Counseling Tips For Pastors And Ministry Leaders - Practical Help From Christian Counselors

All Episodes (22)

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From new to old From old to new

1. 

   1. Some Favorite Books To Help Christian Couples (From A Marriage Therapist’s Bookshelf)

   As a Christian counseling agency, one of the most common questions that we get from our local pastors is “How can I help this couple in my church who is struggling?” Today, let’s offer some resources! There are plenty of ideas for conversations, questions to ask, and things to try with couples who are struggling. But one of the best ways to find a good book that can expand your own knowledge, and which you can easily offer to couples who are looking for help.  Sure, there are some great podcasts

   Jul 18,2024 17:38
2. 

   2. Ministry is HARD. 7 Tips To Avoid Burnout And Stay The Course When It Feels Impossible.

   Is there anything more frustrating than putting a lot of time and energy into helping someone… and they just don’t appreciate it? Or, they just aren’t getting better? You can’t see how the Lord is working or how your efforts are making a difference? Not only is this a very frustrating experience - it can lead us into burnout.  When you’re burned out, it’s hard to care as much. It’s hard to put in the same effort and energy, certainly while maintaining joy in the process. We all struggle at times

   Jul 01,2024 17:42
3. 

   3. 6 Daily Habits To Make You A Mentally and Emotionally Healthy Leader

   Ministry is hard work. Leadership is hard work. Put them together? Unless you are intentional about it, Christian leadership within a church or ministry will take a toll on you. It can quickly and sneakily start to impact your relationships, mental health, emotions, sleep, spiritual life, and so much more.  So today, let’s talk about some life habits that will help you be intentional to care for yourself, your ministry, and every area of life as you serve others. These daily habits are not magic

   Jun 20,2024 21:01
4. 

   4. Practical Action Steps For Helping Someone With Their Anxiety

   “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2, NIV) It is not of question of IF your ministry will touch someone who is struggling with anxiety. It’s a question of when, how often, and what will you do to help. Anxiety is a huge problem in our culture today. And when you are concerned that someone may be struggling with anxiety, you don’t need to wait for a diagnosis or shuffle them off to a professional. As a pastor or other ministry leader, yo

   Jun 13,2024 19:09
5. 

   5. Common Symptoms Of Anxiety

   “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) As you build relationships with people in your ministry, you will certainly interact with people who are struggling with anxiety.  But will you recognize them? Anxiety is one of the most common struggles in our modern culture. In fact, it’s so common that many people don’t even realize that it is a problem! They don’t realize that there is hope. It is possible to experience life without anxiety.  Before you can help someone w

   Jun 06,2024 16:47
6. 

   6. Do’s And Don'ts For Helping People With Trauma And Emotional Baggage

   “In this world, you will have trouble,” Jesus tells his followers. “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” One of the long-term “troubles” that many people in your ministry struggle with is the aftermath of trauma, hurt, and emotional baggage. In fact, you may struggle with this yourself.  In our broken world, trauma and emotional pain is very common. And it’s also hard to ministry to people who are struggling with this! You may not know many details, or even know that someone has a hard ba

   May 30,2024 19:05
7. 

   7. 10 Coping Skills Every Pastor & Ministry Leader Needs

   Ministry work can take its toll on us. And in the busyness of it all, sometimes we forget to put any time or energy into caring for ourselves.  But when we live this way, we start to feel it - in our emotional wellness, mental health, physical energy, and in our relationships.  Today, we’ll look at 10 key areas of life where we ALL need coping skills! We’ll look at some specific examples and lots of ideas, so that you can easily find something that will make sense in your life. Coping skills are

   May 23,2024 17:03
8. 

   8. 8 Unique Ways A Spiritual Leader Can Help Someone Fight An Addiction

   Addictions recovery can feel like an overwhelming issue that is best left to the “professionals.” But the Bible is clear that there is only one ultimate Healer… and his name is not Dr. Jesus. It’s Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.  So if you are a pastor, a Bible study leader, a Christian friend, a youth mentor - or any other ministry leader - you have something unique and important to offer people who are struggling with addiction.  Join me today for a look at 8 unique ways that spiritual leaders

   May 16,2024 16:11
9. 

   9. Resources For Helping Someone Fight Addiction

   Ministry work involves helping people through many difficult and painful life circumstances. And one of the hardest is helping people who are dealing with an addiction. There are a lot of ways that pastors and other Christian leaders can help people when they are fighting addiction, but one of the most basic ways is to offer practical, Christ-centered, appropriate resources.  But what are some of those resources? Here at The iHope Center, that is one of the most common questions we hear from loc

   May 09,2024 15:02
10. 

    10. Quick Tips For How To Make Sure Other People Feel Heard And Valued By You

    Hearing people and helping people FEEL heard are two different things. In today’s busy, loud, disconnected world, feeling heard is an incredibly meaning experience. Everyone wants to know that they are seen, valued, and appreciated.  Of course, we cannot make people feel anything. We cannot guarantee that people will always react to us in the way we hope or expect.  But we can approach our interactions with people with intentionality. We can practice the skill of listening. So join me today for

    Apr 18,2024 15:05
11. 

    11. 3 Keys To Being A Good Listener (Even When You're Distracted)

    Many of us think we are better listeners than we really are.  But there is a reason the Bible tells us to be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19). Listening is powerful and important. And the reality of human relationships is that being a GOOD listener does take some intentional effort. It’s more than just hearing the words someone is saying. It’s more than just finishing a conversation. And if we are in ministry, trying to care for others and show them the love of Jesus, it is especia

    Apr 11,2024 15:06
12. 

