I get asked so many times how I got started in the counseling business. So let me share my story with you now. It really all started when I was in college pursuing a theology degree. I wanted to be a minister to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. While I pursued my degree I found myself frequently being sought out for counsel and guidance. Students would just stop me in the hallway and ask me for advice. I took Psychology 101 and found that I was really interested in the various theories and ideas of psychology. I will never forget that orange booklet given to us by our professor that listed all of the different careers in psychology. It is still on my bookshelf. I thoroughly read that booklet and there identified Marriage & Family Therapy as something that really interested me. I went on and completed my degree in Theology and went on to start my work as a pastor. I decided to jump right into a masters program in Marriage & Family Therapy. My first exposure to this field was thrilling to me. I took Structural Family Therapy and just fell in love with the stuff. I wasn’t able to complete that program as I was called away to complete my Masters of Divinity. During this program I took a pastoral counseling course and further fell in love with the idea of counseling.
After I started pastoring I found myself repeatedly in a counseling situation with my members. I was so excited when I was given the opportunity to select a district where I could complete a degree in Marriage & Family Therapy. After completing this program and ten years of pastoral ministry, I left the pastoral ministry to pursue the counseling ministry. I have evolved in my counseling ministry to focus primarily on helping married couples survive affairs and falling out of love.
I feel exceptionally blessed to have been doing this work for twenty years. It has been extremely fulfilling to help people work through their issues and achieve greater heights in their personal development and relationships. I count it a privilege when people choose to sit down and share their most personal details of their lives with me.
I loved pastoring and many times long to be back in the pulpit leading a congregation. But I am content being a conduit of God’s grace in the privacy of my office. It is always icing on the cake when I have been invited to speak or do a seminar thus giving me an opportunity to use those gifts that God has granted me.
You may be feeling urges to look into this type of ministry. Maybe you are unhappy with the work you do and think maybe you would enjoy working to help others. I would strongly recommend any helping profession. The pay is often not as great as some other fields. However, the rewards are tremendous.
If you would like more information about becoming a counselor or coach I would love to hear any question you might have. I’ve reached the point in my work that it is time for me to pass on the torch to the next generation. We need more gifted counseling ministers who really care about people and love the Lord. Feel free to ask any question you may have about getting started in this business/ministry.
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