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GCM is providing this information for all non-licensed counselors who do spiritual counseling care as a part of their field ministry work with GCM. These guidelines are being given in order to reduce the risk to GCM missionaries and GCM as an organization. GCM’s ministry is not intended to help to train or develop counselors.

1.  Pastoral/Spiritual Care vs. Licensed Counseling

• The best thing you can do is make it very clear you are not a professional counselor of any kind unless you have a specific license. 
• DO NOTAreas to avoid:

1. Offer
   • Offering a diagnosis of their physical or mental condition
   Give
   • Giving your opinion about any medications they are taking, nor encourage them to discontinue anything they are currently taking.  If they ask you, refer them to the original prescriber.

• If asked what your opinion on their mental state is, you can say, "I am not a professional counselor so if you are concerned about your mental state I can refer you to an area counselor (or I would encourage you to see a professional counselor).”
• It's best to avoid using the title of "counseling" if you're not licensed. For example, avoid the title "Pre-Marriage Counseling" if the pastor or missionary doing the sessions is not licensed.

2.  Do not promise Avoid promising anything that you cannot commit to. Also, do not commit  avoid committing GCM or your local church resources to that which you may have no authority to do. 

     For example:

• “I will always be there for you.”
• “I will be like your…. (dad, mom, sister, etc….).”
• “I’m totally certain that our pastors will meet with you.”
“We can
• “Our church can support you financially until you get back on your feet.”
1. “Whatever it takes to get you well.”

3.  When meeting with people outside your with non-members who are outside of your local church, be extra cautious more caution is advised.

4.  Refrain It is best to refrain from using any speech, mannerisms or physical contact that could be misinterpreted as sexual or romantic.

5.  Be very conscience of setting realistic expectations. In general, you should not promise should avoid promising unconditional confidentiality because you cannot may not be able to guarantee it. If you have any questions regarding this, please it may be good to consult with your local pastor.     

6.  GCM discourages opposite gender ongoing counseling relationshipsongoing spiritual care relationships.

7.  Having a second adult present when counseling with a member present in spiritual care sessions with a minor or member of the opposite gender or a minor, will help to protect against any allegations of sexual misconduct. (not necessary if we use the other Option for #8 below)

8.   If there is a real need (maybe obtain your local pastor's counsel to determine this first) to be alone with a member of the opposite gender, then if possible do so in a public place like a coffee shop (even if they are not very private for a private conversation). Also, avoid being alone with them in a vehicle driving to or from that public place.

Another Option for #8 above:

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Avoid spiritual care sessions with minors and members of the opposite gender out of sight and alone. Instead, make sure

...

the spiritual care session is clearly visible to others. Conduct the session in

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a place with a window

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that looks into the room, or on a pew/seat in the front of the church out of the hearing of anyone else, or require the presence of another staff person or trusted church member of the same gender

...

during the

...

session. Being in an open venue will help to eliminate the opportunity for emotional attachment and help to protect against any allegations of sexual misconduct.

9.   Have a referral network of professionals who can provide counseling that falls outside the scope of spiritual counselingcare.

10. Please make sure you are aware of the Duty To Report requirements in your particular state as it pertains to counseling someone. For example, if a person intends to hurt themselves or someone else or if there are elderly or children in danger - there could be a responsibility of the missionary to report this to an appropriate agency.

11. If the person you are helping is wounded, and fits into one of the following categories, Here are some examples of conditions where caution is recommended and you may need to consider referring them to referring this person to a licensed counselor. (NOTE: This list is not meant to be exhaustive).

• Minors (< age 18)
Easily
• Very easily pressured by others
• Hypochondriac
• Narcissistic
• Borderline Personality Disorder – inability to control one’s own emotions
• Repressed memories
• Dissociative disorders
• Suicidal
Custody and
• History of abuse
• Custody battles and contested divorce
1. History of abuse
• Prior litigation
history
• or lawsuit history
• Break or disregard laws with impunity

 12.Potential danger signs that you personally may not be in a healthy place as a spiritual care giver:

• Feels attracted to
a counselee
• the person they are caring for
• Feels strong symbiosis / interdependence with
counselee
• the person they are caring for
• Feels strong parallels of woundedness with
counselee
• the person they are caring for
• Desires recognition and praise from peers and / or
counselees
• people they are caring for
• Asked to help famous, important, attractive, or wealthy people
• Feeling like you are
now
• an expert in counseling and spiritually caring for people
• Witnesses a series of dramatic healings