LESSON NINE 
COUNSELING

A PASTOR SHOULD BE A GOOD COUNSELLOR.
•	Some of his most effective ministering will be through counseling. 
•	Very time consuming. 
•	His ministry will only be as successful as he succeeds in helping individuals. 
•	Must plan his schedule carefully. 
•	The pastor should have a thorough knowledge of God's Word. 
•	The pastor should develop a genuine love and interest in his people. 
•	The pastor should be a student of human nature and try to understand his people. 
•	The pastor should have reference books on counseling.
ETHICAL STANDARDS ARE ESSENTIAL TO ALL PASTORAL COUNSELLING.
•	All personal information should be held strictly confidential. 
•	In his personal dealings with his flock, the pastor will be confided in very often.
•	The place for counseling should be suitable.
•	All physical contacts should be avoided other than shaking hands.
•	If the counselee is of the opposite sex, the door of the office should be left ajar.
•	Counseling sessions should be kept brief. 
MAY FOLLOW IN COUNSELLING.
•	Be compassionate and must be able to feel for the troubled and disturbed soul.
•	Be a good listener and seek to improve his listening skills.
•	The seriousness of the problem should never be minimized. 
•	Should never give counsel until he understands the situation fully. 
•	Always seek out the solution to the problem and to encourage the individual to overcome rather than just endure it. 
THE PASTOR SHOULD NEVER WITHHOLD GOD'S ANSWERS TO A PERSON'S PROBLEMS.
•	Don’t withhold from a troubled soul God's answers to his needs. 
•	Don’t be stern and harsh; be firm, but at the same time faithful, gentle, patient and loving.
•	If the individual is not Christian, this is the time to present the plan of salvation. If the individual is Christian, this is the time to teach him that he is not walking in the Spirit.
•	Always lead the individual to trust God and pray. 
•	Never condone sin but often there is a need for reprimand and correction, do it tenderly and cautiously.

LESSON NINE
SELF HELP TEST

A.	Why should a counselor be a good listener?
B.	Write a paragraph on Ethical Standards in Pastoral Counseling.
C.	How may a pastor prepare himself for the important work of counseling?

1.

2.

3.