What can I expect?
We ask that counselees arrive to their appointments on time. If a scheduled appointment needs to be changed, please reschedule by contacting the office at least 24 hours before the appointment.
Because DBCC offers biblical counseling, each counseling session will revolve around the Bible. We ask that counselees bring to each session a Bible, a notebook, and a pen.
Each counseling session may conclude with the counselor giving an assignment for the week. Counselees are expected to complete the assignment prior to the next session. Some assignments may require the counselee to purchase material from the DBCC store. Counselees are expected to pay for the materials unless there is a financial hardship that would prevent them from doing so (please contact the counseling center administrator if this is the case).
Counselees are expected to attend church regularly. If a counselee is not currently attending a solid Bible-believing church, he or she will be expected to attend Inter-City Baptist Church.
Delta Biblical Counseling Center may decline to counsel an individual who is already receiving regular counsel from someone else.
Because DBCC is regularly training new counselors, counselees should expect that trainees may be in the counseling room to observe. A trainee’s primary focus will be on the counselor. Trainees are bound by the same confidentiality provisions as the counselor.
Because DBCC offers biblical counseling, each counseling session will revolve around the Bible. We ask that counselees bring to each session a Bible, a notebook, and a pen.
Each counseling session may conclude with the counselor giving an assignment for the week. Counselees are expected to complete the assignment prior to the next session. Some assignments may require the counselee to purchase material from the DBCC store. Counselees are expected to pay for the materials unless there is a financial hardship that would prevent them from doing so (please contact the counseling center administrator if this is the case).
Counselees are expected to attend church regularly. If a counselee is not currently attending a solid Bible-believing church, he or she will be expected to attend Inter-City Baptist Church.
Delta Biblical Counseling Center may decline to counsel an individual who is already receiving regular counsel from someone else.
Because DBCC is regularly training new counselors, counselees should expect that trainees may be in the counseling room to observe. A trainee’s primary focus will be on the counselor. Trainees are bound by the same confidentiality provisions as the counselor.
How do I schedule a session?
In order for a counselee to make an appointment, he or she should: (1) complete the counseling information form; (2) read and sign the informed consent form; and (3) pay a $25 refundable fee.
Once these are completed, the counseling center administrator may schedule a time for the counselee to meet with a counselor.
The counseling center strives to help every potential counselee, and because the counseling center has limited appointment availability, priority in scheduling is generally as follows:
Counseling sessions will typically last between 6-8 weeks, depending on the nature of the problem. Counselees should expect to meet each week until the counseling is concluded.
Once these are completed, the counseling center administrator may schedule a time for the counselee to meet with a counselor.
The counseling center strives to help every potential counselee, and because the counseling center has limited appointment availability, priority in scheduling is generally as follows:
- ICBC members and attenders (can be done any day of the week)
- Non-churched individuals from Downriver (Mondays only)
- Church members from area churches (Mondays only)
Counseling sessions will typically last between 6-8 weeks, depending on the nature of the problem. Counselees should expect to meet each week until the counseling is concluded.
When does counseling end?
Counseling will conclude once the counselee understands the nature of the problem for which he or she came and the biblical way to respond to it or when DBCC determines the counseling is no longer beneficial to the counselee. DBCC can terminate the counseling relationship at any time if:
At the final session, counselees may be asked to complete an evaluation form so that DBCC can gain valuable feedback to advance its counseling to future individuals.
- The counselor determines that the counselee understands what has caused the problem and the biblical way to respond to the problem
- The counselee receives counseling from another individual outside of DBCC which seems more effective to the counselee than DBCC’s counseling
- The counselor determines that the counselee needs alternative help from another counselor
- The counselor believes that the counselee is not making adequate progress
At the final session, counselees may be asked to complete an evaluation form so that DBCC can gain valuable feedback to advance its counseling to future individuals.
What does counseling cost?
The counseling center offers free counseling to the Downriver Community. However, we require a $25 refundable fee prior to the first session. The purpose of the refundable fee is to maximize the time between counselor and counselee. This fee will be returned to the counselee when the final counseling session is completed provided the counselee complies with the terms of this agreement. The fee will be forfeited if a counselee misses a session without providing notice to DBCC or his or her counselor at least 24 hours in advance of the session, or if the counselee is more than 10 minutes late to his or her scheduled session. If the fee has been forfeited to the counseling center, the counselee may continue with counseling and schedule another session, but would be required to pay an additional $25 refundable fee. DBCC must agree to continue counseling with a counselee who is more than 10 minutes late to his or her session on more than one occasion or if a counselee fails to appear for a session on more than one occasion without proper notice.
