Academic Conference is a two-day event in September that features the theme “Human and Christian Agency.” The event will take place at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville KY and includes guest speakers such as Peter Hampson, William Hathaway, Michael Haykin, Eric Jones, Michael Pakaluk, Andrew Purves and William Struthers.
- The Society for Christian Psychology also holds a Day Conference in conjunction with the AACC Conference. The theme of this year's conference will be “Working with the Old Self/New Self Dichotomy” and will take place on September 23 2010 in Branson, MO. Speakers for the event include Mark McMinn, Robert Yarbrough, Ed Welch and Eric Johnson.
Christian Counselors can also benefit from joining associations, attending conferences, and reading the latest guides and theories surrounding biblical counseling. The above fifty resources offer excellent ways to expand your foundation of knowledge, to extend your credentials, and to provide further help to those who need your services.