Qualities of a Christian Counselor

Posted Saturday, April 12, 2008

Greetings!

 

Some weeks back I was invited by a large Retreat center in Kerala to teach their Counselors (English Section) some lessons in Christian Counseling. (Week long Retreats go on simultaneously in seven languages in this center) This retreat center, called "Divine Retreat Center," is the largest retreat center in Asia

 

Recently, I taught 30 of their counselors whose ages ranged from 25 to 65. I taught six lessons in about 11 hours.

 

The Abiding Concept was not new to them, but the whole idea of basing a system of Christian Counseling on Abiding was exiting to them. They agreed 'Christ in you is the hope of glory' and that apart from Him they can do nothing. To produce fruit they have to remain (attached) to Him as His organic part. Every one of the participants felt blessed. They were asked to come up with the right qualities a Christian counselor should possess. The following list is some of the qualities they came up with. I invite our readers to add on more desirable qualities a Christian counselor should have according to your thinking.

 

1. HUMILITY (I insisted that this be placed at the top of the list)

2. HOLINESS/PURITY

3. LOVING

4. RIGHTEOUSNESS

5. TUNED/SHARPENED TOOL

6. PROACTIVE (go preach, heal and baptize)

7. AVAILABILITY

8. NONJUDGMENTAL

9. COMPASSIONATE

10. EMPTY (0f Lust/Desire)

11. PATIENT/LONGSUFFERING

12. PERSEVERING

13. GENTLENESS

14. GOODNESS

15. SELF-CONTROL

16. KINDNESS

17. PEACEABLE

18. OBEDIENCE

19. JOY

20. FARSIGHTED

21. TRUSTWORTHINESS

22. GRACE

23. GENUINE

24. ACCEPTING

25. ENCOURAGING

26. HELPING

27. SUPPORTING

28. TEACHING

29. UNDERSTANDING

30. DISCERNING

31. FORGIVING

32. PRAYERFUL

33. DOING GOD'S WILL

34. ABIDING

35. BLESSING

36. BUILDING UP

37. BEARING THE BURDENS OF OTHERS

38. HOPEFUL

39. POSITIVE VOCABULARY

40. COMFORTING

41. SHARING

42. TOTAL ATTENTION

43. KEEN OBSERVATION

44. HONESTY

45. SELF-DISCLOSURE

46. ACCOMMODATING

47. SPIRITUAL FULLNESS

48. INTELLECTUALLY ALERT

49. ROBUST HEALTH

50. COMFORTED OF THE LORD

 

Only fifty qualities are listed here. But would like our readers to participate and be involved. I also want to get the maximum number of qualities a counselor should have according to our regular readers and supporters. I want to make use of those qualities for my upcoming book 'The making of a Christian Counselor.' Thank you for your input.

 

Blessings,

Alex Mathew