Conquering Your Christian Counselor Interview: A Comprehensive Guide to Landing Your Dream Job

3 Questions to Ask a Counselor Before You Get StartedHow to discern if he or she is the right person to counsel you

Women face unique issues in leadership, and it’s okay to meet with a counselor to work through them. In my role as a ministry leader at a Christian college, I found myself in tears as I described to a colleague the significant toll the ministry I coordinate takes on me. She gently pointed out that we can experience vicarious trauma as we minister to others. Vicarious trauma is “the emotional residue of exposure [that helpers have] from working with people as they are hearing their trauma and become witnesses to the pain, fear, and terror that trauma survivors have endured.” I know you wear many hats as a ministry leader, but “bearing witness to [your congregation’s] pain, fear, and terror” is probably one of your most important responsibilities. Counseling is a wise option for mitigating burnout and cultivating lasting, life-giving practices to help you flourish in your ministry role.

But what happens once we decide to go to counseling? What should that first phone call sound like? How can you tell if a counselor is qualified to help you with the unique problems you’re having in ministry?

A new counseling relationship usually starts with an email that says something like, “Dear Rebecca, My pastor gave me your name as a possible counselor.” “Do you have time to start counseling?” In the precious time between getting that email and setting up a phone call, I pray for both of us to be wise and clear-headed as we try to start a meaningful helping relationship. Setting up a time to talk on the phone, I call a possible new counseling client’s number, looking forward to the conversation that lies ahead. These talks are holy grounds of hospitality; they give you a chance to meet another bearer in need, distress, grief, or anger.

The purpose of this first meeting is to find out if you and this possible counselor are a good fit and if they can help you in good ways. To determine this, there are three questions you should ask a potential counselor.

There are a lot of different training and background paths for counselors. Their methods are based on how they think people should change, heal, and grow. Listen to your counselor’s answer; he or she is answering with his or her theology of change. Write down words like “religious tendencies,” “psychoanalytic tendencies,” or “biblical counseling” and look them up on Google. Then read what they mean. You do not need to become an expert in the various kinds of therapies. You should instead just check to see if the type of therapy the counselor uses fits with how you think about change.

Another way to look at it is this: What have been the most important things that have changed your life as a Christian? For example, intentional activities like prayer, worship, and Bible study often shape our lives. These practices are not just things to do, but the way we open ourselves to God. They don’t have to live the same life as you, but will they value these things the same way you do? Will they be open to finding creative ways to include these things in the counseling process?

God has given us all sorts of people and methods to be helpful. The Holy Spirit is not bound to one form of counseling methodology. Instead, you’ll need to find one that reflects your theology of change.

During one intake call, a woman asked about my counseling framework, and I shared my methodology. She was honest about the fact that my method made her feel bad because she had a bad experience with it before. So, we prayed together and I sent her a list of referrals for other counselors. Giving feedback on what you want is not something that will get in the way of building a healthy counseling relationship; in fact, it will be very helpful. I felt nothing but admiration and hope for the woman I spoke with that day.

This is a pretty common search for people in ministry: you want to find a biblical counselor who will base your sessions on the person and work of Jesus Christ and the Bible. Of course, there are exceptions. In cases of serious mental illness or when you need to stay in a hospital, you might decide not to work with a biblical counselor. These exceptions usually come when medication or a larger treatment team is needed. Other counselors or therapists are more likely to work in medical practices that offer full treatment, while biblical counselors are more likely to be based in churches.

As ministry leaders, we know better than most the danger of practicing in isolation. The same is true of counselors and therapists. Unfortunately, it’s common for counselors to be disconnected from each other and the church. If the counselor you’re thinking about has a faith-based background, find out how they feel about working with or being supervised by the local church. Consider asking about who and what kind of spiritual authority is speaking into his or her life. This does not mean that your counselor must prove how churchy or connected he or she is. This question is meant to get your potential counselor to talk about how he or she doesn’t like being alone. Your counselor is shaped by the people they turn to for help and support, and this will affect how you work together.

