Can Lay Counselors Get Paid?

Can lay counselors get paid?

The answer to this question depends on the area in which you are working, the type of helpers you want to train, and the resources available to your organization. In some situations, it may make sense for a church to pay their lay counselors to ensure that they have the resources they need to do their job properly. In other situations, however, this might not be the most effective way to go about it.

Getting Started With Lay Counseling

One of the best ways to ensure that your lay counselors have the tools they need to do their job effectively is to get them trained by an organization such as Lifeline Christian Institute. They provide a comprehensive training program that will increase your counselors’ knowledge of the biblical principles for caring for others, as well as the skills needed to work in a counseling environment.

Often, the training is conducted by a licensed professional in mental health or another related field such as social work. The training will cover the different types of problems that people face, including addiction, marriage and family counseling, grief and loss, and more. It will also cover the ethical and legal issues that need to be addressed when a person is counseling.

Picking the Right People

When deciding who to train as a lay counselor, it is important to select candidates that have the appropriate emotional and spiritual maturity to care for others, and who are open to undergoing supervision during their training. It is also a good idea to consider whether the candidate has a background in pastoral counseling or other types of mental health work, and if they are willing to take the time and effort necessary for the required training.

Training Your Lay Counselors Caringly

When a lay counselor is not trained in a professional manner, it is not uncommon for them to misunderstand the role of a counselor and act inappropriately. It is essential to train lay counselors on the biblical basis for counseling, as well as the legal and ethical requirements for a lay counselor to provide their services.

The first step is to establish a policy for how your ministry will select and train their lay counselors. This will help to safeguard your church and the counselors involved, as well as protect those who turn to you for help.

It is also a good idea to have a lawyer prepare all of the paperwork that your ministry needs, and to ask about any insurance coverage you may have for this type of program. This can be an expensive process, but it is essential if you plan on hiring and supervising lay counselors in your church.

Offering Purposeful Supervision

A good lay counselor should have regular meetings with a licensed or clinical professional to discuss their practice and receive ongoing training. This may be a pastor or other Christian licensed mental health professional such as an addiction counselor or therapist, or someone who is knowledgeable in the biblical aspects of counseling and can provide guidance.