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Welcome to Grace Orange Biblical Counseling 

Biblical counseling is the process of helping real people with real problems using the Bible. 

 

Mission Statement 

We believe that a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone for the glory of God alone. No matter your circumstance, there is hope because of the power of the gospel (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 12:2). Our goal is to help you meet the challenges of life in a way that will please and honor the Lord Jesus Christ and to allow you to fully enjoy His plans for your life. 

Facts about Biblical Counseling 

Our counseling ministry is founded upon the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17) rather than the principles of secular psychology or psychiatry. We believe that God’s Word is sufficient for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). 

The Concept of Biblical Counseling  
Biblical counseling is committed to the position that Scripture provides the only authoritative guide for what we are to believe and how we are to live (2 Timothy 3: 16, 17). The Biblical Counselor is trained in the use of Scripture and the principles of biblical counseling. He does not base his counsel on man’s wisdom, opinions, experience, or concepts of behavior, (Isaiah 55:8-11) but seeks to bring the full range of Biblical truth to focus on the counselee’s need (Hebrews 4:12). 

The Scope of Biblical Counseling 
Biblical counseling deals with the entire range of problems confronting mankind including broken marriages, parent-child relationships, fear, depression, alcohol and drug abuse, tension, anxiety, worry, and any other problems that may result in mental and/or physical immobility. In short, the Biblical Counselor is equipped to deal with any problem dealing with ourselves, our relationship to God, or our fellow man (2 Peter 1:3). 

Elements of Biblical Counseling 
The Biblical Counselor will use all his skill in applying Biblical principles to enable you to glorify God in your life and to enable you to gain victory over the problems that are depriving you of the peace and joy that God has promised to you in His Word. The counselor will concentrate on three areas that are necessary for Biblical change to take place. 

  • HOPE // In Jesus Christ we have a great High Priest who has suffered and been tempted in all things, yet He never sinned. Because of Christ, even though you may be facing every sin common to man, you can have victory. God has promised that He will not let you be tempted beyond your endurance and that He will provide a way for you to have victory in the midst of your temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 4:14-16). 
  • CHANGE // In Christ we can learn how to lay aside the old selfish ways of living and put on the new ways of living in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can learn to please God in every area of our lives. We can learn to live a godly life and to live in such a way that we will be increasing in our knowledge of God and our ability to relate to others. Biblical counseling will enable you to make practical changes (Ephesians 4:20-24; Colossians 1:10). 
  • PRACTICE // We need to prove ourselves to be doers of God’s Word and not merely hearers of the Word. Only in the actual practice of the Scriptures shall we be blessed in what we do, and only then will we please the Lord (James 1:22-25; Proverbs 28:13). 

Medical Needs 
Biblical counselors believe in the total health needs of the counselee. The counselor may recommend that you have a full or specified medical examination. If medical assistance is required, counseling will continue in conjunction with medical advice. 

Cost 
Biblical counseling is a ministry of the church and is therefore free of charge.  

The Biblical Counseling Team  
Our counseling team consists of Grace Church pastors, elders, and ministry leaders along with ACBC certified biblical counselors, and trainees under the direct guidance of an ACBC supervising fellow. For more information on ACBC see their website at Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). 

Length of Counseling 
Normally, counseling sessions will last one hour per week and will continue for eight to twelve sessions. If you respond quickly to Biblical counsel, the number of counseling sessions may be lessened. However, if the counselor does not observe a definite change in the first few weeks, he will seek to identify the cause of the failure, discuss it with you to help you to correct it. You and your counselor will communicate regularly regarding your schedule. You will also be asked to commit to weekly homework assignments designated by your counselor. 

Waiting Period  
At times, the requests for counseling exceed the availability of our counselors. In this case, after we have received your intake form, we will call you to let you know that you will be placed on a waiting list. Otherwise, you may be able to see a biblical counselor as soon as we have received your intake form. 

Local Church Involvement 
In order to achieve lasting victory over the problems of life, it is vital that each person become established in a consistent Christian walk. The Lord has provided the local church as the discipleship center (Hebrews 10:24, 25). Therefore, it is important that counseling sessions be accompanied by church attendance, participation in a group Bible study, and other discipleship activities in your local church. The counseling team may contact your church and request their assistance in involving you in these activities. One of your elders or deacons may even become part of the counseling team, to provide the most effective help for you. It is our commitment to do what will best bring about victory over your problems. 

Counseling Children 
At this time, we do not offer counseling for children ages 17 and younger.  

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 counseling office during counseling sessions. We ask that you please postpone counseling plans until you can make arrangements for childcare. 

Counseling Services 

If you are interested in receiving biblical counseling through our center, please submit a request here or rclark@graceorange.org  In your request, please include your full name, your telephone number, and confirm your email address as well as a brief summary of the reason for your interest in counseling at this time. We will then be in contact with you regarding next steps. 
 
If you have a question that isn't covered on this page, please feel free to reach out to the counseling ministry at (714) 633-8867  We would love to speak with you! 

 

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