| Are You Called to Be a Lay Crisis Counselor? |
Called to Counsel is a web-based educational program that provides certification
in lay counseling from a Christian perspective. It is designed specially for volunteers
already active in reaching out to those in crisis in their churches and communities.
We are accepting registration for our Families In Crisis certification track now,
with our first course, Overview of Families in Crisis, to begin January 7, 2008.
Certification Requirements
Our Families in Crisis track consists of three courses of study. Each course is independent
of the other. You can enroll for one course at a time, or the entire program. However,
you must complete all three courses in order to become certified as a Lay Christian Counselor.
Overview of Families in Crisis is a general study of the primary problems facing families
today, the agencies and resources that are available to them, and some of the basic
skills needed to communicate effectively and respond compassionately to them.
The second course, Counseling Families in Crisis, teaches fundamental principles of
counseling, ethics, and the terminology and methodology employed in the mental health
system. The third course, Advanced Issues in Christian Counseling, delves deeper into
the more complex family issues such as clinical depression, substance abuse, suicide, child abuse,
trauma, and domestic violence.
The courses are designed to be interesting and materials are written for the average lay
person, not a student in a professional course of study. You work at your own pace.
You will receive a list of all assignments at the beginning of each course. When you complete
the required assignments, you test yourself online as often as you need in order to successfully
complete the course. We want to make your learning experience pleasant and interesting,
and not another stress in your life.
Once you complete the three courses, participation in a three day on-site conference is required.
We plan to host the first conference at Cragmont Assembly in Black Mountain, N. C.
in the fall of 2008. Besides the beauty and peace of the location, this conference will provide
the fellowship, networking, support, and hands-on skill-building you will need to be fully
certified as a Lay Christian Counselor. This final course requirement will assure us that you
have all the basic skills you need to counsel with confidence.
Clinical Knowledge with a Spiritual Focus
This course is not a Bible study, or a course in spiritual growth or evangelism, but a course in
understanding how to help families who have problems beyond their spiritual issues.
We do, however, expect our applicants to have a practical working knowledge of the Bible
and to know the principles of healthy Christian living, and to be of excellent character.
All techniques and study material employed in this program are based on theories and
concepts approved of by well-respected Biblical scholars and medical professionals
across the world.
Program Benefits
Certification has many benefits. Although it will not qualify you for a job as a
professional counselor, it will equip you to start a nonprofit ministry in your community
or enhance the counseling ministry offered in your own church. Learning this course content
may improve your ability to serve your clients in your present job. It will certainly enable you to
"stand in the gap" for families until professional resources are located. You might save lives,
prevent further trauma, or greatly reduce their pain and suffering while they wait to be seen
by a licensed mental health professional, which can sometimes takes weeks, or in some cases,
even months.
Who Should Apply
We are looking for wise, compassionate persons who have a great deal of life experience,
and who are not afraid to tackle the tough issues. You must be a high school graduate and
at least 25 years of age to be certified, although any person over the age of 18 can take the
courses simply for their own knowledge and understanding.
You will be required to provide a letter of recommendation from your pastor, a copy of
your high school diploma, and a signed statement from a licensed mental health professional
in your community who has direct knowledge of your fitness to serve in this capacity.
Your application package will contain a brochure with full program details, or you may request
a brochure by email. We require a criminal background check of all applicants.
We will schedule a pre-admission telephone interview once your application has been screened
and we have received the $50.00 non-refundable deposit toward your course fees.
Who We Are...
The founders of this program are Deborah Dunn, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist,
and Melissa Slagle, LCSW, LMFT. Deborah is a nationally known author and speaker
(www.deborahdunn.com) and has been working with families in crisis for over twenty years.
Melissa is an internationally acclaimed Certified Critical Incident Stress Management trainer
and well-known certified traumatic stress specialist who has responded to crisis events all
over the world. Both have counseled and trained trainers for many years. Through
The Life Counselng Center, they will directly supervise and coordinate your Called To Counsel
learning experience. However, you may be assigned a mentoring instructor to help you with
individual aspects of your learning. All mentoring instructors are licensed mental health
professionals in Christian ministry.
What is the Cost?
Applicants who register prior to November 1, 2007 will receive a special one-time offer
to register for Families in Crisis: Overview for $199.00.
After November 1, 2007 the cost of this course will increase to $299.00.
Each subsequent course in the certification program is priced at $299.00.
The final conference is an additional $299.00. If you pay for all three courses
and the conference at one time you will receive a discount of $200.00
off the certification package (for a total cost of $999.00).
Don't forget...register now for the first course by November 1 and you will receive
a $100.00 discount off the first course. Register for the entire package at one time and receive
a $200.00 discount! This is a time limited offer, so do please don't miss this
opportunity for tremendous savings.
If you would like further information or request an application, please call 919.550.2897 or
you may email us at info@calledtocounsel.com.
We look forward to having you in our first class!
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ŠThe Life Counseling Center 2007 All Rights Reserved
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