5 Types of Christian Counselors

Are there different types of Christian counselors?individuals choose to keep their roots in biblical
Yes, There are many different types of Christianevangelical theology despite their secular background.
counselors. Gary Collins wrote the first article on theThese counselors have to find ways for integrating
different types. When he first wrote his article hetheir psychological knowledge and skills with biblical
identified five basic categories which are still, for thetruth.
most part recognized today.Theoretician Researchers: This group is comprised
Main Stream Counselors: These counselors receiveprimarily of university professors. They take a
training known as CPE or Clinical pastoral Educationscholarly, scientific approach. As the name implies
training. These individuals are educated as pastorsthey work extensively on researching, developing and
receiving a complete theological education. Whentesting new theories and techniques. These
they decide to become counselors they go through acounselors do not necessarily "work in the field"
secular training program. Because they have aunless their research requires them to do so. Their
religious background they are able to integrate theeducation is almost always secular, unless they are
drastically different secular education into theiruniversity professors at a private religious university.
previous religious educationEvangelical Popularizers: This is the set of Christian
Main Stream Counselors have been criticized for beingcounselors, who use their education to write self-help
too liberal. They often negatively view conservativebooks, put together marriage seminars, help youth
evangelical theologians. They believe that theleaders develop action plans to help troubled youth
conservative counselors cause people to steer awayetc. These counselors aim to help ordinary people
from Christian counseling due to the fear that theywho want to help themselves.
will be judged and condemned for their behavior. MainThe five categories of counselors were identified in
Stream Counselors want people to feel that it is ok1975 and are still recognized to this day. There have
to be imperfect and that we are all humans, whatbeen some changes within each category. For
matters most is that we try to live our lives for Godexample the evangelical counselors have started to
and recognize when we fail. Rather then bemove away from clinical pastoral education in favor
condemned for failing they believe that beingof a secular education.
supportive can help the person avoid failure later on.Within the last decade the evangelical pastoral
Evangelical Pastoral Counselors: These counselors usecounseling and Christian professional counseling
a counseling theory outlines that the bible is the onlyapproach has been widely adapted by seminaries.
foundation of all counseling. These counselors areThe seminaries have started many masters and
confrontational, that is, they are very blunt, to thedoctoral programs that provide an equal mix of
point, and have no problem pointing out when youtheology combined with counseling, therapy,
are at fault for your problems. They take anpsychology, and marriage and family therapy.
educational approach to counseling, by the time youThere is a massive and heated debate over the
are finished with counseling you will have a greatermingling of Christian theory with psychology. One side
scriptural knowledge to guide your future decisions.argues that Christianity and psychology are not
Christian Professionals: The father of Christiancompatible at all while others argue that they are
counseling Clyde Narramore falls into this category. Ascompletely compatible. Some counselors are
does James Dobson, founder of focus on the family,somewhere in the middle, and the number of
and an outstanding author. These individuals haveindividuals in this category seems to be growing
received a purely secular education and generally,substantially each year.
possess state credentials or licensure. These