Yes, we take Visa, Mastercard and Discover.

Biblical Counseling Center practices and teaches faithful stewardship (1 Cor. 4:2). We offer the opportunity to make payments by credit card as a convenience to those who manage their finances in this way. Please prayerfully consider your resources before using your credit card.

• Initial Visit is 1 ½ hours long and the cost is $100.
• Follow-up Visits are 50 minutes long and the cost is $75.00.
• A discounted fee of $60 is available on follow-up visits for those attending one of our partner churches.
  
  Call Biblical Counseling Center to find out if your church is a partner church.

Click Here for BCC's Cancellation Policy

 

All of the counselors at the Biblical Counseling Center are
certified by the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors and
the International Association of Biblical Counselors.
Additionally, our counselors hold either a Master's degree, or
doctorate degree or are working towards such a degree.

The basic answer is no. The position of the state of Illinois is that of "separation of church and state." To require certification would violate that position. The state of Illinois does require that a person performing any religious function must come under some religious adjudicatory body that can vouch for the function being performed and attest to that person's qualifications. In this case the Biblical Counseling Center would be the adjudicatory body for each of our counselors.

First, make sure that your counselor is coming from a Biblical framework. Their sourcebook for counseling you should be the Bible, as it is sufficient (2 Timothy 3:16-17), not psychological theory, personal opinion or the DSM.

Second, make sure that your counselor prays before each session. The third member of the counseling team is the Holy Spirit who teaches, guides and rebukes.

Finally, make sure that your counselor is trained in Nouthetic Biblical Counseling by either the IABC or NANC.

No, we do not offer support groups. We offer counseling training, counseling resources and individual, marriage and family counseling.

"Biblical Counseling Center is a not for profit organization that has been ministering to the churches in Chicagoland, nationally, and internationally since 1989.  Our mission is to equip the local church to do the work of discipling and counseling for its people, by its people based solely on the sufficiency of Scripture.  We accomplish this in a three fold way through Counseling Training, Counseling Resources and Counseling Services.

Individuals can attain undergraduate and advanced degrees in Biblical Counseling from colleges, universities and seminaries across the country. Several of the institutions involved in these degree programs are:

If you have no training or background in Nouthetic Biblical Counseling it would be helpful for you to take a course at a NANC (National Association of Nouthetic Counselors) certified training center. Click on link below to find a list of centers.

Our center is a NANC certified training center and we offer a lay counseling certificate. We offer four courses in class form in the Chicagoland area and in a self-paced at home study.

If you have a background in Nouthetic Biblical Counseling and would like to find a College or Seminary that offers degrees in Biblical Counseling please check the link below for a list of schools.

If you would like to seek certification from a reckognized certifying agency for Biblical Counselors please check with the International Association of Biblical Counselors or the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors.

Yes, we are a NANC (National Association of Biblical Counselors) certified center and our courses ready you to begin the NANC certification process. For more information on the NANC certification process please

click here.

 

1. Training Seminars hosted by a local institution. We conduct our training at local institutions,  nationally and internationally, because this provides a better opportunity for more people to participate in becoming equipped to counsel and disciple fellow believers. A church or other Christian institution can choose any of our seminars to be taught. Churches or other institutions who wish to host a training seminar for their fellowship or their community should plan ahead at least 3 to 6 months.


2. Training through a self-paced program. Our four certificate training seminars, other topical training seminars plus actual counseling observations are provided as learning tools via audio Audio CD and Video DVD (always adding new material as well to our bookstore).

Check out other areas on our site for times, locations, training materials, resources and costs.

