Counseling Agreement for Barb Thomas

Before Beginning Biblical Counseling

In order to make our first session as profitable as possible I would ask you to read the following information carefully and thoroughly. If you have any questions concerning this information, please contact me.

About Biblical Counseling

As a biblical counselor, I am trained in the meaning and use of the Bible and biblical principles for counseling. I am committed to the position that Scripture provides the only authoritative guide for what we are to believe and how we are to live. I will not base my counseling knowledge on my own opinions, experience, or concepts of behavior, but will seek to apply the full range of biblical truth into focus on the counselee's need.

I deal with a wide range of problems, including broken marriages, parent-child relationships, fear, anger, depression, alcohol and drug abuse, tension, anxiety, worry and other problems resulting in mental and physical immobility. Confidentiality is respected but held within appropriate limitations. A case may be discussed with other counselors or other professionals, but only to the degree necessary to find further biblical solutions to the problem. All such consultation is conducted in accord with the highest standards of biblical ethics.

I believe in the total health needs of my counselees. Therefore, I may recommend that you have a full or specified medical examination. If medical assistance is required, counseling will continue whenever possible.

I will use all of my skill in applying biblical principles to help you in whatever problem deprives you of the peace and joy that God has promised to you in His Word. I will concentrate on three basic foundations from God's Word:

Hope — Because in Jesus Christ we have a great High Priest who has been tempted in all things, yet without sin. Thus, because of Him, even though every sin common to man may be tempting you, God has promised that He will not let you be tempted beyond your endurance, but will provide for you the way to escape from sin so that you can endure it (1 Cor. 10:13; Heb. 4:14-16).

Change — Because in Christ we can learn how to lay aside the old selfish ways of living and put on the new ways of living in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Eph. 4:20-24; Col. 1:10).

Practice — Because we need to prove ourselves to be doers of God's Word, lest we be merely hearers, forgetting and deluding ourselves. Only in effectual practice of the Scriptures shall we be blessed in what we do, and only then will we please the Lord (James 1:22-25).

Normally, weekly counseling sessions will be scheduled for one hour, although our time together may occasionally go longer; sessions will continue for approximately eight to twelve weeks. If you respond quickly to biblical counsel the number of counseling sessions may be lessened. However, if I do not observe definite change in the first few weeks, I will seek to identify the cause of the failure, discuss it with you, and help you to correct it.

Your first appointment will take place after a completed PDI is filled out and after I have reviewed it thoroughly. I will need your PDI at least two days in advance of your scheduled appointment. If you are unable to complete the PDI in time, or if you are unable to attend your first session for any reason, please notify me as soon as possible.

In order to achieve lasting victory over the problems of life, it is vital that each person becomes established in a consistent Christian walk. The Lord has provided the local church to help in this process (Heb. 10:24-25). Therefore, it is important that counseling sessions be accompanied by church attendance and activities that encourage discipleship and fellowship. For this reason, I may choose to contact your church (i.e. an elder or deacon) and request their assistance. It is my commitment to do what will best bring about the victory you can experience over your problems.

You will need a journal and your Bible at all sessions, including the first. Be sure to bring them each time. Come with high expectations! You will find hope and encouragement even during your first session. From then on, with your cooperation, I am confident that you will find the true, good and acceptable answer to the difficulty that prompted you to contact me.

Consent and Commitment to Biblical Counseling

My Goal — My goal in providing biblical 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 enjoy fully His love for you and His plans for your life.

Biblical Basis — I believe that the Bible provides guidance and instruction for faith and life. Therefore, my counseling is based on scriptural principles rather than those of secular clinical psychology or psychiatry. I am neither licensed as a psychotherapist or mental health professional. It should be understood that biblical counseling consists of the giving of scriptural counsel and the practical application of the Bible to each individual. Yet, the counselee is held fully responsible for how she/he implements that counsel.

I am confident that the Bible has all of the information necessary for life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). There are no problems between people that the Bible fails to address either in general or specific principles. I am not infallible, nor do I pretend to know all there is to know about biblical teaching and its applications to life, but I am well-equipped and competent to help people change.

Professional Advice — In the process of biblical counseling there are often times when there is a need for significant advice with regards to legal, medical, financial or other technical areas. In those cases you may be encouraged to seek independent professional advice. If this is necessary, I will cooperate with such advisors and help you to consider their advice in the light of relevant scriptural principles.

Confidentiality — Confidentiality is an important aspect of the counseling process and I will carefully guard the information you entrust to me. However, absolute confidentiality is not biblical; in certain circumstances the Bible requires that facts be disclosed to select others (Matt. 18:15ff). If your church leadership should inquire, I will disclose to them only that information which I believe is necessary for them to effectively and biblically fulfill their responsibility to shepherd you.

There are five situations when it may be necessary for me to share certain information with others: 1) when I am uncertain how to address a particular problem and need to seek advice from another pastor or counselor; 2) when a counselee attends another church and it is necessary to talk with his or her pastor or elders, 3) when there is a clear indication that someone may be harmed unless others intervene, 4) when a person persistently refuses to renounce a particular sin and it becomes necessary to seek assistance of others in the church to encourage repentance and reconciliation (see Matthew 18:15-20; Proverbs 15:22; 24:11) or 5) when criminal activity has been committed and the counselee refuses to bring the matter to the attention of local authorities. Please be assured that I strongly prefer not to disclose personal information to others, and will make every effort to help you find ways to resolve a problem as privately as possible. IF I AM ASKED TO TESTIFY AGAINST YOU IN A COURT OF LAW DUE TO YOUR CONTINUING SIN AND REFUSAL TO REPENT, BY ELECTRONICALLY SIGNING AND SENDING IN THIS PDI FORM YOU ARE WAIVING YOUR RIGHTS TO CONFIDENTIALITY, ALLOWING ME TO DISCLOSE PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU TO A JUDGE OR LAWYER THAT I DEEM NECESSARY AS IT PERTAINS TO THE CASE.

Resolution of Conflicts — On extremely rare occasions a conflict may develop between the counselor and counselee. In order to make sure that any such conflicts will be resolved in a biblically faithful manner, I may request the involvement of elders of my church or the counselee's church.

Termination of Counseling — It is my desire that the counseling arrangement will conclude with a resumption of healthy participation into your local church and life contexts. However, at any time during the counseling process, you or I have the option to terminate the counseling arrangement.

Expectations and Commitments — As I invest in you, I will also have some expectations of you. First, it is important that you be honest and be willing to trust me. It will be very difficult to find help if you seek to hide or deceive away from the hard truth of your situation. Second, I will regularly send you away from each meeting with homework assignments. As the hard work of change happens more outside of the counseling meeting, this homework will be purposeful and necessary to work toward genuine and lasting change. Last, I will be looking for a commitment of time. Problems and bad habits develop over long periods of time and often cannot be broken in a matter of days. For this reason, I will be looking for a commitment to eight to twelve meetings, held once a week. All meetings may not be necessary, but I will seek to make that determination.

Having clarified the principles and policies of my 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 dont hesitate to contact me.

I, ______________________, have carefully read the conditions for counseling set forth in this document and agree to enter into counseling in accordance with them.

Signature: _______________________   Date: _____________________

I am filling out this PDI form on behalf of the counselee:

My name: ___________________________ Relationship: _______________________