There may come a point in your life when you are dealing with a crisis and you may need extra help. This crisis can be a personal one, or it could be one that involves your whole family. You may know that you need to seek the help of a professional counselor, but you are worried about finding one that will support your beliefs and values. It is important to realize that the church does offer family services for those who need them. In order to use LDS family services you would first need to speak to your bishop.
One service that LDS family services offers is counseling. This can be individual counseling or it can involve family members. The counselors must at least have a master’s degree in behavioral science to be a counselor. You will be speaking with professionals that have been trained to help people in situations that are similar to yours.
Another service is available for birth parents. This service provides counseling, group sessions and support throughout a pregnancy. While unwed mothers most often utilize this program, anyone involved in the situation (the father, and parents of the teenagers involved) can also receive advice and counseling. If the mother decides to put the baby up for adoption there is a placement service available.
If you are a member of the church you may want to use the adoption service offered by the church. The goal of the service is to place the babies into homes where they can be sealed to their adoptive family. You will still need to go through the same government requirements for adoption. You are also required to pay an adoption fee.
There is also an addiction recovery group that is offered to help you overcome any addictions that you may be struggling with. Qualified and trained individuals lead the groups. They are usually service missionaries with a background in counseling. Your bishop can give you the information you need to begin to attend these meetings.
Related Articles:
A Mom’s Guide to Sanity: My Action Steps Following A Crisis
Marriage Counseling Is a Process