Youth Guidance Counselor Directory

1500 Lady St
Columbia, SC - 29201
(803) 451-7907

The Christian Counseling Center was established to encourage growth and healing

in the Christian Community.  There are times when the changes and growth that

begin when one becomes a Christian seem to be impeded by life’s difficulties. 

Professional Christian counseling is not a substitute for Biblical teaching, discipline,

and personal devotions, but it is another resource available to you on your journey

toward Christian maturity.

Philosophy of a Professional Counseling Center Within a Church

The philosophy of a professional counseling center as a part of the ministry of the local church is biblical. When one understands what happens in a counseling ministry, this becomes even more apparent. A counseling ministry provides the believer with a place to wrestle with the gospel in deep, intense, and intimate ways, along with the help of a trained fellow believer . The preached and taught Word convict and instruct. At the same time, many need help with the application of it to the difficulties, pain, and dysfunction of their lives. God bestows gifts and talents upon certain members of His body for the purpose of helping others come to maturity and find healing in their lives.

A counseling ministry in the local church communicates a number of things. First, through a counseling ministry, the church says we want to help you in your struggle with life’s demands. Those struggles include depression, grief, anxiety, anger, abuse, marital and family problems, addictions, vocational problems, and sexual difficulties. Secondly, a counseling ministry declares that a believer’s struggle is not illegitimate, but a means of spiritual growth and maturity. As the church validates this struggle, believers are freed to be more open about their struggles and to struggle more earnestly. Thirdly, a counseling ministry reaches non-believers who are looking for real solutions to life’s demands. As such, a counseling ministry becomes an outreach to the community.

History

In the late 1980’s, the First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, South Carolina gave birth to the vision of a christian counseling center that would serve both the church and the community.  For a decade, plans were laid out, the groundwork was set,and many were praying for just the right person to fill the position of executive director. 

In April 1997, the search ended and Dr. Tom Barbian began his work as the first Executive Director of The Christian Counseling Center.  Another counselor, Bobbie Lackey began working at the center that same year.  Over the last seven years the Christian Counseling Center has grown to include four full time counselors, three part time counselors and continual openings for graduate intern counselors.  Because of the Lord’s blessing, hundreds of people are helped each year in Columbia and the surrounding area through the services of the Christian Counseling Center.

Our Objective

Our objective is to provide Christian professional counseling as one integral dimension of the ministry of the church. Persons dedicated to Christ who are professionally trained and licensed as counselors employ the gifts and talents God has given them in this ministry. Professional counselors in a Christian counseling center take seriously spiritual and religious issues and values. Clients who come for counseling are able to struggle with their issues in the context of the Christian faith. Counselors adhere to the ethical standards of their profession as the carry out their work in a Christian context.

Challenges We Face

As a Christian counseling center, we face the challenge of relating the gospel to every situation one encounters in life. The gospel is certainly relevant, but it is often not embraced as so in our secular society. Christian counseling recognizes the sin present in all of one’s struggles and works to integrate truth found in psychology with Biblical truth in order to treat legitimate mental, emotional, behavioral, and relationship problems.

We also face the challenge of providing help to all who desire it by not allowing finances to be a barrier. As a non-profit agency, the counseling center is able to receive donations to help cover the expenses associated with providing counseling to those who find it difficult to pay.

Lastly, we struggle with getting the word out that the counseling ministry is a place for persons to engage in an authentic struggle to increase their faith, know God, love others, and to resolve the difficulties of life.

Confidentiality

Confidential conversations between a counselor and a client are something that counselors are bound to by the ethical standards of their profession. The purpose of confidentiality is to provide a safe environment where a client will freely discuss his problems, without fear that very personal information will be revealed to others. This increases trust and the likelihood that all aspects of a given problem will be brought into the open. Confidentiality then is important for a good counselor-client relationship.

