Ask a Therapist
Monthly Consults for Pastors & Ministry Workers
Get practical guidance on real situations from a panel of Christian therapists.
What is “Ask a Therapist”?
It’s a place where you can bring real (anonymized) situations and get practical input on how to support someone well, recognize when something may be beyond your scope, and think through next steps with confidence.
Led by a collaborative panel of Christian counselors representing a range of practices and clinical specialties.
We will meet at 10am via zoom the First Wednesday of each month.
First Meeting is Wednesday, September 2nd at 10am via Zoom
There is no charge for these sessions
This isn’t therapy or supervision—just a space for thoughtful, clinically-informed guidance for real ministry situations.
You’re welcome to come as needed, listen in, or bring a situation if it would be helpful.
Sign up to join our invitation list for upcoming conversations for pastors and ministry workers. We’ll also send occasional resources and encouragement through our newsletter designed for ministry workers.
Hosted by Gilmour Counseling Group and featuring Therapists from Hardy Counseling, KS Services, and several other individual Christian practices.
Gilmour Counseling Group, 5276 Lyngate Ct., Burke, VA 22015
Possible “Ask a Therapist” Topics
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Crisis Situations: Suicide, Self-Harm & Immediate Risk
When someone says “I don’t want to be here anymore” or hints at self-harm, it can feel overwhelming and high-stakes. This session covers what to say in the moment, how to assess urgency, what not to promise, and how to take appropriate next steps without panicking or freezing. Included in this session: Getting People Connected to the Right Level of Care (CSB, IOP, PHP, Inpatient). Many pastors know someone needs more help—but aren’t sure where to send them or how it works. We’ll walk through different levels of care, when each is appropriate, and how to practically guide someone (and their family) into the next step.
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Boundaries With High-Needs Individuals
When someone texts constantly, depends heavily on you, or seems to need more than you can give, it’s easy to feel stuck between compassion and burnout. Learn how to set clear, caring boundaries, reduce over-dependence, and support someone without becoming their only lifeline.
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Knowing Your Role: Helping Without Overstepping
Many church leaders feel the pressure of, “Am I doing too much—or not enough?” This session helps you clearly define your role, recognize when something is beyond your scope, and support people well without taking on responsibility that isn’t yours.
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When Someone Refuses Counseling (But Clearly Needs It)
You see the warning signs—but they won’t get help. Learn how to respond without pushing them away, reduce defensiveness, and have conversations that gently move people toward accepting support.
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Crisis Texts & After-Hours Situations With Teens
Late-night texts or urgent messages can leave you unsure how to respond. Learn how to handle these moments with care while maintaining appropriate boundaries and knowing when to escalate.
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Young Adults: Feeling Stuck, Lost, or Overwhelmed
Many young adults feel pressure to “figure life out” but feel paralyzed by anxiety, fear of failure, or lack of direction. Learn how to support without increasing pressure and help them take meaningful next steps.
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Marriage: When Couples Turn to You Instead of Therapy
It’s common for couples to seek help from pastors but resist counseling. Learn how to support them without becoming their primary counselor and how to guide them toward appropriate care.
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Women: Anxiety, Overwhelm, and Carrying Too Much
Many women feel emotionally and mentally overloaded—balancing relationships, responsibilities, and internal pressure. Learn how to support without minimizing their experience or reinforcing burnout patterns.
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Men: Withdrawal, Anger, and Feeling Like They’re Failing
Many men feel unseen, shut down, or quietly overwhelmed—even when they’re “doing what they’re supposed to do.” Learn what’s often underneath withdrawal or irritability and how to engage men in ways that build trust instead of defensiveness.
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Addiction, Coping, and Repeated Struggles
When someone keeps returning to the same behaviors, it can feel frustrating and confusing. We’ll explore what’s often underneath addiction or compulsive patterns and how to respond without enabling or shaming.
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Understanding Therapy Modalities (EMDR, Gottman, IFS, and More)
Therapy can feel confusing or unfamiliar. We’ll break down common approaches in simple terms and explore how they can align with and support a faith-informed perspective, so you can refer with confidence.
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What to Say in Hard Conversations
Many leaders feel pressure to “have the right answer.” This session provides simple, repeatable language that helps people feel heard and supported—without requiring you to fix the situation.
Do you have any questions?
FAQs
Who is this for?
These monthly sessions are designed for pastors, ministry leaders, church staff, elders, deacons, lay counselors, and others who regularly care for people in their church or ministry.
What is "Ask a Therapist"?
Ask a Therapist—a free monthly Zoom discussion created specifically for pastors, ministry leaders, campus ministries, school counselors, lay counselors, and others who regularly care for people. The heart of these meetings isn't a lecture—it's answering your questions and helping you think through the real-life situations you're encountering in your ministry. Whether you come with questions or simply want to learn from the discussion, our hope is that you'll leave encouraged, better equipped, and connected with trusted mental health professionals who understand and value the role of the Church and ministry workers.
What kinds of topics are covered?
Each month focuses on a topic commonly encountered in ministry, such as responding to a mental health crisis, supporting teens and young adults, marriage concerns, men's and women's issues, or knowing when someone needs a higher level of care. For each session, we've assembled a panel of Christian counselors with experience and expertise in that month's topic. We can answer questions on topics such as trauma, anxiety, depression, addiction, and understanding therapy approaches like EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS) from a faith-informed perspective.
Can I ask questions about a situation in my church/organization?
Absolutely. We encourage participants to bring questions about real-life situations they are navigating. To protect privacy, please avoid sharing names or identifying details. While we cannot provide counseling or clinical consultation about a specific individual, we can offer general guidance, education, and recommendations for next steps. Some of our therapists do offer consultation services if you require additional help.
Is this therapy?
No. These sessions are educational and consultative in nature. They are not therapy, clinical supervision, legal advice, or crisis services.
What if someone in my church is in immediate crisis?
If someone is at immediate risk of harming themselves or others, please contact 911 or your local emergency services right away. During these sessions, we'll also discuss how to recognize when someone may need a higher level of care and how to connect them with appropriate community resources.
Do I have to attend every month?
Not at all. Attend the topics that are most relevant to your ministry or join as your schedule allows.
Who leads the sessions?
Each session is led by a panel of Christian counselors from a variety of private practices, bringing diverse clinical expertise and experience working with individuals, couples, families, teens, and churches.
Will sessions be recorded?
No, we will not allow recordings in order to protect privacy.
Is there a cost to attend?
These sessions are free. Our desire is to make these conversations accessible while providing valuable, practical support for those serving in ministry.
Can our entire staff attend?
Yes! We encourage pastors, associate pastors, ministry directors, youth leaders, women's and men's ministry leaders, lay counselors, and other staff to participate together. These conversations often lead to a shared understanding and more consistent care within your ministry.
Will these sessions promote a particular counseling practice?
No. This is a collaborative effort featuring Christian counselors from a variety of practices and specialties. Our shared goal is to equip and encourage those serving in ministry and to help churches connect people with appropriate care when needed.
How do I suggest a future topic?
We welcome your ideas. During registration and after each session, you'll have an opportunity to suggest topics or questions you'd like us to address in future discussions.