Christian Counseling And The Law

What you don't know can hurt you. Do you know: What constitutes "clergy malpractice" and "negligent counseling"? What is "duty of care"? When do you break confidentiality? When are you breaking the law? What are the legal ramifications of church discipline? What is your responsibility in child abuse cases? Can you use counseling illustrations in your sermons? If you are a pastor or counselor, or are in any counseling ministry, this may be the most important new book you will read this year. In this "age of litigation" an explosive new area of law -- suing churches -- is impacting Christians. How do these lawsuits affect pastors and counselors? Seve Levicoff's scholarly, yet easy to read, Christian Counseling and the Law, summons all Christian counselors to study the law themselves so that they can be "as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves" and thereby "fight the good fight of faith" in the secular arena. This is not a book filled with stilted legalese and lofty phrases. It is a straightforward, well-documented resource for the Christian counselor. When you put it down -- if you can -- you will probably say, "That was just what I needed." - Flyleaf.

ContentsPart I The Grave New World of Christian Counseling LiabilityPart II Sexual Misconduct in Christian CounselingPart III Confidentiality and Its Many ExceptionsPart IV The Counseling Process: Managing Liability RiskPart V Special Counseling Modes and Controversial CasesPart VI Corporate Risks and Counseling CredentialsPart VII The Maturation of the Christian Counseling Profession

Contents Part IThe Grave New World of Christian Counseling Liability Part IISexual Misconduct in Christian Counseling Part IIIConfidentiality and Its Many Exceptions Part IVThe Counseling Process: Managing Liability Risk Part VSpecial Counseling Modes and Controversial Cases Part VICorporate Risks and Counseling Credentials Part VIIThe Maturation of the Christian Counseling Profession

Pastors and biblical counselors who are seeking to faithfully lead, mentor, and guide their flocks in a rapidly changing cultural landscape will find clear direction and guidance from a team of Christian lawyers.

Pastors and biblical counselors who are seeking to faithfully lead, mentor, and guide their flocks in a rapidly changing cultural landscape will find clear direction and guidance from a team of Christian lawyers.

A client raises spiritual questions. Can a Christian therapist working in a government agency talk with a client about faith? A young couple with two children asks a Christian counselor to help them negotiate an end to their marriage. What responsibility does the counselor have to try to repair the relationship? A youth group member confidentially reveals to the pastor that he is taking drugs. Should the pastor tell the boy's parents? A counselor who teaches a college course has a client show up for class. What should she do? These are just a few of the complex dilemmas that therapists, counselors and pastors face nearly every day. Handling these situations appropriately is critical for both the client's progress and the professional's personal credibility and protection from liability. State and federal codes, professional association statements and denominational guidelines have been drawn up to address ethical issues like competence, confidentiality, multiple relationships, public statements, third parties and documentation. In this book you'll find them all compiled and interpreted in light of Christian faith and practice. Written by qualified professional counselors and respected academic instructors, this book is an indispensable resource for understanding and applying ethics in Christian counseling today.

You aren't a licensed marriage and family therapist. You didn't do a doctoral dissertation on pastoral counseling. You're simply God's person caring for God's people in the local church. And the marriages in your church need help. Many pastors feel ill-equipped to handle the challenges that arise when a couple is going through marital difficulties. They feel lost and inadequate. What do you say? What counsel do you offer? Should I say anything or just listen? Do I schedule a follow-up appointment? Do I ask questions? What questions? If you are or have been in this situation before, this book offers you a practical guide to get started with the first sessions and then offers specific guidance on nine of the most common topics that come up in marriage counseling. Author and pastor Jonathan Holmes offers a solid, biblical theology and methodology to help you navigate through the world of marriage counseling with the fundamental conviction that God's word is powerful enough to address the deepest of marital issues, and robust enough to handle whatever might come your way. In each chapter, you'll meet a new couple dealing with a different issue, much like the people in your church, office, and neighborhood. Through the book you'll also hear advice from several respected voices in the biblical counseling community. Whether you're a novice or already knowledgeable, Counsel for Couples provides theologically sound and biblically practical tools to help you as you help couples in need.