Our Goal- Our 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- We believe that the Bible provides thorough guidance and instruction for faith and life. Therefore, our counseling is based on scriptural principles rather than those of secular psychology or psychiatry. Although some of the pastoral or lay counselors of this church may be licensed in other fields, they will only practice as Biblical counselors. Any needs regarding legal, financial or medical advice should be obtained from an independent practitioner.
Confidentiality- Confidentiality is an important aspect of the counseling process, and we will carefully guard the information you entrust to us. There are situations, however, when it may be necessary for us to share certain information with others: When a counselor is uncertain of how to address a particular problem and needs to seek advice from another pastor or elder of this church; when a counselee attends another church and it is necessary to talk with his or her pastor or elders; when there is a clear indication that someone may be harmed (including abuse, self-harm or suicidal intentions) unless others intervene; or when a person persistently refuses to renounce a particular sin and it becomes necessary to seek the assistance of others in the church to encourage repentance and reconciliation (see Proverbs 15:22; 24:11; Matthew 18:15-20). Lastly, there are certain legal situations where disclosure may be necessary. Please be assured that our counselors strongly prefer not to disclose personal information to others, and they will make every effort to help you find way to resolve a problem as privately as possible.
Resolution Conflicts- On rare occasions, a conflict may develop between a counselor and a counselee. In order to make sure that any such conflicts will be resolved in a biblically faithful manner, we require all of our counselees to agree that any dispute that arises with a counselor, or with this church as a result of counseling, will be settled by mediation within the church according to the principles of scripture and the authority of this local church.
Counselor/Counselee Rights- This counseling agreement is between the indivudual filling out this form and Foothills Church. Foothills Church may terminate counseling due to noncompliance of care, failure to keep appointments, violent or threatening behavior, criminal activity and/or intent, or any related issues. The counselee may also terminate counseling at any time.
To the fullest extent of the law, counselee shall indemnify and hold harmless the counselor, Foothills Church, its officers, employees, agents, and representatives from and against any and all costs, damages, claims and expenses, including attorney’s fees, or liabilities arising out of, resulting from, or in connection with the services provided in the agreement.
Having clarified the principles and policies of our counseling ministry, we welcome the opportunity to minister to you in the name of Jesus Christ and to be used by Him as He helps you grow in spiritual maturity and prepares you for usefulness in His body. If you have any questions about these guidelines, please talk to a pastor or staff biblical counselor. If these guidelines are acceptable to you, please sign below.