In addition to training seminars offered by Biblical Counseling Center of Arlington Heights, Illinois, there are other key churches and organizations involved in Biblical counseling. Many of these churches and organizations offer both counseling and counseling training:

Northeast

• Bible Presbyterian Church, Grand Island, NY
• Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation, Glenside, PA
• Equipping for Life, Ministry Institute, Coopersburg, PA
• Hollis Center Baptist Church, Hollis Center, ME
• Grace Counseling Ministries, East Bridgewater, MA

South

• Christian Counseling Institute, Kennesaw, GA
• Eastwood Counseling Ministries, Montgomery, AL
• Redeemer Biblical Counseling Institute, Moore, SC

Midwest

• Biblical Counseling Center, Arlington Heights, IL
• Biblical Counseling Institute, Garrettsville, OH
• Faith Baptist Church, Lafayette, IN
• Harvest Bible Chapel, Rolling Meadows, IL

West

• Biblical Counseling Center of Sonoma County, Petaluma, CA
• Biblical Counseling and Educational Center, Visalia, CA
• Gallatin Valley Presbyterian Church, Bozeman, MT
• Grace Community Church, Pasadena, CA
• Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship, La Mesa, CA
• Park City Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX

 

We are a NANC (National Association of Biblical Counselors) certified center and our courses ready you to begin the NANC certification process. For more information on the NANC certification process please click here.

There are three general categories of counseling.

1. Traditional psychological counseling
2. Integrated counseling
3. Biblical counseling

Traditional psychological counselors make an earnest attempt to help hurting people find wholeness as they use over 200 different, sometimes conflicting, psychological approaches for diagnosis and treatment. Psychological counselors will select from Frued, Jung and Adler's differing approach to Psychoanalysis, Skinner's Behavioral Modification, Rogerian Reflection, Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs, etc., or even mix and match differing psychological approaches as they attempt to assist those in need. It is important to note, however, not only were these well-known psychologists and psychiatrists not Christians, but in many cases their moral foundations and approach to the human condition were the antithesis of Biblical thinking.

Integrated counseling attempts to integrate Christian principles into the plethora of psychological approaches. The resulting counsel often neither resembles the original model nor the biblical principles which are being mixed into the stew.

The Biblical counseling movement is founded on the premise that God, as Creator, has solutions to man's brokenness and that His solutions are more effective than those devised by man (Colossians 2:1-10). The solutions for man's brokenness and the guidance for living a full, abundant life are found in God's Word. The Biblical Counselor's dependence on the Holy Spirit, prayer and the use Scripture as the reference guide, along with other Biblically-based topical studies, makes Biblical Counseling distinctively different from the other approaches and extremely effective.

• Jay Adams
• Ed Bulkley
• Howard Eyrich
• Richard Gantz
• John MacArthur
• James MacDonald
• Wayne Mack
• David Powlison
• Lou Priolo
• Lance Quinn
• George Scipione
• Stuart Scott
• Tedd Tripp
• Paul Tripp
• Steve Viars
• Ed Welch

Some of the practical differences between Biblical, Integrated/Christian and Psychological counseling are best seen in what we believe.

In Biblical counseling we believes that:

• The basic problem of hurting people is sin, either commited by or against the person. Sin causes separation from God, whether it is an act of comission, omission, or a sinful response to another's sin against them. Their pain in and of itself is not the problem, but only a reflection that there is indeed a root problem.


• The purpose for counseling is for each individual to become more like Christ, godly in all spheres of life (2 Peter 1:3-10, Romans 8:28,29). God often uses trials and suffering to accomplish this (James 1:2-4).


• The counselor guides the counselee into a closer relationship with God and others (Matthew 22:36-40) rather than being a mirror to reflect, verify and affirm the counselee's thoughts, feelings or actions.


• Counseling is a face to face meeting motivated by love and concern for another who is struggling with a problem for the purpose of restoring him to God and others. God has always provided a way to handle every circummstance in which a person finds himself so that he may respond in a righteous manner (1 Cor 10:13,14).


• The majority of our emotional, mental and physical difficulties have spiritual roots (Psalm 1).


• A dependence on the Holy Spirit and the use of Scripture is essential to teach, rebuke, correct or train (2 Timothy 3:16) the counselee(s) toward a full and abundant life.


• The counselor's role is to discern the spiritual root being manifest emotionally, mentally and physically rather than affirming the counselee's innate goodness (Jeremiah 17:5-10).


• The struggles people carry with them are frequently very involved, difficult and complex, while the root of the problem and the process that leads to healing is simple (Psalm 119:133, Proverbs 3:5-8).


• While many Christians have not been fully trained to counsel all types of issues, all are qualified to counsel one another at some level, based on their knowlege of the Word and their experience in application of that Word to their own lives (Galatians 6:1-2, John5:22-30).


