Frequently Asked Questions
And Their Answers
What Can I Expect?
The way I approach counseling is I combine care and content in Christ.
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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).
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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 biblical, 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. While there is no charge for these services, so you can meet for free, the ongoing existence of the ministry depends upon adequate funds coming in to support it. Accordingly, here are recommended donation guidelines:
“Philanthropic” Donation – $200 to $250+ per session (support your counseling and others too)
“Generous” Donation – $150 to $200 per session (support your counseling and help cover others too)
“Standard” Donation – $100 to $150 per session (support your counseling)
“Basic” Donation – $50 (or less) to $100 per session (help cover your counseling)
Again, these are guidelines. Please donate what you can, no matter how much or little it is.
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You can make donations by cash, check (made out to LIFE Fellowship Church), or give online at the following link (it will take you to a LIFE Fellowship page and make sure to use the drop down menu to direct the amount to "Grace Abounds Donations"): https://life-fellowship-114508.churchcenter.com/giving
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?
I am very appreciative of those who donate to the ministry. Donations help me keep my rates lower than most counselors. You can donate using the following link (it will take you to a LIFE Fellowship page - be sure to use the Drop Down menu to select "Grace Abounds Donations"):
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Do You Offer Virtual Appointments?
Yes, I do. While meeting in person is preferred, meeting virtually or 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 (704-213-980).
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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 will send you Intake Forms as well.
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.
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While relevant information from sources outside the Bible can be considered, that information will be evaluated from within a biblical framework.
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Metaphor - If Biblical Counseling were a house, the house would be owned by God and explained by the Bible 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 emphasis, though they normally operate within the secular mental health framework. While there is some truth and value to the contemporary mental health framework, there are many elements to it, both big and small, that run counter to the Bible. 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.
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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:
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1) I truly seek to get to know my clients and I support them as well as I can. I am genuinely committed to their well-being.
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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.
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3) I am very aware of how God designed people with purpose and I seek to help them discover it and then live it out.
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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, I am also available to teach classes and speak at events. If you are interested in having me speak or teach, contact me and we can make arrangements.
On What Topics Do You Speak?
I can come and speak on the following topics:
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* Your Divine Design Defined: God's Purposes for You
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* The Power of Purpose for Impact in Apologetics and Discipleship
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* Satisfied: How God Meets the Deepest Needs of Our Hearts
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* What are We Worth? The Value God Gives People
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* Heart-Needs: The Essential Link Between God’s Existence and Our Lifestyle Apologetic
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* Christ and CRT: A Christian Appraisal of Critical Race Theory
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* A “Mentally” Healthy Approach to Christian/Biblical Counseling
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* Redeeming Relationships
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* Discerning the Secular Mental Health Paradigm
What Classes Do You Teach?
I offer the following classes:
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* Your Divine Design Defined - A Class on Purpose
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* The Meaning of Life: How God Meets Our Deepest Needs
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* God's Redemptive Story – A Detailed Look at the Gospel
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* Introduction to Christian Apologetics
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* Cultural Apologetics