At A New Life Christian Counseling, we utilize a four-part treatment method as the most logical, Biblical, and efficient way to conduct counseling in a professional-pastoral context.
Step One: Build a cooperative relationship between you and your counselor that is based on genuineness and authenticity, or, in a word—trust. Working cooperatively with your counselor puts you and them together on the same side against your problems, issues, and even things like long-standing defense mechanisms.
Step Two: Share, and then explore with your counselor the situation, problem, pain, crisis, or dilemma that caused you to seek counseling. Acknowledge any pain, anger, fear, or other emotional, psychological, or relational reactions or responses you may have had. Interpret & gain insight into why or how you adopted, learned, or developed such responses, patterns, or .
Step Three: Identify any of your responses, attitudes, behaviors, patterns, and/or lifestyle that you would like to address and potentially change.
Scripture seems to emphasize our need for wisdom and understanding; a renewing of our mind; and a shifting of our paradigms. Part of our role as counselors is to help you more accurately understand your own values, priorities, attitudes and behaviors in light of Scriptural truth, mandates, principles and practice. As professional pastoral counselors, we have endeavored to achieve a relative mastery in both arenas—that of accurate, Scriptural understanding and application,, as well as of skillful and professional counseling.
Step Four: Reorient and establish, as well as work towards and reach, reasonable and manageable goals that most reflect your personal and spiritual values. Your “new life” of attitudes, behaviors, patterns, and lifestyle will give you boldness, courage, and confidence without fear of giving way to pride, arrogance, and over-confidence. You will also have the ability to abstain, refrain, and exercise self-control, without falling victim to boredom, shame, or timidity!