Comments on: To Certify or Not to Certify: that is the question for counselors http://www.competentcounseling.com/2009/02/04/to-certify-or-not-to-certify-that-is-the-question-for-counselors/ People Seeking Solutions Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:32:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1-beta1 hourly 1 By: Phil Hopper http://www.competentcounseling.com/2009/02/04/to-certify-or-not-to-certify-that-is-the-question-for-counselors/comment-page-1/#comment-1019 Phil Hopper Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:51:59 +0000 http://competentcounseling.com/?p=2950#comment-1019 Certification won't make you a better counselor any more than a PhD will make you a better teacher. The reason I'm considering certification is because of the perception that only the pastor should do counseling. This is probably tied to the idea that it should be left to the "professionals", and I'm definitely not a pastor. I write software for a living. Even though our church is currently without a pastor, and after asking to be allowed to be involved in counseling several times, I'm still not doing any counseling in the church. Previously we had two full time pastors who were NANC certified, so the church is on-board with biblical counseling, but they still think it should be done by professionals. I'm not bitter about it, but I am concerned that the body isn't being cared for properly. Another reason I am pursuing certification is because I love to study, especially if there is a goal. If I could make a living to support six people as a student, I would do it. Certification won’t make you a better counselor any more than a PhD will make you a better teacher. The reason I’m considering certification is because of the perception that only the pastor should do counseling. This is probably tied to the idea that it should be left to the “professionals”, and I’m definitely not a pastor. I write software for a living. Even though our church is currently without a pastor, and after asking to be allowed to be involved in counseling several times, I’m still not doing any counseling in the church. Previously we had two full time pastors who were NANC certified, so the church is on-board with biblical counseling, but they still think it should be done by professionals. I’m not bitter about it, but I am concerned that the body isn’t being cared for properly.

Another reason I am pursuing certification is because I love to study, especially if there is a goal. If I could make a living to support six people as a student, I would do it.

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