Think LifeChange Institute of Biblical Counseling Code Of Ethical Standards

It is the intent of the Think LifeChange Institute of Biblical Counseling to uphold the highest standards set forth by the Holy Scriptures and to follow guidelines that will promote professionalism.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

The Scriptures
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.

God
There is one and only one living and true God. …The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. …He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross, He made provision for the redemption of men from sin.

Man
Man is the special creation of God, in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. …By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. … The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore every person of every race possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.

Salvation
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification.

Last Things
God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. … Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly…the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell. …The righteous… will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.

Stewardship
God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtor ship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions.

The Christian & the Social Order
All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society... in the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death…

Membership Standards

1. Each member of the Think LifeChange Institute is responsible to obtain commissioning through a local church and maintain affiliation with a church body.
2. Each member of the Think LifeChange Institute is responsible to maintain personal spiritual, physical and emotional health.
3. Each member of the Think LifeChange Institute is responsible to provide biblical counseling, and remain within their scope of training received by the Think LifeChange Institute.
4. Each member of the Think LifeChange Institute is responsible to strive toward sound biblical character and maintain an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.
5. Each member of the Think LifeChange Institute is responsible to uphold the Think LifeChange Code of Ethical Standards.

Professional Standards

1. Members of the Think LifeChange Institute will advertise and refer to themselves as LifeChange Certified Biblical Counselors and will not claim to hold any state or other issued licensure in which they do not hold. Each member will provide full disclosure to counselees.
2. Members of the Think LifeChange Institute are pastoral counselors commissioned by a local church and is considered to hold a career in ministry. Therefore an inability to pay for counseling services will not be an appropriate reason to deny service to a counselee.
3. Members of the Think LifeChange Institute will provide clear and professional financial arrangements and fees that are to be discussed with counselee before sessions begin.
4. Members of the Think LifeChange Institute do not accept insurance and will disclose this to counselees before sessions begin.
5. Members of the Think LifeChange Institute will provide Informed Consent to the counselee ,which is to be explained and signed. Each counselee has the right to choose or deny these services based upon information explained.

Counselee Relationship Standards

1. The counselor/counselee relationship is a professional relationship designed to provide helping services in the best interest of the counselee.
2. Counselors should try to avoid dual relationships with counselees (business or close personal relationships) that may hinder the counseling process. Use caution.
3. Sexual contact, exploitation or harassment is unethical. All forms of sexual behavior are strictly forbidden.
4. As a Think LifeChange Certified Biblical Counselor, it is important to hold the highest standard in professionalism in relationship toward a counselee.

Confidentiality Standards

1. It is a requirement of Think LifeChange Institute members to hold the highest standard in confidentiality when handling privileged communication between counselor/counselee. The information obtained during a counseling session is extremely confidential and privileged. It is unethical to share any information received from a counselee, including the counselee’s name. The pastoral counselor may share information with another professional with a written consent from the counselee.
2. All counselee paperwork and documentation must be kept in a secure location in a locked filing cabinet and must be handled in a way that ensures security and confidentiality.
3. The limitations of confidentiality such as those defined by the laws of each state will be explained to the counselee as a part of the intake process prior to any services provided. The counselee will sign a waiver of liability, which clearly states these limitations.

The limitations are as follows:

It is required that all LifeChange Certified Biblical Counselors disclose to the appropriate individuals (Licensed Professional, Child Protective Services, etc.), if the counselor detects that the counselee might:

1. Harm themselves or someone around them.
2. Any incidences of suspected child abuse (physical or sexual) and/or neglect, or if any other vulnerable individual is being abused or neglected (including but not limited to: elderly, or mentally disabled individuals).
3. Legal proceedings in which the leader, minister, pastoral counselor, or caregiver does not have the legal privilege (including but not limited to: court cases, subpoena).
4. In the event that the counselee is a minor (under the age of 18) the information provided to the pastoral counselor is confidential however, parental guardians have the right to receive general information on the process of counseling as well as information that could potentially harm the minor.

Marketing Standards

Think LifeChange members are required to market and advertise their ministry career based upon their level of competence and scope of practice.

1. Any advertising needs to clearly state LifeChange Certified Biblical Counselor. Failure to promote your ministry based upon certifications that you hold is unethical practice.
2. In the event that a Think LifeChange member may hold academic degrees or other type of licensures or certifications, they are to clearly define and present these based upon the standard of the organization from which the degree, certification, or license was obtained.
3. A Think LifeChange Member must promote and advertise as a LifeChange Certified Biblical Counselor.
4. All fees must be clearly advertised and discussed at the time of service. The Think LifeChange Institute advises each member to take into consideration that this certification is intended as a ministry career therefore a sliding scale fee schedule is recommended.

Liability or Malpractice Insurance

1. Each member of the Think LifeChange Institute should carefully consider purchasing liability insurance. The Think LifeChange Biblical Institute will NOT accept responsibility or liability for any actions or misconduct of any member.
2. Recommended insurance carriers will be discussed during the one-week residency training.
3. Each member of the Think LifeChange Institute is responsible for their own misconduct and the Think LifeChange Institute is NOT liable for any lawsuits, unethical behavior, or criminal actions acquired by its members.

CODE OF ETHICS SIGNATURE PAGE

As a Think LifeChange student or Certified Biblical Counselor I understand that I must adhere to the Code of Ethics adopted by the Think LifeChange Institute. By my signature I hereby acknowledge that I have read and understand the Code of Ethics and agree to abide by the prescribed conduct set forth in this document.