• Counseling is to be sensitive, caring, encouraging and at times confrontational (1 Thessalonians 5:14).


• Healing can take place in weeks and months rather than months and years.


• Medication is a secondary and temporary option rather than a primary solution.

"I was surfing the web for potential jobs with Christian Counseling centers. I am currently a Counseling Master's student at a seminary where we use the integrative approach to counseling. I am offended that your agency does not believe that the Word of God cannot be used in conjunction with psychological theories and methods to bring healing and restoration. When God is made the priority and His love, compassion and forgiveness is the focus, many techniques from the secular field of psychology can be effective in bringing hope and restoration to clients. I just felt it necessary to bring my opinion to your attention. I am not writing to stir up trouble, I am writing because I am deeply offended by your agency's views. If you would like to write to me and explain why you are against an integrative approach, please feel free to do so."

Sherry Allchin's Response:

"Thank you for communicating your opinion. Opinions are interesting, but opinions are not necessarily truth.

"Our desire is to base our counseling on something more permanent than theory or opinion and that is why we have chosen to base our counseling on Scripture alone. Since you have studied psychology, you are very aware that there are many, many theories out there, and that the opinions range from one extreme to the other, and even contradict one another. Who is right? That is why we choose to believe only GOD is right and has given us His Word to guide us rightly.

"My guess is that you have picked and chosen what you feel is usable from many different theories relating to how to help people. That is your choice and we respect your cultural right to do that. We believe God has given us a complete guidebook for how to live life here on earth and even a guide for all eternity. We believe His Word has all we need to know about how to help people. That is why we do not mix His Truth with the opinion of man. I have attached an article that further explains our position if you are interested.

"Please read 2Peter 1:3-10 and notice that God has given to us ALL things for life and godliness and given us a pattern for change and growth that we may escape the traps we find ourselves in by living culturally instead of biblically.

"My hope is that you will continue to search for TRUTH rather that living by opinions. There are articles on our website at www.BiblicalCounselingCenter.org that will broaden your understanding of why we choose to counsel from Scripture alone, and we find it addresses every issue you will ever deal with in any counseling session anywhere you are - either directly or by principle."

Sherry Allchin
Counselor/Teacher
 

"I thank you very much for taking the time and effort to check out our website and email us your opinion. As someone who originally was getting my degree in psychology and has been in psychological counseling, I can appreciate where it is you are coming from. I would like to briefly share with you my journey and how I came to the conclusions I have come to.

"I came from an abusive background and attempted to commit suicide at the age of 16. I had been searching for truth and relief since I had began reading the Bible at the age of 8, probably even before that. Little did I know at the time God was pursuing me. I experienced constant chronic depression since I was a young child. I read self-help books but never seemed to get better. I saw several counselors while in high school and in college. I even requested to go to a psychiatric ward the summer between my junior and senior years in high school because I could not guarantee my counselor I would still be alive in the morning, but my depression only seemed to get worse. I turned to food, and by the time I graduated high school I had gained over 100 pounds and was very depressed.

"After coming to Christ at the age of 19 through reading the Bible, I pursued an undergraduate degree in psychology because I wanted to better understand people, how to help them and frankly, how to help myself. I found myself frustrated by both the inability of psychology to help me, and the incompatibility of psychological theory with the Bible. While, it seemed to me that there was some truth in psychology, often the methods contradicted Scripture. That is where I was confused. How could there be truth in psychology if it weren't true?

"As I continued to study and read the Bible, the contradictions between Scripture and psychology mounted. The interesting thing is, after coming to Christ all the Scripture I had read from 8-19 came back to me. While, my depression did not disappear overnight, my suicidal ideology did. I learned from Scripture that I needed to be transformed by the renewing of my mind (Romans 12:2), and I had to learn to put off the lies I was believing and put on the truth of God's Word (Eph 4:17-32). I also learned while there was nothing I could do to change my abusive past, that is not who I am and God can redeem my past (Genesis 50:15-21). Who I am is who God said I was in His Word. Finally, I also learned from Scripture I was not to be motivated by my feelings (they had ruled my life) but instead by Scripture and I chose to forgive those who had wronged me.

