Church Partnerships
We believe the most effective context for long term, lasting transformation is the local church. We understand how pastors and church leaders often wrestle with how to provide the best care possible for those in your local church. We know there are often issues that need more specific and specialized care. We also know how difficult it can be to find a trusted counselor to work with who shares your mission, vision and values. Therefore, one of the most important things we do is develop strong partnerships with local churches. Our counselors are available to partner with you in the care of your church by providing counseling that leads to heart change within the context of our office and within the context of your church.
We will work within your church’s existing pastoral staff team to provide supplemental, professional counseling. We also offer an advocate model that encourages clients to bring a trusted person into the counseling relationship with them, allowing them to maintain a connection with their spiritual community. Classes and seminars will be offered throughout the year on various topics such as marriage and family, mental health education, trauma and emotion. These seminars may be offered in various locations throughout the Ames area.
Advocate Model
As professional counselors, we believe support networks are critical to sustained and lasting change in the client. People need the love and encouragement of others as they progress in the counseling process. They often need an advocate, someone to walk this path with them. Advocates can be concerned friends, family members, lay counselors or church leaders who walk alongside counselees. These advocates may join in the counseling process at the counseling center and then provide help after leaving the counseling process by encouraging the counselees to apply knowledge gained during counseling. If they so desire, clients can choose to invite an advocate to be a part of their counseling journey.
Please contact us for more information about local church partnership. We would welcome the opportunity to speak with your leadership team regarding involvement in the counseling process.