christian counseling today
Vol. 20 no. 4
53
The Connection between Counseling
and Support Groups
When training GriefShare, DivorceCare, and Single &
Parenting facilitators, we emphasize that theirs is
not
a coun-
seling role. We also stress that they will likely encounter
people who need help beyond what is provided in the group
setting. As laypeople, most prospective group leaders are
relieved when they learn that counseling is not part of the job
description.
“Leaders are not necessarily counselors, but trained in
facilitation. They welcome the support of someone trained
to address the level of intensive care needed by some group
members,” said Sabrina D. Black, Clinical Director of
Abundant Life Counseling Center in Southfield, Michigan.
“When additional intervention is needed, it should be
provided by professional or lay Christian counselors.”
We encourage facilitators to maintain, in conjunction
with church leadership, a list of licensed Christian counselors
with whom they can refer group members. As a result, we
have seen active partnerships develop between groups and
local counselors. “Therapy is necessary for those experiencing
a number of complex issues or circumstances that cause grief
to be complicated, prolonged, or chronic,” said licensed
clinical psychologist, Dr. Susan Zonnebelt-Smeenge. “The
therapy process allows more in-depth individual exploration
of the [person’s] present situation, including the past history
of relationships with the deceased or former spouse, and how
other members of the family may have been involved with the
demise of the marriage or the deceased’s dying process and
death.”
We have also learned from counselors that these support
groups can be effective extensions of the counseling process.
“I always like to coordinate the care,” said Dr. Linda Mintle,
licensed clinical social worker and Chair of the Division
of Behavioral Health, College of Osteopathic Medicine at
Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. She goes on to
describe the process of working with a DivorceCare group.
“If a person is struggling in the DivorceCare group, the leader
may encourage him or her to talk to a therapist. The therapist
benefits because the client may be triggered by the church
discussions and can bring those issues to therapy for a deeper
look. And, having a group of people encouraging, praying
[for], and supporting your client can only be a benefit.”
Obviously, this same dynamic extends to GriefShare and
Single & Parenting groups.
The topics covered in a support group can be an effec-
tive catalyst for productive counseling sessions. “When I have
a client who is participating in DivorceCare or GriefShare, I
note where they are in the sequence of topics and in our coun-
seling sessions,” said Dr. Ramon Presson, licensed marriage
and family therapist and founder of LifeChange Counseling
Services and the Marriage Center of Franklin, Tennessee. “I
inquire about what they are learning and applying, what they
have questions about, and their feelings of group support.
I bring their support group experience into the counseling
session by discussing it. I want to help the client integrate the
two—not compartmentalize and separate them as unrelated.”
How Counselors and Support Groups
Can Work Together Strategically
While I can point to many places where counselors and
support groups are successfully partnering in ministry, I would
love to see even more interconnectedness. Here are some
steps you can take to develop relationships with DivorceCare,
GriefShare, and Single & Parenting groups in your area:
n
Identify nearby groups.
This is easy to do. Local
groups meeting worldwide are listed in the “Find a Group”
search engine found on these Web sites: divorcecare.org, grief-
share.org, and singleandparenting.org.
n
Become a referral counselor.
Approach the pastor
or appropriate staff person at churches sponsoring support
groups and ask to be added to the list of counselors they use
for referrals.
n
Refer counselees to a GriefShare, DivorceCare, or
Single & Parenting group when appropriate.
The group
process will support and enhance your counseling practice
or ministry and provide another effective step in the healing
process for your counselee.
n
Learn more about the content of our support
groups.
By understanding the topics covered in these support
groups, you will have the opportunity to engage your coun-
selee in a conversation about the issues being explored in the
group. The best way to do this is to review the information in
the “Start a Group” section of each Web site listed previously.
n
Cast the vision for support groups in your own
church.
Many of our groups began because a Christian coun-
selor served as the catalyst to launch the program. You may
wish to simply provide the vision and inspiration, or you may
want to help build and train a team of lay facilitators.
It has been very satisfying for me to see counselors and
support groups working together to help minister to people
who are hurting deeply. Such relationships clearly model the
biblical concept of “one body, many parts.” Most impor-
tantly, I have seen such cooperation result in deeper and more
profound healing.
✠
Steve Grissom
co-founded Church Initiative
with his wife, Cheryl. The ministry is based in
Wake Forest, North Carolina. His career includes
experience as a broadcast journalist and an executive
in the telecommunications industry. Contact him at
or visit his Web site at
churchinitiative.org.