"God transformed me through what He taught me in His Word. For the first time ever, I had hope. This gets me back to the question - what is Truth? Even though truth can be found in many places all truth is not God's Truth. God's Truth is found in His Word (John 17:16-18). It can do what nothing else can because unlike psychology Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) That is the very nature of Scripture. It is supernatural because it is written by God. Hebrews 4:12 says, For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

"Scripture does not need any assistance. It is sufficient and complete by itself. It cannot be mixed with secular humanistic theories. Doing so only lowers Scripture and elevates man's theories. We are warned against doing so in Scripture (1 Cor 2:13; 3:18-21; Rev 22:18 -19).

"Not only has God's Word totally transformed my life but God has allowed me to comfort others with the comfort He has given me (2 Cor 1:3-4). That is why I personally, and BCC as an organization, take the position we do. I encourage you to continue in your study of Scripture and put psychology and everything else through the filter of God's Word."

In Christ,
Lorri Wenderski

We are not affiliated with any church or denomination.

We have counseled with individuals and families from virtually every denomination over the past several years in the Chicagoland area.

The churches here in North America where we conduct our training seminars, and the churches, faith-based colleges and seminaries where we conduct our international training each must be in agreement with our statement of faith.

We do offer churches the opportunity to partner with us as an Advisory Partner. The partnership is designed to be mutually beneficial.

Additionally, each staff member at Biblical Counseling Center is expected to be an active member of a local fellowship and growing in their faith.

The reality is that Biblical Counseling has been around for 2000 years. In the Bible, Paul wrote that all Christians are responsible to be equipped and restore one another (Ephesians 4:12 and Galatians 6:1-2).

Approximately 400 years ago the Puritans developed a sophisticated, disciplined, grace-filled system of diagnosis for personal problems. They made distinction between a variety of physical, spiritual, temperamental and demonic causes. From this they formulated an extremely comprehensive manual for dealing with the problems of the heart.

More recently, there has been a movement across the United States made up of Christians who believe God has given man everything needed to live a healthy, godly life (2 Peter 1:3). These Christians recognize that traditional psychology and psychological counseling has done little to bring emotional stability to our nation. They site the American Psychiatric Association who states that the cost for the support and medical treatment of diagnosed mental disorders continues to escalate. Direct Costs for the 50 million Americans diagnosed with mental disorders now exceed $55.4 billion while Indirect Costs exceed $273 billion.

We are faced with a Problem
Christians are barraged by worldly influences and have found little comfort in the failed solutions being offered. The root of the vast majority of our personal and our society's mental and emotional problems is spiritual. Over two hundred psychological schools of thought, which are the foundation of traditional psychological and Integrated Christian counseling, have not stemmed the tide of fractured lives.

The Solution
Through biblical Counseling and the Biblical Counseling Center's Training seminars, Christians can be equipped to restore one another based on the sufficiency of Scripture (Colossians 3:16: 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15; Romans 15:1-5; Galatians 6:1-2).

The influence of Biblical Counseling is growing because it addresses the root of our problems, is God-focused, Biblically-based, compassionate and effective.

Office: (262) 279-2838
web: www.anchor-baptist-church.org

Churches who desire to increase the importance and exposure of Biblical counseling in the life of their fellowship, encourage their members to be involved in Biblical counseling and create a new or enhance an existing lay Biblical counseling ministry have the resource of becoming a church partner with Biblical Counseling Center.
 

Advisory Partner

• 20% Discount on Training Seminar fees is available to all regular attenders


• 20% Discount on Counseling fees is available to all regular attenders


• 20% Discount off the retail price of materials in our Resource Library is available to the Pastoral Staff


• Priority scheduling at Biblical Counseling Center


• Priority phone consultation


• Invitation to the Quarterly Pastor's Roundtable


• Representation at Biblical Counseling Center's Advisory Partner Meeting in January


• Representation on Biblical Counseling Center's Board of Directors (One Advisory Partner pastor is selected annually to serve on our Board of Directors)

• Advisory Church Partnership - $6.00 per church active attendee (18 and older) per year

Whether you are an individual or church, we have many opportunities for you to partner with us in ministry.

