Informed Consent

Hope and Grace Christian Counseling wants you to know that you can receive trained, certified Biblical counseling to help you through your situational difficulty.

The counseling is distinctly Christian. The counselor is not certified by the State of Nebraska. The counselor is not a licensed medical professional, but instead is a “pastoral counselor”, lay-counselor who offers care as a para-church ministry that serves the local church.

If you would like this type of Christian counseling, please read this Informed Consent thoroughly, ask any questions you may have, and sign and date it prior to your first counseling session (you may do so electronically, or bring a signed copy with you).

• All counseling is conducted in accordance with the counselor’s understanding of Scripture. Your counseling will be Biblical with the Scriptures being the final authority in all cases.
• If you are not sure that you will be interested in biblically-based counseling, you have the option of attending one session to discover what biblical counseling is like. If you are unwilling to use the Bible as the final authority in counseling or unwilling to do the homework assigned, sessions will be terminated.
• Information disclosed in counseling sessions will be held confidential unless the Counselor believes you are a danger to self or others. If there are legal situations that need to be reported, the counselor is obligated to do so.
• At any time during the counseling for reasons sufficient to himself/herself, either the counselor-as also the counselee-shall have the option of terminating counseling.
• Understand that Christian counseling consists of giving scriptural advice and the practical application of the same to each individual. Yet, the counselee is held fully responsible for how he or she implements that advice. We are confident that the Bible has all of the information necessary for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). We believe there are no problems between persons which the Bible fails to address, either in general or in specific principles.
• Counseling is not infallible. Nor do we pretend to know all there is to know about Biblical teaching and its applications to life. We will make a point to differentiate between God’s commands and our suggestions. Furthermore, we may at times, seek assistance from other trained counselors in their specific area of experience. In such cases, we will be careful not to divulge your identity.
• You will be given Bible-based and practical homework assignments to complete between counseling sessions. It is critical that you commit to doing the homework in order for you to progress in counseling. If you are unwilling to follow through with homework, your counseling will be terminated. Please let us know if you have learning difficulties or preferences and we will accommodate your needs with a variety of types of assignments that you will be able to successfully accomplish.

At times, the caseload requires you to be placed on a waiting list. If you are on a waiting list, prepare your heart by following these suggestions while you wait. Read your Bible and pray daily; go to a Bible-believing church (we will be glad to make recommendations if you do not have a home church); talk to your pastor or other leader about your situation if you are in immediate need of care; call your physician if you are having physical symptoms or are unable to manage your daily routines; if you are suicidal call 911 and/or your nearest loved one. You can also call your physician and/or go to the local emergency room.

*Please note that we do not give medical or legal advice.
*If a conflict should arise between the counselee and the counselor, both parties must agree to resolve the dispute outside the secular court system.

If you are interested in Biblical Counseling, kindly sign below as indicated.