COUNSELING MINISTRY
BRIARWOOD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
“In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom . . .” (Colossians 2:3)
Connecting the Treasures of Christ to the Troubles of Life
In this broken world, we have good reasons for concern. Hard things come at us, and it hurts. Bad things flow from us, and it harms. So many troubles! But because God sees and draws close, we have better reasons to rejoice. The Wonderful Counselor has not left us in the dark but has spoken his truth in love to comfort sufferers and transform sinners. In God’s written Word, and from Jesus the living Word, we find everything we need to live a godly life. So many treasures!
In this broken world, we have good reasons for concern. Hard things come at us, and it hurts. Bad things flow from us, and it harms. So many troubles! But because God sees and draws close, we have better reasons to rejoice. The Wonderful Counselor has not left us in the dark but has spoken his truth in love to comfort sufferers and transform sinners. In God’s written Word, and from Jesus the living Word, we find everything we need to live a godly life. So many treasures!
Our Mission
Our mission is to care for the soul by connecting the treasures of Christ to the troubles of life. We pursue this purpose by offering counseling and training to the members of our church and city.
Our distinctive approach is commonly referred to as “biblical counseling,” and we aspire to give the kind of care that is worthy of the description. For a detailed explanation of the central commitments of this approach, click here to access “The Confessional Statement of the Biblical Counseling Coalition.”
To learn more about the services we provide, please view the information below.
Our distinctive approach is commonly referred to as “biblical counseling,” and we aspire to give the kind of care that is worthy of the description. For a detailed explanation of the central commitments of this approach, click here to access “The Confessional Statement of the Biblical Counseling Coalition.”
To learn more about the services we provide, please view the information below.
Meet our Counseling Director, Dr. Greg Norfleet
Our Counseling Ministry is led by Dr. Greg Norfleet, who received his Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary and Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. Now in his 39th year of ministry, Greg has served various churches, seminaries, and counseling ministries along the way. Serving alongside him are a dozen lay counselors, each of whom has extensive training and experience in lay counseling ministry.
COUNSELING MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
Counseling
Wise counseling arises from a dual understanding of what truly matters. You matter, so we will listen closely to you to know your story: What are you facing, and how are you struggling? God matters, so we will listen closely to Scripture to know his story: Who is he, and what does he say and do in Jesus to make all things new? Best of all, we will aim to bring real hope and help by connecting his treasures to your troubles through an honest, loving, tailored conversation.
Wise counseling arises from a dual understanding of what truly matters. You matter, so we will listen closely to you to know your story: What are you facing, and how are you struggling? God matters, so we will listen closely to Scripture to know his story: Who is he, and what does he say and do in Jesus to make all things new? Best of all, we will aim to bring real hope and help by connecting his treasures to your troubles through an honest, loving, tailored conversation.
Learn More
We offer biblically grounded, Christ-centered counseling for individuals, couples, and families, and for a variety of life’s struggles, including but not limited to:
• Guilt and shame
• Fear and anxiety
• Suffering of various kinds (loss, depression, and more)
• Anger and interpersonal conflict
• Addiction of various sorts
In addition, we offer biblically grounded, Christ-centered pre-marital counseling for engaged couples, which includes use of the highly regarded “Prepare/Enrich” pre-assessment tool to inform the counseling process.
COST:
As a ministry of Briarwood Church, our counseling is free of charge, though we accept gifts to help support and advance our outreach to the community.
HOURS & LOCATION:
Our office is open Mondays through Thursdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. We are located in the Altadena House at the north corner of Briarwood Church’s campus (more easily accessed from Altadena Road).
APPOINTMENT:
Appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to members of Briarwood Church. To request an appointment and to receive a brief questionnaire to be completed prior to a scheduled meeting, contact our administrative staff by phone (205) 776.5281 or by email at altadenaministries@briarwood.org.
• Guilt and shame
• Fear and anxiety
• Suffering of various kinds (loss, depression, and more)
• Anger and interpersonal conflict
• Addiction of various sorts
In addition, we offer biblically grounded, Christ-centered pre-marital counseling for engaged couples, which includes use of the highly regarded “Prepare/Enrich” pre-assessment tool to inform the counseling process.
