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Where Faith and Counseling Meet |
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INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING
A suicidal client with eating disorders is now considering entering the ministry and says:
"I am truly thankful for you. You have saved my life and put me forward. You've set my life in the right direction, and I thank God for you. You have truly been a blessing to me and to so many."
Partners in a troubled marriage say:
"We would both like to thank you for your guidance and support through our sessions with you. We have decided we are going to make it together and no longer need counseling. Thanks again."
Personal Testimony:
My wife and I are foster parents and have adopted four children. Three of our children have seen counselors at the Samaritan Counseling Center. We have been fortunate to find counselors that have had experience with adoptive children and children in foster care. Other counselors have experience with trans-racial adoption, which was helpful for us.
They have helped our children deal with anger management and transition situations. We are very pleased with the support and assistance we have received through the Samaritan Counseling Center. IT is a pleasure to recommend them to other families.
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BUSINESS RESOURCES
"We have found the Samaritan Counseling Center's programs on stress management, time management and supervisor training extremely helpful to productivity and staff morale." - A Local Corporation
"After a recent robbery which traumatized several of our employees, the Samaritan Center's critical incident debriefing services helped them get back on track and put the robbery behind them." - A Small Business Owner
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MINISTRY RESOURCES
As a local church pastor, I have come to value the work and ministry of the Samaritan Counseling Center. I have received positive feedback from parishioners who have seen one of the counselors, either on their own initiative or by my referral.
Beyond my parishioners, I find the staff and counselors of the center to be a great resource to my ministry as a pastor. I have had a number of opportunities to speak with different counselors regarding specific issues in ministry. Whether it be an informal conversation on parenting resources or a more formal visit to share a specific ministry issue. I have also participated in some group case studies with other pastors that Glenn Chapman has facilitated. I have learned a great deal in these times and my ministry has been enhanced.
The Samaritan Center is truly a partner in the ministry of our church. - Jeffrey Dick, Sr. Pastor, First Congregational Church UCC, South Haven
"I have found the Center's Ask the Counselor Book very helpful in counseling my own church members." - From a Benton Harbor minister (John Munson @ FP Pres)
"I appreciate the way Samaritan Center counselors respect the faith of the people I refer to them." - A St. Joseph minister
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COUNSELING TIPS
- Listen non-judgmentally: Initially, people need to "tell their story" to someone who listens without judging
- Respond empathically: Empathy is the ability to understand another person's experience. It is also the key to a helping relationship. People will find it difficult to open up to you if they feel you do not understand them.
- Explore gently: There is usually much more to the problem than is first presented. Exploring with responses and questions that reflect what you are hearing can help a person see their problems from a different perspective.
- Encourage personal responsibility: Once you have earned a person's trust by non-judgmental listening and understanding, you can begin to help that person move from blaming others to taking responsibility for changing the part of the problem they can do something about.
- Identify options: People often develop tunnel vision about their problems. The counselor's job is not to fix the problem, but to empower the counselee to find solutions to their own problems.
- Refer supportively: There are times when the most helpful choice for both you and the person you are trying to help is a referral to another professional. Do so in a supportive way so the counselee does not feel abandoned by you. Stay in supportive contact with the people you refer.
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