" Is there anything that can’t be kept confidential?"   By law, there are three issues that can’t be kept confidential. A counselor is legally required to report cases of child and elder abuse. In cases where a client is an imminent suicide risk or is threatening harm to another person, confidentiality may be broken. These exceptions are to protect others, or the client himself. These are important and necessary exceptions. Any other disclosure of information about one’s counseling requires written permission.

There is another aspect of confidentiality that needs to be mentioned. Besides one’s conversations with a counselor, the very fact that he is receiving counseling is confidential. This is partly because in our society there still exists significant bias and discrimination toward those who seek assistance for mental and/or relationship problems. Therefore, at the Counseling Center we respect one’s desire to have the fact that he is coming to us be kept confidential, and we do all that we can to keep it that way.  As the body of Christ, we should value personal growth and see Christian Counseling as a possible means to that growth.  And as a result reduce the stigma associated with seeing a  "counselor"?  Our prayer is that this would someday be the case, that there would be no shame in seeking counseling. Rather, that it would be a desirable goal to be one who recognizes his struggles and has the courage to change even if it means seeking the help of a Christian Counselor (Rom. 14:13).

The "Typical Client"

A middle aged man who has spent the past 25 plus years rising up the corporate ladder and raising a family only to find himself depressed and having difficulty getting up and going to work. His life lacks meaning even though he has accomplished what a man like him is supposed to. He realizes that his relationships with is wife, family, and friends have deteriorated or are non-existent.

The young couple married 8 years. It seems all that they do is fight. With three kids, 2 jobs, and a mortgage they have little time for each other. Both wonder if this is all there is.

The 9 year old little girl has been experiencing severe anxiety over going to school. She often complains of not feeling well, and has difficulty getting along with other children. Her school performance is suffering.

A married woman, who by society’s standards has it all. She struggles with depression and anxiety. For years she has tried to deny that the abusive and dysfunctional home she grew up in was impacting her adult life. She has tried to put the past behind her, to follow Christ and serve him completely in all she does. Yet, the intrusive thoughts, the nightmares, the feelings of panic, and the difficulties with intimacy continue unabated.

The college student was raised in a Christian home, yet you wouldn’t know it by how his/her life looks today. It began with missing church, being out too late at parties, and has ended up with an addiction to alcohol and drugs. The parents knew something was wrong by the dropping grades, but were shocked and ashamed upon learning the truth. As an elder in the church, this is not supposed to happen to one of his children.

The above stories are just a small sample of the "typical clients" that seek help at the Counseling Center. Clients come in all ages, race, socio-economic status, and gender. The problems in their current life range from mild to overwhelming and severe. Some come early, wanting to prevent something serious from developing. Others come when it seems to be too late and nothing sort of a miracle from God can change things. Fortunately, those miracles still happen.

The Christian Counseling Center offers a wide variety of services to meet the needs of "The Typical Client". We offer individual, marital, family, and group counseling. We offer seminars and speakers for instruction and early intervention. We offer counseling on a sliding scale with reduced rates so that finances do not have to be a hindrance to getting help.

Our counselors have developed expertise in the following areas:

Anxiety and Depression

Marital and family counseling

Addictions, eating disorders, and sexuality issues

Recovery from abuse, trauma, and dysfunctional families

Children and adolescents

Issues of aging and family caretaking

Grief and Loss

People are complex and their struggles are complex. In one sense all clients are typical. Everyone struggles to live in a stressful world, has difficulty in relationships, and carries some pain from their past. Every client must address the place of God in his life; will He be Lord or will he be ignored.

In a very real way no client is typical . Each is uniquely made by God and has lived a unique life and presents with unique issues. We strive to bring relevant, competent, professional, and biblical counseling to each person God brings to the counseling center. Our prayer is to be used in a unique way, with that unique person, to accomplish God’s eternal purposes in that one’s life.

-BACK TO TOP- Christian Counseling Center*1500 Lady Street * Columbia, SC 29201 (803)779-1995 Christiancounseling@sc.rr.com