HELPER TRAINING

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Welcome to the Helper Training program! This training is meant to equip and prepare a person to walk alongside others as an extension of God’s care to those who need His comfort. Although we are all called to be comforters to those in need, it is often difficult and challenging to know how to respond and support others. It is an incredible experience to be part of someone else's journey, but burnout and compassion fatigue are real issues. Hopefully this training can shed some light on the issues helpers face and equip us to fulfill God’s purpose of being comforters to those around us.

Training Videos

The first three video sessions cover important aspects of the helping process presented by several members of our congregation who represent various professions and expertise, as well as personal testimonies from individual brothers and sisters. The fourth video provides a recap of the teaching sessions as well as some additional insight from the trainers recorded from a live Q&A event.

These sessions can be viewed separately or in sequence and a Training Guide has also been provided which includes the reflection and discussion questions. This training can be completed by individuals although group participation will maximize the opportunities for reflection and discussion.
HELPER-TRAINING-GUIDE. pdf

Session 1: Foundations for Helping

1. Biblical principles of helping
2. Five Roles of the Helper
3. Two Mindsets of the Helper
4. Four Parts to the Helping Process

Session 2: Guidelines for Helping

1. Ethics and Confidentiality
2. Skills in the Helping Relationship
3.  Limits and Strategies
4. Care for the Caregiver

Session 3: Knowledge for Helping

1. What is Mental Health?
2. Stigma and Mental Illness
3. Mental Wellness
4. Referral and Resources

Q&A Session

Questions include...
1. How do we pray for the helpee when we disagree or sometimes feel very upset with their decisions/choices?
2. How do I set appropriate boundaries?
3. Can someone suffering from mental illness become a Christian?