Individuals

Volunteering your time and expertise will have an eternal impact, enabling us to minister more effectively to many more people. Your help will be greatly appreciated whether you donate 40 hours a week or 4 hours per year. There are always jobs that can be done to increase effectiveness of the ministry at Biblical Counseling Center.

Certain times of the year, quarter or month are busier, so our needs for volunteer assistance fluxuates. We can use people with skills ranging from managing projects to people who can perform simple tasks. As you will see, we can use people with the spiritual gifts of Administration, Giving, Helps, Hospitality, Leadership, Mercy and more...

Examples of some of our needs are:

• Administrative

We can use people for administrative support, to answer phones, help with mailings and make phone calls. Feel free to contact us in order to volunteer or for more information.


• Alumni Luncheon

In late January each year we have a full, one-day seminar and luncheon for approximately 200 alumni, pastors and church leaders. Many are needed to help with registration, serving and hospitality. Feel free to contact us in order to volunteer or for more information.


• Quarterly Pastor's Roundtable

Quarterly, BCC hosts a Pastor's Roundtable. This is a forum and luncheon to provide a theological exchange, education, fellowship and topical presentations to area pastors. We need 1 or 2 individuals to coordinate, welcome and serve the pastors attending the roundtable.  Feel free to contact us in order to volunteer or for more information.


• Introductions
  1. Personally talk to them about the ministry, our vision, direction, effectiveness and need.
  2. Introduce your friends, family members, business acquaintences or church leadership to one of our staff members.
  3. Bring anyone you know, who can benefit from the ministry or who has the ability to assist the ministry, to the annual Fellowship Dinner. It's very informative, a great meal, great time of fellowship and . . . complememtary to all who attend.

Many are unaware of Biblical counseling or the Biblical Counseling Center. You can be significantly involved in our ministry by introducing others to BCC. The three easiest ways to introduce others to Biblical Counseling Center are: Feel free to contact us in order to volunteer or for more information.


• Fellowship Dinner
  This is a major event for our ministry. There is a well planned program to introduce others to the ministry through video and a "state of the ministry" address. For those who understand and agree with our mission goals, we ask for prayer support and the donation of both time and resources. The Dinner is complementary to all who attend.
  
  People with the gifts of Administration, Giving, Hospitality, Leadership and Helps can minister alongside us as we prepare for and host our dinner.
  Feel free to contact us in order to volunteer or for more information

Whether you are an individual or church, we have many opportunities for you to partner with us in ministry.

 

Church

Those churches who wish to be more involved with Biblical Counseling Center also have opportunity in these ways:

 

1. Church Partnership

We have something called the Advisory Church Partnership (see sidebar, What are the benefits of being a Partner Church?). Partnering with BCC is an excellent way to increase the importance and exposure of Biblical counseling in the life of your fellowship, encourage members to be involved in Biblical counseling and create a new or enhance an existing lay Biblical counseling ministry.


2. Hosting Training Seminars

Hosting one or all of our four certificate training seminars or other topical seminars will equip your fellowship to minister to one another. As a Partner Church, you will recieve a substantial discount on these seminars.


3. Fellowship Dinner Table Host

Hosting a table at our annual Fellowship Dinner is an easy way to introduce key leaders and members of your fellowship to the ministry of BCC. At the dinner we will communicate to those attending what our mission is (counseling training, counseling resources and counseling), the way we have accomplished that mission in the past year, and our vision for the coming year. We will also encourage those who suppport our mission goals to also support us through their prayers and financial resources.


4. Financial Support

BCC's counseling fees cover only a portion of our overall costs, and many who come to us are unable to pay for their counseling. As your fellowship catches the vision of our ministry and experiences the benefits of Biblical Counseling Center we trust that you will support us financially, whether by an annual Love Offering, through a Benevolence Fund, Missions Gift or other resources within your fellowship.


5. Donors

Again, as your fellowship experiences the benefits of Biblical counseling and training, we would you ask you to introduce us to those whose financial capabilities are sufficient and whose financial goals can be realized by partnering with Biblical Counseling Center.