Early this spring, a parent called our office looking for help. Their teenager was struggling—seriously, the kind of struggle that includes thoughts of not wanting to be alive—and the family had done everything we so often tell families to do. They had already found an adolescent psychiatrist and made the appointment. The trouble was the date. They had called in … Read More
Relationships—Are They Worth It?
Written by BCC Staff Counselor Sarah Ellis God created us in His image—an image designed for community—but what happens when you are fearful of engaging with others? Have you ever experienced that pit in your stomach or tightness in your chest when invited to a group outing? It is the very thing you want, but you wonder how you will … Read More
THE REFLECTIVE PAUSE: Becoming Christ-like in the Moment Before You React
Written by Staff Counselor Dr. Luke Trifilio Most of us know the moment well. The comment lands wrong. The email tone stings. The child pushes the button — again. The driver cuts you off. The spouse says the thing. And before you have time to think, something has already moved inside you: a flash of anger, a hardening of the … Read More
4 Ways to HELP A Struggling Teen
Written by BCC Counselor Theron St John “My teenager attempted to take his life.” I still remember hearing those words from a parent whose teenager I had previously counseled. This young person had been through family challenges and regularly experienced anxiety and depression. It had been a while since I had last seen him for counseling, so the news astounded … Read More
Biblical Hope in Emotional Distress: Lessons from the Book of Habakkuk (Part 2)
Written by Sheri Ho BCC Staff Counselor In Part 1, we saw how Habakkuk wrestled with God in deep emotional distress. In Part 2, we will learn how remembering God during pain and trial can renew our faith and hearts, enabling us to regain strength and deeper joy. Lesson 3: Remember God’s Works and Promises Pain tempts us to narrow … Read More
Biblical Hope in Emotional Distress: Lessons from the Book of Habakkuk (Part 1)
Written by BCC Counselor Sheri Ho Have you ever felt despair? Have you watched hope fade and found yourself losing heart? Or perhaps you are walking alongside someone struggling with depression, disappointment, or confusion? The Book of Book of Habakkuk offers great encouragement and wisdom for times of despair and confusion. When Habakkuk was written, Judah was morally corrupt, violent, … Read More
Too Busy for Counseling?
Our lifestyles are often so busy that we don’t know if we can fit one more thing into our schedules. Many people believe they would benefit from counseling, but they struggle with concerns over the time commitment. Do you feel like you’re too busy for counseling? As internet speeds and video communication options have increased, online counseling via video has … Read More
Create Your Own Small Group Counseling Training: Five Advantages
You can train online by yourself, or you can join a large group training in an auditorium with hundreds of others, but they both fail to provide some key benefits. At BCC, we’ve found that biblical counseling training is most effective when you train with small groups. In fact, we often recommend to pastors, churches, and individuals that one of … Read More
The Conundrum of Confidentiality, Part 2
BCC executive director Dr. Tim Allchin tackles questions on confidentiality in counseling. His article appeared first here and is used with permission. Part One of this article describes the difficulty for biblical counselors in simply embracing the professional counseling ethic of complete confidentiality. Part Two proposes suggestions that biblical counselors should embrace regarding confidentiality. While the assumption within the ethical … Read More
