What to Expect

You can expect a warm, welcome, and trustworthy friend. Our counseling does not seek to keep the counselee at arms length, but rather we aim to develop a relationship that is modeled after Christ. Our counselor is a fellow sinner and sufferer and is in need of just as much grace and mercy as you are. You will be treated with respect, love, and care. Our counselor may live out love and care by calling out sinful or unbiblical actions or motives, but know that this is done in genuine love and compassion. Our counselor understands that “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15) is equally important in truth as it is in love. You can expect humility, gentleness, and commitment.

Our counseling will come from the Word of God which is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). This may lead to conviction, encouragement, godly sorrow, sharpening, and many other results. Each week you will (most often) be given homework to continue the work throughout the week. The weekly meeting should not be looked at as “the fix” but rather as a weekly boost to the work that God wants to accomplish in your life. Participation and completion of homework, tasks, and goals should be expected and is vital to growth and success in counseling. Failure to put into practice the principles that are discussed each week may likely lead to discouragement, lack of transformation, stagnation, or dependency on the counselor instead of God.

Your information is confidential and can be expected to be kept that way in all cases except a few.

1. The law may require a counselor to reveal spousal or child abuse, or some other crime, to the appropriate authorities.

2. Where a counselee threatens harm to another person, it may be necessary to intervene in order to prevent such harm.

3. Where a counselor is uncertain as to how to address a particular counseling issue, he may seek advice from a pastor or another counselor. Only relevant information will be shared and all other information will be kept confidential as much as possible.

4. Contacting your elder(s) and/or pastor if a certain sin issue persists without repentance or reconciliation thus resulting in Matthew 18 steps being taken.

If possible, you should bring your Bible, a pen, and a notebook. We will have certain materials for you to borrow but it is encouraged for you to bring your personal items.

A willing, humble heart is also necessary as well as a desire to change and grow. Addressing issues of the heart can bring out defensiveness and pride at times. Rather than being resistant to what God may be trying to speak into your life, we encourage a heart that is teachable and hungry for God to get the glory.

For counseling sessions, we will video record and/or audio record our time together. This is to ensure full accountability, transparency, and accuracy. All recordings will be kept private and confidential and will not be shared unless a court order is required to do so. In this case, all attempts will be made to protect client information. If a counselor needs help with a certain client issue, partial audio recordings may be utilized to ensure the information is being relayed appropriately.

Our time together is important, but it is not “magic hour”. Coming to counseling for an hour per week will not bring about the transformation that glorifies God. Putting in the work throughout the rest of the week is how transformation takes place.

We will assign various “homework” for you to apply truths and record different metrics throughout the week. Completion of the homework for each session is crucial to finding hope, healing, and transformation in the Vine. Failure to consistently complete assigned homework may result in counseling being delayed, paused, or terminated.