5 Benefits of christian
Counseling certification
Christian counseling is on the rise, judging by the increased number of inquiries and enrollments into our Christian Counseling Certification program. People are looking for spiritual tools to help them deal with their hurt. They know the word of God has healing power to restore one to wholeness.
“He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.” ~ Psalm 107:20
The call of God to help people who are hurting excites you and you now want to go a step further and get certification for it. You’ve made an excellent decision. There are benefits of Christian counseling certification and in this article we will look at five.
As a trained Christian counselor, you open yourself up to opportunities to minister to more people and receive adequate compensation for your services. Your expertise will make you sought after as you build referral networks within your local churches and ministries.
Your clients are looking up to you for biblical solutions to address the hurt they are experiencing. With your expertise, they can get back on their feet and live the abundant life Jesus died to give them.
5 BENEFITS OF CHRISTIAN COUNSELING CERTIFICATION
#1 IT OPENS DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY
As a Christian counselor, you want to minister to more people for the glory of God. To do so, you need a larger platform with great professional counseling opportunities and networks.
Christian counseling certification will make your resume stand out to those looking for your expertise and it increases your opportunities for career advancement.
Certification will help you go beyond counseling in your church or ministry to opening your private practice and partnering with various churches and faith-based organizations. Prepare yourself for when doors of opportunity open where you can reach more people in your chosen specialty.
“Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.” ~ Proverbs 22:29
#2 YOU CAN INCREASE YOUR FEES
Christian counseling certification equips you to provide your services at a higher level of expertise. This qualifies you to increase your fees because you are providing more value to your unique niche. Within our Christian Counselor certification program, we address this topic in more depth. You can also read our article on getting paying clients here.
Don’t shy away from increasing the rates for your Christian counseling services. God gave each of us the ability to produce wealth so we can have more than enough for our needs and sow into the kingdom of God. God has not called you to profitless work. He expects that you will also earn your living from it.
“Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk?” ~ 1 Corinthians 9:7
At PCCCA we teach you how to price your counseling services.
#3 RAISE YOUR PROFILE AS A CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR
If you are starting out or are counseling in your local church, you can raise your profile as a Christian counselor by going for certification. This will prepare you for promotion.
If you have been praying for God to give you a bigger role in counseling, prepare yourself by getting specialized Christian counseling training. You’ll have access to the wisdom of experts gleaned over the years, not to mention the knowledge base available to students.
With a high profile, you are ready for God to use you on higher platforms because you have the qualifications to match.
“In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." ~ 2 Timothy 2:20-21
#4 PRACTICE LEGALLY WITH FAITH OVERSIGHT
When you become a Certified Christian Counselor, I recommend that you also apply for and receive ordination or other ministry credentials from a church or other faith-based organization. There are many options for Christian ordination online. Once you have “faith covering” as a counselor, you can charge for your services in nearly all US states.
If you are new to this, states have two paths for becoming a counselor and working for remuneration. (1) You may obtain a master’s degree or higher and become state licensed as a mental health provider OR (2) You can get trained and certified as a Christian counselor, then become ordained or obtain a similar credential from a church or ministry, thereby becoming exempt from state licensing.
State statutes will contain an exclusionary clause for faith-based, religious or pastoral counselors so you can be exempt from state licensing. You may have to locate this statute on your own because we have found often those in government professional regulation departments are unaware of these exemptions in their own state code. While researching we’ve occasionally phoned these departments to be told the exemptions don’t exist, but we have later found them online. All states in the United States have their statutes available online for you to research.
It’s a good idea to list the code on your website or marketing material because it’s what gives you permission to practice and charge a fee.
Additionally obtaining ordination / ministry license / faith oversight gives you credibility with your clients because they know you are under an oversight authority.
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.” ~ 1 Peter 2:13-14
#5 LEARN DIFFERENT METHODS OF COUNSELING DELIVERY
Additional training will equip you with different methods of delivering your service to your clients. Technology allows you to access clients all over the world. Your locality should not limit you. Sometimes you cannot work from the office and would still like to offer your services from home.
Learning how to use a variety of ways to reach your ideal client will expand your practice. Understanding how to deliver your counseling services in a variety of ways including by phone, Skype or other digital methods will also increase your reach. You will find in-depth training on how to attract your ideal clients in the Spirit-Led Marketing course.
“If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success. ”Ecclesiastes 10:10
If you want to learn more about online delivery of services, check out this article for additional considerations and tips. Where your clients are on a tight schedule, they can still work with you online and get the help they need. At PCCCA we understand your need to be versatile in the delivery of your services.
CONCLUSION
The five benefits of Christian counseling certification above are the most common. As you have learned, Christian counseling certification will open doors you could never open on your own. It will empower you to be an expert who receives good pay for the value you provide.
Investing in Christian counseling certification has the added benefit of helping you address your own struggles and even help loved ones.
If you are considering certification, start today and build a profitable, reputable practice that helps the hurting in society.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
PCCCA's Christian Counselor Certification course will help you develop a specialty in working with clients who are not yet ready for coaching. Click HERE for course details. You'll find the enrollment button and tuition near the bottom of that page.
