Secular Counseling

• Secular counselors do not employ prayer or Scripture in their counseling sessions, and may not be comfortable praying with the client if the client requests it. They use some of the same tools and techniques as Christian counselors, such as talk therapy, testing and evaluation, medical treatments, supervision, and behavior management. The emphasis of secular counseling differs from Christian counseling in focus and scope of practice. Many who use secular counselors do not desire and are not open to prayer support from the counselor. The counselor and client may not share the same spiritual perspective. The lack of prayer in counseling suits both the counselor and client in this situation.
  
  

Counselors Who Are Christian

• Not all licensed professional counselors who are Christians practice as Christian counselors. The counselor may practice from a secular perspective and leave his faith out of the counseling office. If he doesn't advertise as a Christian counselor, clients don't expect prayer support or counseling from a faith perspective. In this situation, the counselor and client may differ in spiritual beliefs or share similar beliefs, but prayer remains outside the scope of techniques used in the counseling experience.
  
  

Christian Counseling

• Organizations such as the American Association of Christian Counselors, Association of Biblical Counselors, and the Board of Christian Professional and Pastoral Counselors encourage certified members to exercise prayer as a part of the counseling process when the client is open accepting of prayer support. According to a Winter 2007 article in the "Journal of Psychology & Theology," 82 percent of those who seek out a Christian counselor expect prayer during counseling. Christian counselors do not push their clients to accept prayer against their will. The counselor respects the client's view on the use of prayer in the counseling session. She offers prayer if the client has indicated that prayer is acceptable or if the client specifically requests prayer.
  
  

Pastoral Counseling

• Pastors who offer counseling usually include prayer in the counseling session. Most individuals who seek out a pastor for counseling expect and accept prayer as a part of the counseling process. However, if the individual refuses prayer, the pastor respects the rights of the individual. Individuals who request counseling from a pastor but refuse biblical counsel and prayer may receive a referral to other counseling professionals who offer other counseling tools.