Counseling

At Trinity Church, our counseling ministry aims to engage with your experience through biblically informed wisdom and guidance, while also desiring to skillfully offer a loving and safe context where you can receive care from our church family (Galatians 6:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 5:14).

The goal of this discipleship ministry is not merely to help individuals out of difficult circumstances or change behaviors. Rather, the goal is always to come alongside individuals so that they may grow in their maturity as Christ-followers (Ephesians 5:1-2). It is our prayer that this process will be one in which you know and experience the power of Christ in your life for personal growth and holiness.

Schedule an Appointment

To pursue counseling at Trinity Church, please read the following Counseling Guidelines and How to Get the Most Out of Counseling. Then, submit an intake form. We recommend allowing at least 30 minutes to complete this form. If you would like to submit a physical version of this form, please print out the PDF version of this form and submit it in person to Wagner Floriani at wfloriani@trinityspokanevalley.com.

Counseling Guidelines

I. Our Goal

Our goal is to offer Christ-centered counseling that cultivates spiritual growth during life’s trials, providing practical support in applying biblical truth according to the ministry of the Holy Spirit to people’s behaviors and situations. Our counseling practice is in line with our church’s mission statement, “to know, love, and glorify God." Therefore, we hope that this experience of focused discipleship would promote growth in your understanding of Christ and his sufficiency for your life in the gospel, as well as help you respond with worship and Christ-like obedience to God for his glory and the good of his church (Col 1:28, Gal 4:19).

II. Our Commitment

Our team is committed to regularly come along side you to encourage, correct, and help you until you are equipped to comfort others with the same truths God has used to strengthen you through this process. We prioritize your relationship with Christ, and through loving, skillful, and practical application of biblical principles, we will seek to partner with you in becoming a more committed follower of Jesus in every area of your life (Gal 6:13, 1 Thess 5:14, Rom 12:15, 2 Cor 1:4).

III. Your Commitment to Church Attendance

Change for the believer always happens within the context of biblical church community. We expect you to commit to church attendance during this process and, as appropriate, give other believers the opportunity to grow as they bear your burdens, offer you informal counsel through edifying conversations, and extend a higher level of accountability in the counseling process. By actively participating in Grace Baptist Church, you are choosing to submit to the leadership who is committed to counsel, pray, and teach you, knowing that they will give an account to God for every soul entrusted to their care (Heb 13:17, 1 Thess 5:12-13).

IV. Your Commitment to Counseling Meetings

We expect you to commit to attending every scheduled session, and a minimum of 5 sessions, bringing a Bible and notebook, taking notes during the session, completing the assigned homework, and to the best of your ability, maintaining all the materials received during counseling in an organized and accessible manner. It is our intention that you know through this process you’ll be encouraged, challenged, called to repent, and called to fight sin and temptation to enjoy your relationship with Christ.

How to Get the Most Out of Counseling

I. Be honest

Honesty is both about what you reveal and what you conceal. You may feel you are being honest by sharing in your session something that was true, however what was not shared can be equally or even more important to the counseling process. It is always best to present a complete picture of the situation. We must be honest before God (Psalm 32:1-8), but we must also be honest with those God provides to help us. Lean into honesty and participate in accountability and wisdom that can come from trusting your counselor enough to be fully honest.

II. Slow down

It is important to remember that you are not a problem to fix or solve. You, like me and everyone else, are complex individuals. You deserve the attention of careful exploration. Counseling deals with the deepest issues of the heart; it takes time to draw out what is there (Proverbs 20:5). God is not in a hurry. The change you desire is a process, and the process is often where you learn more about yourself and God. It is in the unhurried pace that you create space to see what God is teaching you.

III. Pray

The Bible testifies that prayer is powerful in its effect (James 5:16). Prayer changes things, and one of the most important things it changes is your own heart. Pray before, during, and after your sessions. Pray for your heart to be changed in this season. Pray that you would be sensitive to God and His Word. Pray that God would encourage and strengthen you as you seek to work through the challenges you face. Pray for your counselor to be fully dependent on the Holy Spirit. Pray that they would counsel out of a life that is abiding with Jesus.

IV. Follow Through

Remember that most of the fruit of your season of counseling will be seen outside of your sessions, as you seek to apply what you learn from your sessions. Merely hearing the Word does not accomplish much. But practicing the truths of God’s Word results in blessing (James 1:22). The real benefits will start to unfold in your life when you take what you have learned in counseling and begin to work it out in your everyday life. You may also consider identifying a trusted friend who will help you process this experience, and, if appropriate, be an advocate and support for you during your sessions.