COST:
As a ministry of Briarwood Church, our counseling is free of charge, though we accept gifts to help support and advance our outreach to the community.
HOURS & LOCATION:
Our office is open Mondays through Thursdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. We are located in the Altadena House at the north corner of Briarwood Church’s campus (more easily accessed from Altadena Road).
APPOINTMENT:
Appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to members of Briarwood Church. To request an appointment and to receive a brief questionnaire to be completed prior to a scheduled meeting, contact our administrative staff by phone (205) 776.5281 or by email at altadenaministries@briarwood.org.
Equipping
Wise counseling happens in various settings and arises from various giftings. At the most basic level, we aim to equip every member of our church for informal, side-by-side, “one-another” ministry. At a more structured level, we offer training to become a confident and competent lay counselor or support group facilitator.
Wise counseling happens in various settings and arises from various giftings. At the most basic level, we aim to equip every member of our church for informal, side-by-side, “one-another” ministry. At a more structured level, we offer training to become a confident and competent lay counselor or support group facilitator.
Learn More
Equipped to Counsel: A Training Course in Biblical Counseling
Led by Dr. Greg Norfleet • Wednesdays, September 9 – December 2 • 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. in Room A201
The care of souls is what the church is about. By His Word and Spirit, Jesus counsels and comforts us in our troubles, so that we may counsel and comfort others in their troubles. Indeed, the most wonderful community imaginable is a church in which each of us is learning to care for one another by offering his true words wrapped in his loving ways (Ephesians 4:11-16). This course introduces the theological concepts and relational skills necessary for understanding and facilitating God’s work of change. Whether you wish to grow as a friend, ministry leader, or potential lay counselor, this course will help you walk alongside others in wisdom and love.
Good and Angry: Redeeming Anger, Irritation, Complaining, and Bitterness by David Powlison
A Group Study Offered in Partnership with Men of the Covenant • Facilitated by Dr. Greg Norfleet • Tuesdays, September 15 through November 11 • 6:45 – 7:45 a.m. in Fellowship Hall A
“Can you be both good and angry? In this groundbreaking book, David Powlison reframes the universal problem of anger through an in-depth exploration of God’s anger and ours. Full of practical help for all who struggle with how to respond when life goes wrong, Good and Angry sets readers on a path toward the faithful and fruitful expression of anger.” (From New Growth Press)
Strategic Partnerships: In addition to various onsite training opportunities, we partner with the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF) by organizing and mentoring local cohorts of students who wish to receive more advanced training at discounted group rates through their School of Biblical Counseling.
Curious to learn more? For more information, including how to register for current and future training offerings, please contact Julie Olmedo at the counseling office: (205-776-5281); jolmedo@briarwood.org.
Led by Dr. Greg Norfleet • Wednesdays, September 9 – December 2 • 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. in Room A201
The care of souls is what the church is about. By His Word and Spirit, Jesus counsels and comforts us in our troubles, so that we may counsel and comfort others in their troubles. Indeed, the most wonderful community imaginable is a church in which each of us is learning to care for one another by offering his true words wrapped in his loving ways (Ephesians 4:11-16). This course introduces the theological concepts and relational skills necessary for understanding and facilitating God’s work of change. Whether you wish to grow as a friend, ministry leader, or potential lay counselor, this course will help you walk alongside others in wisdom and love.
Good and Angry: Redeeming Anger, Irritation, Complaining, and Bitterness by David Powlison
A Group Study Offered in Partnership with Men of the Covenant • Facilitated by Dr. Greg Norfleet • Tuesdays, September 15 through November 11 • 6:45 – 7:45 a.m. in Fellowship Hall A
“Can you be both good and angry? In this groundbreaking book, David Powlison reframes the universal problem of anger through an in-depth exploration of God’s anger and ours. Full of practical help for all who struggle with how to respond when life goes wrong, Good and Angry sets readers on a path toward the faithful and fruitful expression of anger.” (From New Growth Press)
Strategic Partnerships: In addition to various onsite training opportunities, we partner with the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF) by organizing and mentoring local cohorts of students who wish to receive more advanced training at discounted group rates through their School of Biblical Counseling.
Curious to learn more? For more information, including how to register for current and future training offerings, please contact Julie Olmedo at the counseling office: (205-776-5281); jolmedo@briarwood.org.