IBC Care & Counseling
Vision: To offer the hope of Christ in the midst of problems in a broken world.
Mission: Our model of biblical counseling is aimed at applying the gospel of Jesus Christ to the mental, spiritual, and emotional struggles of the congregation.
As a ministry of Immanuel Bible Church, we seek to provide Christ-centered care (GriefShare, counseling, care groups, assimilation, etc.) for members and regular attenders who meet the requirements below. Additionally, as a ministry committed to a faithful and comprehensive biblical counseling model, we seek to strengthen one’s faith in Christ and belonging to the local church. Therefore, we view spiritual disciplines and discipleship of a counselee to be vital to the counseling process (pre-, during, and post-), so much so, that we seek to ensure them for the ongoing sanctification of the counselee.
This counseling ministry is offered to those who are members or regular attenders (of at least 6 months) of Immanuel Bible Church. The following are requirements of those who are recipients of counseling:
- Regular attendance of worship services at Immanuel Bible Church (fill out white Connection Card or App check-in)
- Regular attendance of an ABF, Bible study, or small group
- To regularly seek God’s direction through disciplines such as reading the Bible and prayer
Overview of Your Next Steps
Step 1: Complete this WeCare form
Step 2: Download and complete this Counseling Packet. Once completed, please return by way of one of the following:
- Scan and email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Mail to 6911 Braddock Road, Springfield, VA 22151 ATTN: Care and Counseling Dept.
- Drop off during office hours M-F 8:30AM-5PM at 6911 Braddock Road, Springfield, VA
Step 3: Intake Assessment. After the Care and Counseling staff receive the completed Counseling Packet, we will reach out to conduct this initial session.
Step 4: Next steps will be determined by the Care and Counseling staff and communicated to inquirer.
Waitlist/Referrals
As the Care and Counseling staff/volunteers seek to shepherd the congregation through life’s difficulties, we understand each situation varies in its complexity and length. Consequently and on occasions, we experience a waitlist. If you are on our waitlist, we will resource you with valuable content meant to prepare you for counseling. If you are on our waitlist and seek counseling outside of Immanuel Bible Church, below are a few organizations that we recommend:
Counseling
Psychiatry
For more information, please call 703.813.1952
Distinctives:
Christ-centered. All of the help we provide is in efforts that a counselee has greater love for Jesus. Sin entangles us, we may suffer at the hands of others, and general hardships come at us; our Savior Jesus Christ provides hope for change and a future.
Biblical. Our counsel comes through a distinctly Christian worldview (who is man? what is man’s problem? how does man change?) founded on God’s word. In cases of matters not explicitly addressed in the Bible, our criteria will be consistent with scriptural truths and principles.
Community-oriented. Christians need one another for help and encouragement. The “one another” commands in the New Testament benefit believers living in community. Lasting change and growth occurs more during the week with others God has placed in your life than it does in a counseling room.
Clinically-informed. In short, we realize that people come to us with diagnoses, medications, and medical history. People are physically embodied, and should be cared for in a manner that respects and attends to the body.
By God’s design, we are embodied souls (or psychosomatic wholes) where our material and immaterial bodies are inextricably linked. And, as a result of our fallen nature, both our material and immaterial bodies have been affected by sin. Where necessary, we seek to understand how physiological factors may impact one’s psychological well-being. Even though the assumptions of secular psychology are not grounded in a Christian worldview, we believe that insights nevertheless exist in the social sciences that may assist us in understanding and counseling a person’s mental condition, and sometimes facilitating application of biblical truth to their lives. Thus, we aim to employ a clinically-informed, biblical counseling. As we recognize our limitations, we may work alongside other mental health professionals to ensure adequate care.
