Training Procedures & Modules for Lay Counselors

Training Procedures. Training procedures can vary according to the scope of your program and the skills and abilities of the lay counselors you select to staff your ministry. Consider the following:

• An extended lay counselor training program held weekly or bi-weekly.
• Limit the class size to assure quality interaction with the instructor.
• Implement ongoing and annual training to review and reinforce understanding of the lay counseling policy.

At the conclusion of the initial program training, counselors should sign a statement acknowledging that they have read, understand, and will abide by the church’s lay counseling policy.

Essential Training Modules. Lay counselor training should include the following essential elements:

• Routine problems that lay counselors may encounter
• Biblical guidance pertaining to typical counselee problems
• Opportunities to “role play” and practice lay counselor skills
• Establishing appropriate boundaries between counselor and counselee
• The church’s lay counseling policy
• Detailed discussion of the legal and ethical issues in lay counseling
• When and how to refer a counselee to appropriate professional counseling

Training for the First Counseling Session. At the first session, supervisors should ensure that lay counselors start the first counseling session by:

1. Reviewing the terms of the Lay Counseling Agreement/Informed Consent Form with the counselee. <possible link>
2. Addressing any questions from the counselee.
3. Emphasizing that they are providing Biblical counseling, and that they are not providing counseling as licensed mental health practitioners.

Posted October 2022

The sample recommended policy and procedure information and related documents in the Lay Counseling Overview site are intended to be a template for you and your legal counsel to use in developing your own customized program. We recognize that every faith-based employer is different, and policies and procedures must address the particular needs of each organization. We believe that you’ll find the materials on this site valuable, either as a starting point in developing a new program or in reviewing and updating an existing program.

As with all documents of this nature, it’s important that you ask an attorney in your area to review the policies in the handbook before you implement them. This step will help ensure that the documents have been properly drafted and that all relevant legal considerations have been addressed. Your legal counsel should also review the handbook on a regular basis after implementation to make certain that it remains current with changes in the legal environment.