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Christian Counseling Connection
3
FROMTHE PRESIDENT
COFFEE CUP COUNSELING: LEARNING
TO CARE FOR PEOPLE GOD’SWAY
Tim Clinton, Ed.D., LPC, LMFT, BCPCC
O
ne of my favorite passages in the Bible is 2 Cor-
inthians 1:3-4, which says, “Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us
in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those
who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we our-
selves are comforted by God.” This passage simply means God
loves to use people, just like you and me, as a conduit through
which He channels His message of hope to those who need His
grace in difficult moments of life. When you help someone,
the ministry of presence is inherently therapeutic. You have a
calling. You have value. You make a difference.
Growing up, I learned many simple, yet significant, life
principles… especially with seven siblings. From the dinner
table to the bathroom, I quickly learned how to share, negoti-
ate, and be kind and fair. If you didn’t, there were usually a few
consequences and repercussions coming from mom and dad.
Smile.
These days, I am still learning, especially from my five
sisters, about counseling and caring for others. I am reminded
daily
just how much they are used by God to comfort one an-
other, family and friends, coworkers, and others. My sisters do
much more counseling than I do—a friend’s teen on drugs, a
loveless marriage, caring for an aging parent, money problems,
an unexpected illness or accident, and a hundred other press-
ing issues. Is what they do different than professional levels of
care and counsel? Sure. Insignificant? No way. As a matter of
fact, I have observed that a considerable amount of meaningful
help is accomplished over a simple cup of coffee.
At the AACC, we have long been committed to train-
ing, encouraging, and equipping the entire community of
care—from professionals to lay and pastoral helpers. Recently,
I joined efforts with a friend and colleague, Pat Springle, to
develop a six-week course to train up an army of what we refer
to as “Coffee Cup Counselors”—those who have a calling and
natural ability to “be there” for a friend or colleague during a
time of need.
Our mission through Coffee Cup Counseling is to provide
a training program for people just like my five sisters—encour-
agers who want to be better prepared to minister during those
moments of life. Coffee Cup Counseling provides an engaging
resource that AACC members can use to build up caregivers
in their local churches and communities. Paul talked about
this kind of special soul care in Galatians 6:1-2: “Brothers, if
anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual
should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on