Legal Issues In Biblical Counseling

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.

This much-needed book offers a current description of how religious counselors and clergy, as well as their local and national religious organizations, become legally vulnerable. The authors examine the three most litigated areas in clergy counseling: breaches of confidentiality; sexual misconduct; and the content and quality of counseling services. Glossary.

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

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.

Domestic abuse and violence are on the rise in our culture today, and just as prevalent in the church. With an estimated one-fourth of women in the church living with abuse and violence, pastors and biblical counselors need to have the resources to offer hope and help. It is time for godly men in the church to call abusive men to repentance and accountability. Here is a valuable resource for every church leader and Christian man.

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.

Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling is a comprehensive guide that will equip God’s people to use biblical truth to change lives. More than that, this book will increase people’s confidence in the sufficiency and relevancy of God’s Word to address real-life issues in a multitude of counseling situations. Readers of this book will: Understand clearly why they should embrace biblical counseling Be encouraged to trust God’s Word to provide rich insight for living in the midst of even the most difficult challenges Enjoy the relevant, pastoral, and theological teaching they have come to appreciate from such noted authors as James MacDonald, John Piper, Mark Dever, and Elyse Fitzpatrick The 28 chapters blend theological wisdom and practical expertise. The first half of the book emphasizes a practical theology of biblical counseling; the second half highlights a practical methodology of biblical counseling. Though accessible to all Christians, the book will especially appeal to pastors and church leaders, counseling practitioners, students, and educators.