Frequently Asked Questions
And Their Answers
What Can I Expect?
The way I approach counseling is I combine care and content in Christ.
With care, I genuinely listen, seek to understand, and show compassion. I am intentional to connect with my clients as people to help them to know I am with them and for them in the Lord - and, even more importantly, that God cares about them and calls them to cast their cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7).
With content, people are usually looking for hope that things can get better and then to receive help that actually improves their situation. The counsel provided is rooted in the Bible and sound theology, so it is rich in content that shows people God's ways and how He works in and through life's challenges.
What are Your Fees and How Do I Pay Them?
As a ministry, GABC is funded through partnerships with churches and generous individuals who give tax-deductible donations. When it comes to counseling fees, there are no fees, as the ministry operates on a donation system. Accordingly, here are recommended donation guidelines:
- Donation for Individual Session: $125
- Donation for Two Individual Sessions in the Same Week (Family/Couples Counseling): $200
- Donation for a 90-minute Joint Session (Family/Couples Counseling): $175
Rule of Thumb - When possible, please give more than the Recommended amount. When it’s not
possible to give more, please give the Recommended Amount. When needed, it’s ok to give less.
Even so, please give as much as you can, preferably not less than $60.
Please donate at the tab on this page - https://www.grace-abounds.org/donate
Do You Take Insurance?
No, I do not. While I understand that isn't ideal, not involving insurance gives me greater freedom in how I serve you. That is because insurance requires me to provide a mental health diagnosis and counseling interventions must be directed towards the diagnosis.
I Want to Support the Ministry. How Can I Donate?
Donations are the lifeblood of a non-profit so I am very appreciative of those who give to the ministry. You can contribute by going to the "Donate" tab on this website: https://www.grace-abounds.org/donate
All donations are tax-deductible.
Do You Offer Virtual Appointments?
Yes, I do. While meeting in person is preferred, meeting virtually (or even over the phone) is also available and effective. If you desire to meet virtually, let me know and I will give you the link to use for our sessions.
I Am Interested. What Do I Do?
I appreciate your interest. If you have any questions, please contact me through the chat box on the website, or by email (mike@grace-abounds.org), or by phone (704-213-9890).
If you want to have a 30-minute initial consult, contact me in the ways mentioned above and we can arrange a time to do that.
If you are ready to proceed with counseling, contact me in the ways mentioned above and I will be in touch to get you on my calendar and arrange to send you the Intake Forms.
What is Distinctive about Biblical Counseling?
Biblical Counseling is an approach to counseling that approaches all of life - including people, the challenges they face, and the ways to overcome them - from a distinctly Christian perspective. Biblical Counseling is intentionally and comprehensively Christ-centered, based on the Bible.
While relevant information from sources outside the Bible can be considered, that information will be evaluated from within a biblical framework. Within the Biblical Counseling community, there are two subdivisions: one takes a more skeptical approach about common grace insights (such as those found in psychology) while the other takes a more open yet careful approach to them. I am in the camp of those who are more open yet careful.
Metaphor - If Biblical Counseling were a house, the house would be owned by God and explained by the Bible and sound theology though psychology would be one of the rooms in the house.
How is Biblical Counseling different from Christian Counseling?
Christian Counseling is practiced by Christians with a clinical perspective and emphasis, which means they normally operate within the secular mental health framework. While there is some truth and value to the contemporary mental health framework (common grace insights), there are many elements to it, both big and small, that run counter to the Bible and sound theology. Further, while Christian counselors are generally open to discussing biblical ideas with their clients, it usually depends upon the client to request to do that. Thus, biblical concepts are normally not essential to their counseling approaches.
Metaphor - If Christian Counseling were a house, the house would be owned by secular psychology but God and His Word would be a welcome guest once invited by the client.
What is Different about Grace Abounds Biblical Counseling?
What sets Grace Abounds apart from other counseling options are the following 4 things:
1) I truly seek to get to know my clients and support them as well as I can. I am genuinely committed to their well-being.
2) I do more than listen and provide counsel, I see counseling as a discipleship process, so I work to help people clearly see and understand themselves, their situation, and how to engage with it according to God, His truth, and His ways.
3) I am keenly aware of how God designed people with purpose and I seek to help them discover it and live it out.
4) I have an appreciation for how psychology fits within theology. You will receive biblical counsel from someone who acknowledges the realities of mental health challenges.
Do You Do Anything Besides Counseling?
Yes. While the heavy majority of what I do is counseling, Additionally, I develop and publish counseling resources. I am also available to speak at events. If you are interested in having me speak, contact me and we can make arrangements.
On What Topics Do You Speak?
I can come and speak on the following topics:
* Your Divine Design Defined: God's Purposes for You
* The Power of Purpose for Impact in Apologetics and Discipleship
* Satisfied: How God Meets the Deepest Needs of Our Hearts
* What are We Worth? The Value God Gives People
* Heart-Needs: The Essential Link Between God’s Existence and Our Lifestyle Apologetic
* Christ and CRT: A Christian Appraisal of Critical Race Theory
* A “Mentally” Healthy Approach to Christian/Biblical Counseling
* Redeeming Relationships
* Discerning the Secular Mental Health Paradigm