Biblical Counseling offers hope and guidance from God's Word to believers who are suffering or struggling with sin so that they may be transformed by the Holy Spirit and live in a way that pleases God (Eph 4:15, 2 Cor. 3:18, 2 Cor 5:9).
Foundational Beliefs
The Bible is the only authoritative, inerrant, and sufficient guide for what we are to believe and how we are to live. God's Word is effective to change even the deepest struggles and enable believers to face any difficulty in a way that honors Him (2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Pet 1:3).Biblical counseling is a ministry of Grace Church of Orange and agrees fully with the church's Statement of Faith and Elder Position Papers.
Cost
Biblical counseling is a ministry of the church offered by caring and qualified brothers and sisters in Christ, free of cost.
What to Expect
After you submit your request for biblical counseling, members of our team will carefully review it to determine how we can best serve you. Since this process takes time and we receive a high volume of requests, please allow up to one week for us to contact you.
Biblical counseling requires a level of commitment. Sessions are typically held once a week for about one hour and usually continue for eight to twelve sessions. Counselees should expect to complete personalized homework assignments between sessions designed to support change and spiritual growth as they apply Scripture to their daily lives in practical, meaningful ways.
Our Approach
We seek to come along side our brothers and sisters at Grace Church of Orange to help them apply scripture to specific struggles and be changed by the work of the Holy Spirit. Through this process of focused and intensive discipleship, we aim to help believers grow in Christlikeness and experience the joy and peace that the Lord gives through faith in Him.
Formats of Biblical Counseling
If you are interested in biblical counseling, please select one of the options below that best fits your situation.
Ministry Information
Biblical Counselors
Our biblical counseling team consists of GCO Elders, Pastors, ministry leaders, and individuals of proven character and biblical wisdom who have been selected by the Elders to serve in this way.
Contact
If you have any other questions or would like to speak with someone about biblical counseling, please let us know by emailing eradmilovich@graceorange.org. We would love to speak with you.
Events
Conference: information coming soon!
Biblical Counseling GBI information coming soon!
Training
If you are interested in serving the church as a biblical counselor, please reach out to eradmilovich@graceorange.org. You can also visit the ACBC website to learn more about biblical counseling training!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you counsel people from outside GCO?
Our biblical counseling ministry is intended to provide care for members of our church. If our counselors have availability, we may make exceptions, especially for those who attend GCO regularly.
Do you counsel children?
We may counsel minors only if they are believers in Christ, regularly fellowship at Grace Church of Orange, and at least one of their parents is present in the sessions.
Do men counsel women or women counsel men?
At our church, women do not counsel men, and in the rare occurrence that a man counsels a woman, we require that the woman's husband or father or a female biblical counselor also be present in the session.
Is there a waiting list?
At times, there is a short waiting list. We will reach out to you regarding next steps within one week of your initial request.
How is this different than therapy?
One key difference is that biblical counseling is focused and intensive discipleship. This means that the biblical counselor will seek to guide you toward obedience to God’s Word and that the goal is to help you become more like Christ and live in a way that pleases God (2 Cor. 3:18, 5:9). It also means that the basis of our counseling is not psychology, but the Word of God, which is our authority and tells us all we need to know to live in a way that pleases Him (2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Pet. 1:3). Because biblical counseling is focused and intensive discipleship, it has a clear endpoint (usually after about 8-12 weeks). It is intended to help believers deal with a specific sin or struggle for a short season. At the close of biblical counseling, growth and discipleship continue for the counselee within the context of the larger church body as believers build one another up in regular fellowship and ministry (Eph. 4:15-16).
For further information, please see our biblical counseling consent form.
What kind of commitment is required?
Biblical counseling is a commitment intended for those who love God and have made a decision to obey His Word. In addition to weekly counseling sessions, the counselor will guide you to study the Scriptures and apply them in practical ways throughout the week. Doing this requires a desire to change and a commitment to put time and effort into knowing and obeying God and His Word.
Is there confidentiality in biblical counseling?
We will seek to be trustworthy and discreet with your information. We cannot guarantee complete confidentiality, however, since there are several situations in which it may be necessary or prudent to share certain information and/or take protective measures.
For a further information, including examples of exceptions to confidentiality, please see the “Confidentiality” section of our biblical counseling consent form.
When should I expect a response after submitting a request for biblical counseling?
We will follow up with you by email within one week of receiving your request for biblical counseling. If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911 immediately.
To request urgent pastoral help, you may call our church office at (714)633-8867. Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 9:00am-4:00pm, Fri. 9:00am-12:00pm
Can I bring my child to my counseling sessions?
For safety reasons, childcare is not provided, and children are not allowed to wait in the office during counseling sessions. We ask that you postpone counseling plans until you can make arrangements for childcare.