    12. How To Use Philippians 4:8 To Replace Patterns Of Negative Thinking

    One of the most common things that Christian counselors help clients with is getting their thought life more in line with Philippians 4:8.  When someone is stuck in negative thinking, it is not honoring to God and not helpful to their relationships or emotional health. And guess what? Pastors and ministry leaders struggle with their thinking too! In our last episode, we looking at the 5 R’s to turn your thoughts around and stop the negative thinking. Today, we’ll dive deeper into one of the hard

    Mar 21,2024 15:04
13. 

    13. Dealing With Negative, Unhelpful Thought Patterns By Using The 5 R’s

    Even strong Christians sometimes struggle with negative thinking. We can get stuck overthinking things, blaming ourselves for problems, grumbling, or judging others in our thoughts. But there are strategies that will help! As you pray over these struggles, confess your sin, and seek the Holy Spirit’s help, these 5 strategies will give you practical action steps to start changing your thought patterns. Join me today for the 5 R’s that will give you practical steps to stop that negative thinking. 

    Mar 14,2024 14:01
14. 

    14. 4 Key Steps To Conflict Resolution In A Ministry Context

    At some point in life, everyone will struggle with conflict. The church is not immune! Even in the best ministry, there are different personalities, priorities, and preferences. Conflict will happen.  So what’s a pastor or leader to do? Of course, the top urgency is to start with prayer. Pray for the other person, for the situation, for your own reaction. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Seek to understand. But if conflict is escalating, there are action steps that can help. Let’s look toge

    Mar 07,2024 16:15
15. 

    15. Boundaries Only Matter If You Implement Them. 5 Tips To Make It Happen.

    Hopefully, you’ve thought through what you want (dare I say… need?) your boundaries to look like. This is critical for a healthy ministry, family, and life.  But then the question turns to: how do I do it? How do I implement these boundaries? Stick with them when it’s tough? Adjust them if it’s appropriate?  Well, today I’ll share 5 tips from my experience as a licensed counselor, pastor’s wife, and ministry leader. Find some practical tips and encouragement for HOW to live out boundaries in you

    Feb 29,2024 14:25
16. 

    16. Tips For Setting Boundaries (And Helping Others Do It Too)

    One of the biggest problems in ministry leadership is burnout. The demands of ministry are high and the stress, emotions, and responsibilities weigh on us.  And one of the best things that can help prevent burnout and keep you passionate about the ministry work you are doing is setting boundaries. We all need healthy boundaries! Jesus had them, and we need them.  Join us today for some practical tips in how to think about boundaries in your life, family, and ministry work. Next week, we’ll dive

    Feb 22,2024 16:22
17. 

    17. Helping Marriages Succeed - Tips To Help Them Help Themselves

    Every Christian leader will have opportunities to help people in their marriages. But how do you approach marriage counseling? Can you help a marriage even if you’re meeting 1:1 with someone? (Yes! You can.) Today you’ll get some specific tips from a Christian marriage counselor on how to get started on the right foot when you’re trying to help couples.  Whether you’re doing full-blown marriage counseling or you’re just talking with someone about their life, you can have a big impact on people’s

    Feb 15,2024 12:25
18. 

    18. Practical Action Steps You Can Take If You're Worried Someone Is Depressed Or Suicidal

    It can be a scary thing to wonder if someone is depressed, hopeless, or suicidal. It's overwhelming. But if you're in a church, a ministry, or relationships with your community... it's inevitable.  Depression and suicide are a HUGE concern in today's world. It's one of the leading causes of death among kids, teens, and middle-aged adults especially.  Today, we'll go through some practical action steps that you can take if you're concerned about someone. Don't wait for them to bring it up. Reach

    Feb 08,2024 10:02
19. 

    19. Recognizing Important Warning Signs: Is Someone Depressed Or Suicidal?

    Depression is a big problem in today’s world. And for a ministry leader or pastor, it can be scary to think about. It can feel very overwhelming. But if you truly want to minister well to the people God has put around you… well, you need to be ready to recognize signs of concern and respond to them well.  So today, let’s tackle the first part of that. Let’s go through some common warning signs and red flags that might tell you depression, suicide, or hopelessness is a concern for someone.  Next

    Feb 01,2024 10:15
20. 

    20. 3 Keys To Good Interpersonal Communication

    Every Christian is called to show love to those around us. "Love your neighbor as yourself," Jesus tells us. Love your enemies. People will know you are Christ's disciples by your love. It is all throughout the Bible! And this is most especially true for pastors and other ministry leaders.  But without good interpersonal skills, it is unlikely that people will feel loved by you... despite your best intentions.  So join us today for a look at 3 keys to good interpersonal communication - and be wo

    Jan 31,2024 10:09
21. 

    21. Equipping & Encouraging Ministry Leaders - An Introduction To "Counseling Tips"

    The emotional struggles, mental health needs, and relationship challenges of today’s world are big. Millions of people struggle with anxiety, depression, divorce, abuse, and stress. And when people are hurting, the Church is meant to help.  … But do you really feel equipped to do that? Find out more in today’s episode about how this new podcast can help you in your ministry. Welcome to the “Counseling Tips For Pastors And Ministry Leaders” podcast! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  ABOUT YOUR HOST 

    Jan 30,2024 09:17
22. 

    22. Trailer For The New Show: Counseling Tips For Pastors And Ministry Leaders

    Do you want to care for the people in your ministry more effectively? This podcast will equip you to do exactly that. The reality of Christian ministry is that it can be exhausting, overwhelming, and lonely. This is certainly true for pastors, but it is also true for all Christians in ministry! And every Christian has a ministry of some kind. From youth leaders to Bible study leaders to loving your next-door neighbor, we are all in ministry to the people around us.  And those people are hurting.

    Jan 25,2024 06:57