The approach of Christian counseling is a holistic one way relationship that can help people navigate life's stresses and emotional traumas with a biblical prospective.  Thinking of biblical counseling as a peer to peer "style of relating" instead of defining counseling as an "identity-based life struggle" issue, can help remove the stigma and isolation surrounding the view of counseling.  The intentionality, density and one way relational tone established in the first counseling session sets this type of discussion apart from casual conversation.  The first session begins with acknowledging and recognizing the counselees difficulty in dealing with their struggle and the need to deepen their spiritual walk.  This first step is often the hardest and positive encouragement is essential to the trusting and unfolding work to follow.  The second step in the first meeting is to accurately clarify my training and role as a certified BC.  I will let them know I will be walking with them during this stress and offering a Biblical perspective to help them overcome their issues.  Lastly, before gathering history and identifying expectations and goals, we will have a discussion clarifying the confidentiality parameters.