Christian Counseling

There are four types of traditional pastoral care that make up the Christian counseling process: Sustaining, Guiding, Reconciling and Healing. These centuries-old emotional and spiritual health care strategies have stood the test of time and remain relevant and effective in meeting the needs of men, women and families today.

Dr. Irvin Banta is dedicated to helping you better understand and cope with your emotional or spiritual needs within the framework of these four phases of pastoral care which are guided by the life principals and teachings found in the Bible.

The Three Phases of Pastoral Care

• Phase One: Sustaining and Guiding

This phase is designed to meet your initial emotional needs within a crisis event. This phase may require only a few visits or may last a period of weeks.

• Phase Two: Reconciling and Healing

This phase is designed to meet your emotional or spiritual needs outside of the crisis event. This phase may last a period of weeks or months that transition from one visit per week, two per month and one per month.

• Phase Three: External Support and Healing

This phase introduces the counselee to external support systems such as a church or parish, support and accountability groups or a personal family support system. This final phase involves less frequent visits and focuses upon support care. Visits may begin on a quarterly interval and continue until Dr. Banta or the counselee decides to discontinue the counseling relationship.