Pastoral care: addresses spiritual growth, spiritual concerns, forming godly relationships (especially but not limited to pre-marital counseling), and discussion of beliefs and how those beliefs are integrated into life.

Advising: situational and task-oriented guidance, usually in a target area. Explores how that target area affects life in general and vice versa. Target areas can include career advising, academic advising, financial advising, nutritional advising, etc.

Coaching: taking a participant to the next level in any given area, exploring advancement options, building on strengths, managing transition. Often coaching is in a targeted area, however, there are life coaches who give attention to the whole person.

Counseling: All of the functions above are included in the broad term “counseling”. Counselors, particularly those licensed to give mental health treatment, also address emotional, physical, psychological and relational issues that affect mental health. They are formally educated in therapeutic theory and treatment techniques and typically hold a license to practice.

Psychiatric treatment: in addition to all the aspects of counseling, psychiatrists are medically trained to administer prescriptions and typically are engaged in longer term care for those with mental health diagnoses in either in-patient or out-patient environments.

Any time they need advice; are experiencing a transition; seek to improve the current situation; or are experiencing mental, emotional, vocational, relational or spiritual disruption.

High school to college or the workforce, college to workforce or graduate school, single to married, a change in career, new relationships or family members (babies, extended family, blended family), re-entering the workforce after caring for others, military to civilian life, physical changes or a medical incident that impact life, moving to a new place.

Listening to issues that arise out of a person going through a transition, providing counsel and strategies for successful transitions, suggesting resources to equip the advisee, connecting advisees to further help as needed and generally supporting an individual who is in transition.

The Transitional Advisor will meet one-on-one with advisees once a month for 50 minutes. Appointments will be made through the church office (781-321-2121). There are a limited number of slots per month.

No information will be shared with others unless the advisee grants permission for specific information to be disclosed, and only as it would be helpful for working towards a successful outcome. The only exception is immediate physical danger to anyone, including the advisee. Appointments will take place in the church office and arranged through the secretary, so church staff may know who is being advised, but they will not know the content of the sessions. Advisees may also give permission for collaboration between the Transitional Advisor and pastors, coaches, counselors or therapists if desired.