Written by Working with students means that inevitably you will end up engaging in counseling sooner than later. One of the things we have said often is know your limitations and know when to refer out to professionals who are trained in the areas you are not. That doesn’t mean you won’t ever engage in counseling, but it does mean we should know when and be able to refer out to trusted, licensed counselors.
But what about those times that you do need to offer counseling and advice? What do you do in those moments? My first guidance would be to seek out resources and training to help you grow as you serve and care for your students. One of the best resources I have found to help with these parts of our ministry is The Quick Reference Guide to Counseling Teenagers by Dr. Tim Clinton and Dr. Chap Clark.
This is not a catch-all for counseling, nor does it make us a licensed clinical counselor, but it does provide beneficial guidance, resources, and productive ways to minister to and care for our students. This is also only one book in a series of counseling books that have been put out from the same group and all of them are incredibly helpful.
To start things off there is a table of contents that highlights various counseling areas that are listed alphabetically for a quick reference. Once you get to the area you are looking for assistance in, you will find that it starts with some case studies (portraits) and then definitions and key thoughts to help you understand what you are dealing with and how it can manifest in different people and circumstances. These will also help to outline and highlight various symptoms and/or patterns that may be exhibited in someone who is struggling.
That is followed by questions to ask which are often in the style of an intake session for counselors coupled with conversation prompts. Some of these questions will be for just the student and in others there will be questions for both parents and students. Then the authors provide action steps which can be for students and parents depending on the category, biblical insights, and prayer starters which are a must for any pastor or leader who is offering guidance and counseling. Lastly they offer up additional resources that are extremely helpful.
Overall, this book is a must for anyone serving in student ministry because it provides you with the resources and guidance you need for counseling students. For those who have minimal training in counseling this book provides a ton of helpful guidance and insight into how to care for your students. The biblical aspects are so necessary in our line of work and provide you with ways to help your students continue to grow in their discipleship relationship with Jesus even as they grapple with difficult aspects of their lives.
Some of the critiques of this book is that it is outdated (it was published in 2010) and it doesn’t have all the issues that student workers will encounter in our present environment. So it is highly important to keep that in mind as you look for the areas in which you’re going to be offering counsel. This isn’t a criticism of the book but a word of guidance for those who utilize this resource: the prompts can feel very basic and scripted if you simply state them as they are in the book (i.e. the questions, biblical insights, and prayer prompts). My encouragement would be to make these pieces personal and relational as you counsel your students.
It is helpful to remind everyone that if you don’t have a counseling degree and verification, you are not a counselor but a pastor who is offering care with counseling elements. Don’t ever offer counsel you are unsure of or don’t have the training to offer. Instead be willing to offer guidance and advice, and be willing to refer when needed.
At the end of the day, this book is one I would highly recommend to anyone who works with students. It is incredibly beneficial and will make you a better pastor, shepherd, and counselor to your students, leaders, and families.
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