| The fundamental difference between Christian | | | | Association and the International Board of Christian |
| Counseling and Secular Counseling is the authority to | | | | Counselors (an outgrowth of the AACC) are two of |
| which the counselor is answerable. Secular Counselors | | | | the best known associations that provide reliable |
| are licensed by the state, and must abide by the rules | | | | credentials for Christian Counselors. There are many |
| the state creates. Most states promote the idea that | | | | other reputable organizations that ordain or certify |
| God cannot be a part of anything endorsed by the | | | | counselors. |
| state. Consequently, most state licensed counselors | | | | Secular counseling refers to those professionals who |
| are forbidden to even mention anything of a religious | | | | become licensed by their state to provide a variety of |
| nature. They agree not to pray, not to ask God for | | | | counseling services. Typical designations include |
| help, not to mention anything religious at all. | | | | Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed |
| Christian, Pastoral, or Biblical Counselors answer to the | | | | Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and Licensed |
| church. This frees them to ask God for help, to pray, | | | | Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). |
| and offer religious solutions to those they counsel. It | | | | Christian Counseling presents a variety of designations |
| also creates a responsibility on the church to properly | | | | as well. You will find Licensed Pastoral Counselors |
| oversee the activities of these counselors. | | | | (LPC), Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselors (LCPC), |
| Professional counselors will typically hold at least a | | | | and Certified Christian Counselors (CCC) to name just |
| Master's degree. Many will have done the extra work | | | | a few. |
| to hold a PhD as well. Note that a religious counselor | | | | The bottom line when seeking a counselor is to find |
| will typically have a degree from a religious university | | | | one that is actually motivated to help you. One item |
| while secular counselors will receive their training from | | | | that indicates a willingness of the counselor to deal |
| state certified schools. | | | | with problems is testing. There are many testing tools |
| If you seek the assistance of a Christian Counselor, it | | | | available to properly trained counselors. These tools |
| may be wise to determine that your counselor has | | | | can help provide significant insight and explain |
| been trained and is licensed or certified by a church or | | | | underlying causes for all sorts of difficulties. A simple |
| organization that will actually hold them accountable for | | | | test can often save months of "talk therapy" and get |
| their actions. The National Christian Counselors | | | | right to the heart of things in many cases. |