Scope of Practice
As mentioned Ben does not engage his clients in psychological or psychoanalytical counseling. Ben’s focus of counseling, consulting, and life coaching emerges from a Biblical orientation, he targets personal development with emphasis on life skills enhancement, and holistic wellness orientation. As a pastor for many years Ben has assisted many families’ and individuals in this area. Additionally, his work as a clinical chaplain has required him to do both individual and group sessions while doing extensive work in grief, loss, and transition. Over the years Ben has identified seven (7) prominent areas that people primarily request his assistance as Life Coach he has targeted these areas as the scope of his work.
1. Spiritual
Spirituality can encompass many facets depending on ones faith orientation. Ben believes and teaches that wholeness of Life can only emerge from the proper understanding of how one relates spiritually to Christ. He instructs his mentee’s from a Biblical faith position. Spirituality is listed first because in Ben’s opinion it serves as the foundation of one’s holistic wellness. He believes when Christ is first, then ones life is in harmony, and abundant living may then become possible. Ben helps those he coaches to develop their “core constitution” which serves as their internal compass to govern their lives by, and as such becomes their life’s motto.
2. Relational
Perhaps this is the area that has demanded more energy and effort in assisting people, establishing functional relationships. Ben counsels and coach’s people in interpersonal relationships while developing mutual appreciation in understanding. The primary emphasis in interpersonal relationships is a proper understanding of ones intrapersonal realization. Ben teaches and believes that the quality of ones relationship with others is contingent on how one relates to self and God. Therefore, if one has a limited capacity of inner harmony, then their chances of maintaining harmony with others becomes very difficult.
3. Emotional
It seems clear that our emotionality directly affects our behavior, good or bad. Developing healthy biblical emotional stability can be difficult, especially after having years of negative life experiences. Our ability to reason and relate to life events is often determined by our given perspective. Our emotions are neither good nor bad; they are a part of us and can be changed or challenged if one sincerely desires growth. Human behavior as Ben teaches can best be understood when people have a true understanding of their identity and belonging. Often challenging behavior results without a proper comprehension of personal identity, consequently many continue to duplicate undesirable behavior. We target emotional wholeness from ones awareness of their God given identity.
4. Financial
We may all concede that financial stability or instability can drastically affect our quality of life. Many live and strive for the accumulation & consumption of wealth and material gain. Our focus in financial management has little to do with personal ownership, but rather personal stewardship. Life in its fullest can only be actualized when we understand that all our possessions come from and belong to God. He entrusted possessions to us not only to take care of our needs, but to accomplish His purposes. Only then can we be satisfied enough to realize that regardless of our financial station in life, contentment becomes possible. It is not what we have, but what we do with what we have – that brings fulfillment.
5. Educational
If one is serious about becoming their very best in life, then their education enhancement must play an integral role in their continued development. It may not be practical for you to go back to school in a formal capacity. But personal educational development can be accomplished in various ways. We endeavor to target a systematic goal for increasing ones educational development that will assist people to accomplish their life goals and we serve as their accountability partner so they can remain on course in their educational undertakings.
6. Vocational
Many people are dissatisfied with their career, and see that their work as something that only serves to support them. In other words they make a living, but don’t have much life, consequently their work brings them little fulfillment. We assist people in discovering their God given calling as opposes to maintaining a career. We target an individual assessment which focuses on ones God given gifts, talents, ambitions, and dreams with a given strategy to implement them.
7. Personal
We’ve purposefully left this area for last, because all the other areas of development, longevity results when we care for ourselves personally. Many strive to do for others and fail to take care of self. This area focuses on who we are at our core, and how we take care of and refresh our personal lives. Here we seek to examine what we are like when alone, and focus on our day of rest and recreation. We purposefully challenge our clients to disengage, recreate, and refresh their lives, which is essential for ones over-all wellbeing. This is personally suited for each client based on their individual needs, goals, and objectives.