Frequently Asked Questions

Does Northeast Georgia Christian Counseling (NGCC) accept insurance?

NGCC does not accept insurance—for several reasons. First, insurance can interfere with the counseling process because it limits people to a prescribed number of sessions that are determined by a third-party. Also, for clients to receive insurance benefits, they must receive a mental health diagnosis. Although NGCC employs Licensed Professional Counselors who have the legal right to diagnose, not all people who can benefit from counseling meet criteria for a meaningful DSM-5 diagnosis. In addition, receiving insurance benefits requires counselors to share treatment plans and progress notes with employees of insurance companies so they can determine whether counseling is warranted. We don’t think that’s right, so instead of spending time filing insurance claims, we focus on providing professional counseling at a price people can afford.

What is Christian Counseling?

There is not a universally accepted definition or model for Christian counseling. For some people, Christian counseling is what happens when a pastor or fellow church member gives helpful advice. Other people may believe Christian counseling is what happens when a licensed counselor who is a Christian helps a paying client by focusing mostly on spiritual issues. Christian counseling can also mean that a licensed counselor who is a Christian uses a variety of processes and techniques to help a person deal with a mental disorder as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5). All of those scenarios have been described as “Christian counseling.” Although we at Northeast Georgia Christian Counseling don’t claim to have the only “correct” definition of Christian counseling, we define Christian counseling in our context as “professional counseling anchored in Christian values.” Practically speaking, that definition means that we employ counselors who are licensed mental health professionals or who are working toward licensure and that our counselors affirm the Baptist Faith and Message, a document that summarizes what most Southern Baptist churches believe about God, people, the Bible, and other Christian doctrines.

Is Christian Counseling different from “secular” counseling?

Both secular and Christian approaches to counseling occur in the contexts of relationship and conversation—and all relationships and conversations occur within a worldview.  Even therapies that seem to be focused heavily on certain techniques are anchored within worldviews that influence the course of counseling and the resulting beliefs and actions of clients. Although secular approaches to psychology may offer unique perspectives and techniques that can be effective for helping people, Christians need to be aware of the influences of the secular, materialistic, and atheistic worldviews and assumptions that underlie many of these secular counseling perspectives and techniques. Christian counseling provides a measure of protection against worldviews that conflict with biblical truth.

For Christian counseling to occur, at least one of the people in the relationship (i.e., at least the counselor) must have been justified by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) and should be in a process of progressive sanctification (Colossians 3:1-10).  In addition to experiencing transformation personally, Christian counselors operate from a biblically informed perspective that clarifies the truth about human nature, the impact of sin, and the power of redemption. 

Why Christian counseling?

Some Christians assume that help for problems in living should be sought from secular helping professionals. They may believe that counseling is a legitimate extension of the medical profession and is an empirically proven, value-neutral system of techniques for helping people change. Christian counselors, by contrast, may be seen as best suited for “spiritual” concerns.

Despite the wealth of techniques offered by the staggering variety of secular counseling approaches that have been developed over the past century—and despite the (often misplaced) popular perception of the efficacy of those techniques—effective counseling is not rooted fundamentally in technique, but in relationship, conversation, and wisdom. Even behaviorally oriented therapies rely on these three elements for gaining an accurate understanding of presenting problems and for implementing strategies for change. Relationship, conversation, and wisdom are hardly recent innovations in people helping; for centuries, they have provided Christian caregivers with essential contexts and tools for effective soul care. 

Although Christians may elect to seek help from secular mental health professionals—and may sometimes find help for their presenting problem(s) from those individuals—Christian counselors can be especially helpful for Christians because Christian counselors have a rich understanding of Christian clients’ values and beliefs. Christian counselors at NGCC are either licensed mental health professionals or are working towards licensure, which means that they not only understand a Christian worldview, they also have training and practical experience required by the State of Georgia.  

What if I’m not a Christian?

You don’t have to be a Christian to meet with a counselor at NGCC. We won’t insist on using the Bible or praying during our sessions if you’re not comfortable with those things. Our counselors are comfortable using a variety of counseling strategies that don’t conflict with biblical principles. But you should know that even though some counselors may claim to be “value neutral,” the reality is that personal values influence thinking and counseling in ways people aren’t always aware of. NGCC counselors believe that the Bible is the ultimate source of truth, and we acknowledge that we are influenced by what the Bible says about people, the nature of their problems, and the ultimate solutions to their problems. 

What do NGCC Counselors believe about people?

