Lay Counseling Summary

Howard Thurman wrote in the midst of the Civil Rights struggle, and he talks about his conversations with a grandmother who had spent her childhood in slavery. People like me, who take our freedom and privilege for granted, should read the book, if for no other reason, to get a sense of the interior struggles others face. These struggles have sometime been the source for why a person is seeking counseling. So Thurman shows us in this book how one needs to see the other persons view in any situation which makes the counselor a better mediator for a session. Donald Capps equips readers with basic knowledge and skills and helps them to create a framework to ensure that all conversations where counsel is given will be valuable and not
The role of lay counselor is important because The numbers of dysfunctional and emotionally hurting people in our society and churches are rapidly increasing. Some churches seem to be in denial of these facts and have even challenged the need for counseling within the church at all. Many other churches have taken the approach that if preaching, repentance and spiritual warfare are not enough, it is the person’s fault because the person lacks faith or is not willing to be helped. We, as students and clergy , have to admit that many times we have given shallow and simplistic advice for complex problems that we did not fully understand, with meager
First, what human resources are available in the church? How will he set up and organize this ministry? Who will be the leaders, administrators, and clinical directors? Who will be lay counselors? Does the church have a credentialed pastoral counselor or a pastor with adequate training in counseling to direct the counseling ministry? Does the church have professionals such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, mental health provider, or social worker? If so, are they interested in and committed to the Lord and the church? Do they share the vision? Would they volunteer or be paid for directing or consulting? How would the church recruit, train, and supervise lay