Lay Counseling and Support Groups

Behind Closed Doors is a support group that offers the hope and power of the gospel to women who have experienced emotionally destructive relationships with men. It provides ongoing support for women who are currently in relationships and marriages or recently separated or divorced. While it is not designed to take the place of formal counseling, it does provide a safe and empathetic place to share, encourage, offer hope, and find other resources when they are needed.

Contact: spcbehindcloseddoors@gmail.com
Meeting schedule: currently meets twice a month

Lay Counseling is one-on-one counseling in a non-clinical environment. Volunteer leaders and staff are trained and taught the principles of counseling in order to offer loving care towards others. We currently have twelve lay counselors who lead support groups and as well as counsel. The goal of our counseling is to promote Christian maturity through developing a deeper relationship with God. For more information, email Janice Bilger.

Our Lay Counseling Team

Janice Bilger, Mike White, Lisa White, Yates Dowell, Katherine Dowell, Hank Graeser, Peggy Graeser, Lori Dalton, Woody Fisher, Judy Joyce, Paul Layne, Joy Broadway, Ann Budinger, Elizabeth Giffin, Lara Hall, and Angie Vardell.

How Can Lay Counselors Help?

• Providing a healthy mental framework for processing life situations
• Helping to improve relationships with others
• Facilitating behavior change
• Helping to develop healthy coping mechanisms
• Providing guidance on important decisions

When people are facing difficult situations—depression, anxiety, a failing marriage, grief or loss, infertility, sexual addiction, substance abuse, domestic violence, family discord, broken relationships, job loss, sickness, cancer, child rearing, and other challenges and crises—they need a network of support from both clinical professionals, the church, and the broader community. A lay counselor program plays an integral role in weaving together the comprehensive support system and providing a safe space for people to bear one another’s burdens in a biblical, loving way.

What Can I Expect in a Lay Counseling Session

With lay counseling the first few sessions should be dedicated to discussing and aligning on the goal of counseling—in other words—what does the client hope to gain from meeting with a trained lay counselor? As counseling is a collaborative effort between both the lay counselor and the client, goal setting will serve as a guide for the ongoing communication through therapy.

Anxiety and Depression are not respecters of persons. Their ultimate end, left untreated, can result in suicidal thoughts and possibly suicide. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, suicide is the second leading cause of death among people between the ages of 10 and 34. One in five adults experience mental illness each year. At SPC, we are working to demonstrate the love of Christ as we help those within our church and community who deal with depression, anxiety, self-harm, addiction and suicidal thoughts.

The twelve suicide warning signs are (according to cdc.gov):

feeling like a burden,
being isolated,
increased anxiety,
feeling trapped or in unbearable pain,
increased substance use,
looking for a way to access lethal means,
increased anger or rage,
extreme mood swings,
expressing hopelessness,
sleeping too little or too much,
talking or posting about wanting to die, &
making plans for suicide.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

Ask the people around you who are exhibiting one or more of these signs how they are feeling and if they are contemplating suicide. Studies have shown that asking at risk individuals if they are suicidal doesn’t increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actual suicide. Keep them safe and find out if they have a specific plan. If you can, remove firearms and medications from their reach. Be there and offer support. Help them connect and follow up. VisitBeThe1To.com for more information.  Contact Janice Bilger for counseling and referrals.

The Lifeline is 988.