The Bible says that people are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). People are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), and thus were created to be creative (Genesis 1:1), holy (1 Peter 1:15-16), spiritual (John 4:24), rational (Isaiah 55:8-9), emotional (Zephaniah 3:17), volitional (Genesis 1:28), and relational (Genesis 1:26). At NGCC, we believe that people are influenced by a confluence of factors, including historical and social contexts, genetics, physiology, cognition, emotion, volition, learning history, interpersonal relationships and spiritual influences. 

What do NGCC Counselors believe about problems?

We all struggle because we live in a fallen world. Sometimes we are affected by our own sin or the sin of others. Other times, life is just tough because of the impact of sin and death on our world.

The Bible says that sin has damaged and disfigured the image of God in people. Sin distorts truth (Genesis 3:4-5), conceals grace (Galatians 1:6-7), damages trust (Acts 5:1-11), and prompts people to act in destructive ways (John 13:18-30). Sin results in death and separation from God (Romans 6:23; John 3:18-19). In addition to the damage that sin causes in the lives of people who rebel against God, sin damages other people and their environments (Romans 8:18-22).  People are so damaged by sin that even their ability to fully recognize the impact of their own sin is hampered (Jeremiah 17:9). 

Sometimes, we just have to deal with hard realities of life. Other times, fully dealing with our problems involves a recognition of the way our own sins and the sins of other people have impacted us. In addition, many problems people face can be traced back to deficits in truth, grace, hope, or action. You may hold inaccurate beliefs about God, about yourself or about people or situations in your life. You may have experienced judgment and condemnation during times when you desperately needed grace. You may have concluded that there is no reason for hope. You may have tried to take actions to change your life but keep falling back into the same habits. Counselors at NGCC can help you find solutions to these problems using a variety of strategies.

What do NGCC Counselors believe about solutions?

People will never experience complete wellness as long as they live on earth (Romans 7:15-24). However, Jesus came to earth to redeem people from the curse of sin (Galatians 3:13). Jesus came so people may have eternal life and abundant life (John 10:10), and he asserted that his followers would experience this abundant life in the context of healthy community (John 13:31-35).  When people place their faith in Jesus, they are justified (declared not guilty in God’s sight) and enter into eternal life (Ephesians 2:8-9). As people increasingly surrender to the lordship of Christ, they are progressively transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). This transformation allows people to experience abundant life: They gain a clearer vision of truth (John 8:31-32), experience grace (1 Corinthians 15:9-10), grow in hope (1 Peter 1:3-4), and act in ways that reflect a transformed life (Luke 11:27-28). At NGCC, we believe that a saving relationship with Jesus is the ultimate source of healing, as it allows us to see truth, experience grace, and find a basis for hope regardless of our life circumstances. We also acknowledge that having a relationship with Christ does not make a person immune to hardships. We believe in a biopsychosocialspiritual approach to healing, which means that we need to take into account the impact of dysfunction in our bodies (including our brains), our thoughts and feelings, and our relationships with both people and God. 

What are some goals of Christian counseling?

Effective Christian counseling helps guide people into a process of transformation that leads to abundant life. Although Christian counselors can't produce transformation in anyone, they can support a process of transformation by engaging in conversations that help people deal with life’s struggles, address the impact of sin and discover truth, experience grace, find hope, and take action. 

Truth is the gift of clarity.  It is the ability to perceive life accurately. Truth brings freedom (John 8:31). Truth is not the same thing as condemnation, although truth may result in feelings of conviction. Truth is not the opposite of grace; instead, truth points to the reality of grace and exposes our need for grace.

Grace is unmerited favor (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace is benevolent action taken by someone who owes nothing. Grace brings comfort and leads to hope that despite brokenness, there can be healing and restoration. 

Hope is the desire for life to be better than it is right now. The Bible has a name for our belief that God will provide those things we hope for: It calls that belief “faith” (Hebrews 11:1). In order to have hope, we need accurate perceptions of reality (truth), and we need to have experienced grace. Otherwise, we would have no real basis for hope. 

Action provides visible evidence of transformation and allows new thoughts and behaviors to be strengthened through repetition. We act based on our experiences (both past and current) with truth, grace, and hope. God’s people are called to action, not just to knowledge (James. 1:22; James. 2:14; John 14:15). A plan of action allows us to build healthy habits into our lives.

Counselors at Northeast Georgia Christian Counseling can help you discover truth, experience grace, find hope, and take action that can lead to lasting change. We may use a variety of counseling strategies, so long as those strategies do not conflict with biblical principles.