At the Home, we are passionate believers in Christian counseling for children, families, and individuals. So much so that we have our own on-campus Christian counselor. This article will discuss the benefits of counseling, including for:
- Foster or adoptive parents considering counseling for themselves, their children, or their families
- Individuals facing similar challenges
- Our supporters and how their support helps many individuals and families who are struggling with emotional and behavioral distress
The Need for Mental Health Support
Four out of every five foster children struggle with mental health challenges due to trauma; the source of that trauma can be related to a wide range of experiences they might have faced previously. While nothing can undo trauma in its entirety, there are many benefits of counseling for foster children that can help children overcome and recover from trauma.
Benefits of Counseling for Foster Children
Coping Skills Development
There’s no simple fix for trauma that impacts the lives of foster children. However, counselors can teach children (and individuals and families) how to cope.
Counselors can teach children various coping skills, including opposite-reaction emotion regulation, self-soothing, distraction, introspection, and more. The type of coping skills taught by a counselor will largely depend on the challenges specific to the individual or family.
Processing Emotions and Memories
Emotional intelligence is not naturally developed; it is primarily taught by example. Foster and adoptive children can experience difficulties in maturely and safely processing difficult emotions and painful memories, so working with a counselor can be one of the best ways for them to learn.
Relationships and Communication
Without a guide, children can have challenges forming and maintaining healthy relationships that can last into adulthood (including familial, romantic, platonic, and professional). Foster children (and some adoptive) do not always have access to a consistent mentor, parent, or guardian who can help them.
In therapy, a professional counselor can help teach children, individuals, and families how to navigate relationships and develop emotional communication skills they’ll need to get along with others, create bonds, treat others with respect, and effectively share their feelings and understand others’ emotions.
Our Christian Counseling for Adults, Children, and Families
At the Alabama Free Will Baptist Children’s Home, we have an on-site counselor available to talk one-on-one with our residents as well as children, adults, and families in our community. Our ministry is supported through the generous spiritual and financial gifts of others. If you feel led, you can help support us by giving on our donation page.
If you or someone you know could benefit from Christian counseling, please call us at (205) 924-9751 or fill out the form on our contact page to set up an appointment.