You and your husband are devout Christians, but you're having difficulty communicating. You've hit an impasse, and neither of you can move forward. You're drifting away from each other, and your marriage is headed for disaster.

Who can you go to for help?

A Christian counselor may be the answer. Whether secularly or biblically trained, these counselors believe in the power of God and his Word. They are passionate about helping others, as their vocation mirrors the truth in 2 Corinthians 1:4: "He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble."

Jo Clifford, PhD, is a Christian counselor who speaks from experience. She lost her son to suicide and was plunged into a devastating period of grief. But God comforted her through that awful circumstance, and she felt compelled to do the same for other people.

"When God comforts us, we are able to comfort others," says Dr. Clifford, who owns Joy Christian Counseling. "People who seek our services have a belief system that God has the answers. Christian counselors also share that belief. We have a common faith in God. We're in the same family, and we speak the same language."

But it's important to find the right person for your needs. Here are 5 things to look for when searching for a Christian counselor:

1. Check out the therapist's education, years of experience, credentials, licensure and whether he or she has specialized certification. Specialized training is important, emphasizes Dr. Clifford. "If you're seeking marriage counseling and the person you're referred to specializes in substance abuse, that therapist might not be the right fit. Make sure the counselor's expertise matches your needs."
2. Make sure the counselor uses biblical strategies to resolve issues. Dr. Clifford cites 1 James 22: "Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice." Christian counselors encourage clients to "do God's Word," says Dr. Clifford. "It's not enough for me to talk about biblical principles. People must exercise their free will and embrace those principles to address the problem."
3. Understand the difference between the expertise of a pastor and that of a Christian counselor. "When people have problems, they often talk to their pastor or church elder. But it's typically about nonthreatening issues," says Dr. Clifford. "But if they've been abused and they're experiencing trauma, they're not likely to discuss it with their pastor. They may feel ashamed, vulnerable or afraid to reveal such things."
   

   
   

   Pastors and elders don't have the breadth or depth of training Christian counselors have. While ministers can be a first line of communication, they usually need to refer to someone with more expertise. However, Dr. Clifford partners with pastors, offering counseling while the pastor provides power prayer and support.

4. Call the Christian counselor and ask questions. Dr. Clifford says potential clients call her frequently to ask her about her denominational preference, whether she goes to church, how she applies the Bible in her work, etc. She welcomes those calls and urges everyone to connect with the therapist beforehand to make sure there's a good fit. Ask for references as well.
5. Make sure the counselor communicates empathy, love, acceptance, trust and truth in a safe way. By building a trusting relationship with clients, Christian counselors encourage people to choose to make positive changes in their lives.

Applying biblical principles to her own work, Dr. Clifford cites 1 Thessalonians 11:5: "And so encourage one another and help one another."

Dr. Clifford and other Christian counselors have dedicated their lives to this Scripture verse.