I spend at least three hours a week in supervision, consultation, or group conversations with counselors who are more experienced and wise than me. Besides that, I have a lot of informal supportive habits that help me help the clients I work with. These include Bible study, going to church on Sunday mornings, and having close friendships. I’m committed to finding the appropriate support and collaborative partnerships to sustain a meaningful counseling practice. You and your counselor both want to help people, so it’s a good idea to know how your counselor prioritizes supervision and working with you.

Women in ministry seek out counseling for a number of reasons. You might be ready to start counseling because you’ve had anxiety or depression, been through a traumatic event or loss, are worried about your own or a family member’s mental health, have noticed patterns of anger, want to know more about parenting, or for any number of other good reasons. It’s important to share your goals for counseling during this initial conversation. In other words, share why you’re seeking counseling.

Then ask your potential counselor about his or her experience with your goals. What you want to know from this question is less about what they know and more about how they talk about the problems you’re having. Getting help for anxiety and depression from a counselor who sends you straight to a psychiatrist will give you a better idea of how that counselor sees people who are going through anxiety and depression. To be clear, a psychiatric intervention for depression and anxiety can be based on knowledge, skill, and care, but it can also be thrown together quickly. This is where discernment is important. The way your potential counselor talked about your goals for counseling should have made sense to you. Besides their experience (or lack of experience) in the areas of your goals, should they have shown genuine concern for how you might be feeling? Should they have thanked you for sharing your thoughts with them? Should they have been thankful for the chance to walk with you? Think about how your first meeting with this potential counselor made you feel. If you don’t feel like you have a connection with the counselor, this might not be the right one for you.

At the end of these phone calls, I tell my potential clients, “It matters if you like me. ” This might sound egotistical, but it has a different purpose rooted in humility. Let’s be honest, not every intake call results in a good connection—and that’s okay. When I say that I want my clients to like me, I let them know that they can find another counselor if they don’t connect with me or if they felt uncomfortable during our conversation. How you experience your counselor interpersonally matters. For our relationship to work, my clients must feel safe with me, both when they tell me personal stories and when they speak up for themselves. Ultimately, a counselor does not fix or give advice to effect lasting change in a client’s life. Rather, counselors cultivate an environment where meaningful insights are made and productive skills are practiced. As you can see, none of these goals will be simple or easy. However, they will be easier to accept if you like your counselor.

Often, people find me because a friend or pastor gave them my name. That endorsement is humbling and powerful. But I never think that just because someone referred me that we will be a good fit. Women ministry leaders’ work environments and reasons for seeking counseling vary. Because you are a leader, you have a lot of responsibility. The counselor you choose should be able to answer these three questions in a way that makes you want to go through the process. As ministry leaders, I hope that we’re moving into times of counseling with someone we feel good spending time with. To do that, we must discern the right person to walk alongside us.

Rebecca Meyer (M.A. Counseling, Westminster Theological Seminary) counsels with Cross Care Counseling and in the Chaplains Office at Wheaton College. She lives on the South Side of Chicago with her husband, Ben. Tags:

Christian Counselor interview questions

What do Interviewers look for in a Christian counselor?

Interviewers want to assess how well you can balance your faith-based approach with the respect for client’s autonomy and individual beliefs, demonstrating your ability to work effectively in potentially challenging situations. Example: “As a Christian counselor, my role is to provide guidance and support while respecting the client’s autonomy.

What do interviewers want to know about counseling?

Therefore, interviewers want to understand your ability to navigate this diversity, ensuring a respectful, inclusive, and empathetic approach to counseling. Example: “In my counseling approach, I prioritize understanding each individual’s unique interpretation of their faith.

What does a Christian counselor do?

As a Christian counselor, you’re bound to face complex situations that test your professional abilities and spiritual grounding. Potential employers want to see how you navigate these waters, applying your faith in practical ways to support your clients while adhering to professional ethical guidelines.

What do Interviewers look for in a spiritual counselor?

The essence of your role is to provide spiritual guidance and psychological help in a way that respects each individual’s unique faith perspective. Therefore, interviewers want to understand your ability to navigate this diversity, ensuring a respectful, inclusive, and empathetic approach to counseling.