Counseling
The goal of our pastoral counseling ministry is to provide short-term support in helping people determine immediate next steps in their journey with Christ through life's challenges. Adult Ministries Administrative Assistant Jenny Hooten schedules all counseling appointments with Joe Smeltzer (MA, Th.M.), Pastoral Counselor. Contact Jenny directly to determine Joe's availability for new appointments: jennyh@cccgreeley.org / 970-353-1159, x215.
We also schedule appointments with Corie Beckmann (MA, NCC, LPC) and Paul Hooten (MA NCC), who are Christian counselors in private practice in the community, and serve as a part of our counseling team. If Joe, Corie or Paul aren't able to accept new appointments in a timely manner, we will provide referrals and/or resources we believe to be helpful in taking next steps, allowing each person to experience Christ as fully as possible in the midst of their immediate need.
Here's a brief word from Pastoral Counselor, Joe Smeltzer, giving you some insight into his counseling philosophy, commitment to Christ, and background ...
From Joe Smeltzer, Pastoral Counselor at Christ Community
I am deeply committed to helping individuals and couples experience spiritual growth and healing. The foundation of my ministry is based upon the purposes and works of Christ as stated in L
uke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind to set free those that are bruised…” To summarize, through the presence and work of God though prayer, I invite Jesus to come and accomplish in people’s lives what He can to do: heal broken hearts, give insight, and free people form bondage. To help you with the issues that have caused problems in your life, I have the following training, experience, and education: Masters Degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, Masters Degree in Psychology, Counseling, and Guidance form the University of Northern Colorado; participation in numerous workshops and classes at various community colleges, universities, and professional organizations; and 12 years of pastoral counseling at Christ Community Church.
My belief is that counseling does not ultimately heal the wound of the heart, but rather, it is a process that unveils and discloses what we have otherwise not been able to see or understand. Once we perceive and understand what our problems are, we are then in a position to allow God’s presence and power to begin to heal those problems.
It is a privilege and responsibility to do the work of counseling, helping other to work through the perplexities and painful experience of life. This is not merely a career for me, but a ministry that God has called me to, and it is my desire to see every client come to experience the resolution, freedom and peace that the healing work of God’s Spirit can bring. Counseling is a process whereby the client comes to see and understand some of the reasons he or she experiences conflict in life and where new choices can be made. As your counselor, I will never order or command you to make a decision, nor will I tell you which decision to make. I will work with you and assist you in making those decisions. Ultimately, as you come to understand why old patterns have not worked, by God’s grace, you will make new choices which will give you opportunities to live your life differently by the power of God. As we work together, I will be in continual prayer that these things will be accomplished for you by the mercy of God.