Questions

The Lay Counselor Institute (LCI) is a ministry devoted to furthering the idea that gifted believers may be trained to offer effective biblical lay counseling services within a Church context and with proper supervision. LCI uses our own model of comprehensive lay counselor training. We also provide supplemental, topic-specific seminars and workshops to enhance our training.

LCI provides a comprehensive lay counselor training program as well as supplemental topic-specific seminars and workshops.

• The Glorious Mess and Lab: Small Group Experience comprise our Level one training. The focus provides a basic theology of human nature and relationships and the impact of the Gospel on our lives. The Lab is the experiential fleshing out of the content from the Lectures.
• Level 2 is the actual counseling training based on our counseling model. We provide, in a 10-session, every other week format, both lecture and experiential practice in counseling. The topics cover a range of subjects in somewhat chronological order and ranging from assessment to termination.
• What we call Level 3 is group supervision. This is an ongoing, every other week meeting involving lay counselors from one or more churches, and a professional counselor (psychologist, social worker, licensed professional) or a seasoned pastoral counselor who leads the group and facilitates case discussion, brainstorming, training, etc. The professional also helps with medical, legal and referral questions and provides literal and emotional back up for the lay counselors.
• Finally, we offer Seminars and Workshops on specific topics that may be relevant to the general public or to our Lay Counselor training alumni.

Lay counselors perform many activities that are similar to licensed counselors, but lay counselors aren’t required to be licensed by the state. They render their counseling services under the auspices of a church pastor or leader. They do not (cannot) charge a fee. Most often they do not have a counseling degree.

Lay counselors typically volunteer their time and provide their services under the auspices of their local church body and as such are subject to the rules, policies, mission and doctrine of their church or denomination. Like professionals, they typically meet for an hour in a counseling office on a regular basis, they maintain strict confidentiality with their clients, they keep notes and files on their cases, and they regularly receive supervision.

LCI-trained lay counselors work with churches representing many different denominations. You may check this list of churches to see the denominations represented.

If you are interested in becoming a lay counselor, the fist step would be to sign up for our Glorious Mess/Level 1 training as an introduction to LCI.

Also, if your church already has a lay counseling misitry, you may wish to speak with them about becoming involved.

Finally, if your church does not currently provide lay counseling, you may wish to speak with your pastor or care minister and share your interest. We are happy to work with churches as they establish their own lay counseling program.

You may speak with your church’s governing body and discuss LCI’s ministry and training. We are continually building relationships with new churches in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. You are welcome to attend our Glorious Mess & Lab and Level 2 training even if your church does not have a lay counseling ministry. Also, some of our seminars and workshops are open to the general public.

There are many churches in the DC/MD/VA area with lay counseling ministries. You may view the list of churches with participatng LCI-trained lay counselors.

LCI does not match lay counselors with individuals. If you desire to receive lay counseling, you may locate a convenient church from our list of churches and contact them directly*. Also, if your church does not have a lay counseling program, you may work with your church to establish a relationship with LCI.