(work in progress)

General Questions

1. What is Biblical Counseling? 

2. What is Integrationism?

3. How do the various counseling methodologies differ from one another?

4. What is your understanding of the sufficiency of scripture, particularly as it relates to counseling?

5. Explain the concepts of common grace and general revelation. What is the significance of these to the counseling process?

6. What is 'mental illness'? When is 'mental illness' sin and when is it not? 

7. Do people need to forgive themselves? Do people need to love themselves? Are those biblical concepts?

8. Conceptually and practically speaking, how is counseling a non-Christian different from counseling a Christian? What does evangelism look like in the context of counseling a non-Christian?

9. Can a Christian start their own counseling ministry apart from the local church?

10. How do you justify counseling outside of the church; that is, outside the authority of a pastor or elder board? Are counselors circumvening the role of the authority of the pastor or church leadership in this kind of situation?

11. How can a Christian counselor justify charging so much money for discipling someone? 

12. The counseling concept of confidentiality seems to go against the authority of the church and church discipline. How do you justify keeping information away from the very body of leaders God ordained to deal with shepherding his people? How can Christian counselors partner with pastors in caring for the body of Christ?

13. How would you respond to a client that says, “I’m depressed and praying against a demon of depression,” and then quotes Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

14. A pastor asks: “It seems like Christian counselors are more concerned with state requirements for licensure and secularly defined ethical roles than truly biblical ethics of care.” How would you respond? 

15. How would you define emotional health and spiritual health? Justify biblically/theologically how these are the same or different? 

16. What is the significance of understanding humanity’s dignity and depravity in counseling?

17. What are the important elements of your theology of change in the context of counseling?

18. A person who has been faithfully following Christ for 20 years yet still struggles with “X” sin asks you, “Do people ever really change?” What is your response? What hinders or stops people from changing?

19. What is the significance of grieving/lament/mourning (synonyms) in a Christian view of healing?

20. What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the counseling process?

21. What are your larger counseling goals in working with a person navigating concerns regarding their sexual identity, orientation, and/or attractions?

22. In the context of a counseling session, an adult female client reports being lured into a sexual relationship with a pastor or elder in your church. How would you respond to the client? What ethical issues are at play?

23. A client is struggling with abuse from her past. She feels guilty because she feels angry with God but thinks this is sinful. How do you respond to her concern?

24. What is the role of forgiveness in counseling? What does forgiveness look like when a person has been deeply wounded by another person? What is the relationship between forgiveness and reconciliation?

25. What is your understanding of shame and guilt? What is the relationship of shame to idolatry?

26. Name three strengths and three concerns about “Biblical Counseling” in the CCEF (Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation) and/or ACBC (Association of Certified Biblical Counselors) models of counseling?

27. From a Christian perspective, evaluate the role of 12-step programs in healing from substance abuse disorders. For Christian clients, would you recommend Celebrate Recovery rather than AA/NA?

28. A pastor asks you if you, as a counselor, are an integrationist. How would you respond? 

29. How does your religion inform what you do in the counseling room?

30. Describe your theory of counseling. (Discuss the counseling model(s) [e.g., Internal Family Systems, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Psychodynamic) and concepts [e.g., attachment theory, mindfulness, transference and countertransference)] from which you draw conceptually and practically, and how you do or do not integrate them together.)

31. How would the theory and/or techniques of short-term/brief counseling approaches (e.g., CBT, solution-focused therapy, DBT) fit within your model of counseling?

32. What does it mean to have an eclectic or integrative approach to counseling theories?

33. Does a person need to deal with their past history in order to be healthy/grow? Why or why not?

34. Explain the key features of a scientifically-informed, bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach to assessment and case conceptualization. 

35. What are the important elements of a treatment plan? How does it continue to inform your ongoing work?

36. How does crisis counseling differ from typical counseling?

37.  If a client told you that he or she was romantically attracted to you how would you respond? 

38. Would you use social media websites (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube) or other electronic means of communication (e.g., email, texting) to (1) communicate with clients, or (2) advertise your counseling practice? Why or why not?

39. What ethical, legal, and clinical considerations should be addressed when deciding if a client is appropriate for tele-mental health services?

40. What makes a counselor culturally competent and responsive? How have you sought to improve your cultural competence and responsiveness?

41. How would you counsel a woman who reports a history of having had one or more abortions, or presents with an unwanted pregnancy? What ethical issues would you consider?

42. You are assigned a client that works with your spouse/partner. What issues would you consider as to whether you should see this person for counseling? If you decided to meet with the person for counseling, would you address his/her connec?on to your spouse/partner? If so, how?

43. What are the benefits of and/or problems with making DSM-5-TR diagnoses?

44. Why or why isn't medication important for some clients to progress in their counseling? How should you handle discussions of client medications as a part of your work as a counselor?

45. Regarding assessment tools: (a) what is your rationale for their use, (b) when is it clinically appropriate to use them, and (c) what are guidelines for offering feedback of results to clients. Give a brief example of how you have used an assessment tool with a client.

46. What are the legal and ethical guidelines for assessing the neglect or abuse of a child (or vulnerable adult) and appropriate procedures for reporting neglect or abuse to the right parties?

47. How would you assess a client’s level of suicide ideation? What ethical and clinical procedures would you follow given a report of suicidal ideation (either active or passive)?

48. What are the advantages and professional benefits of being a member of a professional counseling organization? Select two such organizations that you would consider joining and explain why you would pick them specifically.

49. What is you perspective of mindfulness techniques to help someone struggling with anxiety. What empirical evidence supports or does not support your use of these mindfulness techniques?

50. What is the difference between professional counseling and life coaching? Is it ethical to practice life coaching if you are a licensed counselor?

Marriage & Divorce

1. What are the grounds for divorce?

2. And remarriage?

3. How would you counsel someone that has a different view than you concerning divorce and remarriage?