Eagle Correspondent

Jim and Lynne Hurd see hundreds of people who are desperate to change their lives. The Hurds' response to those people is "turn to the owner's manual."

"You can get a new car and ignore the owner's manual," Jim said. "(You could) start it and go in reverse. Eventually you'd get stopped or blow up the engine."

The Hurds, counselors at Renewed Life Christian Counseling Services on South McKean Street, are among a growing number of therapists who incorporate religion into their practices.

Although counselors may vary in their approach, most would argue a natural fit exists between counseling and spirituality.

"I think when people call a counseling center, they are really hurting," said Carl Baughman, executive director of Samaritan Counseling Center on East Jefferson Street. "They're depressed. They're anxious. They're having marital differences. They're dealing with horrible events from their past.

"At those points in their lives, people are vulnerable. They want to know they are not alone. They want to know God is with them."

Jim Hurd agrees.

"I think there are more and more people that are struggling to solve some of their life's problems," he said, "and they are not able to do it without the help of God."

Citing statistics from the early 1990s, Baughman said most people who need counseling want the counselor to understand their faith and to integrate that faith into the process.

"A Gallup study conducted in January of '92 shows that 66 percent of the population prefers a professional counselor who is religious," he said, "and 81 percent want a counselor who can help them integrate their values and beliefs into the counseling process.

"That's 12 years ago, but I thought those numbers were substantial."

Since counselors at both facilities have received conventional training, they say much of their sessions adhere to a mainstream format.

"In some ways it might not be different in terms of talking about what's going on in your life," Baughman said. "At some point I would ask a person things like, 'Have you prayed about this and, if so, how have you prayed? How would you think that God might be speaking to you through this situation? What do you think God might be hoping you would learn?'

"(Religion) would provide kind of a backdrop for the sessions. It's more than just getting through a divorce. … It's looking at the spiritual resources a person might have and how they might be implemented to help with the particular difficulty that they're facing."

Unlike most other Christian counseling services in Butler County, the Hurds employ what is called Bible-based counseling, which points directly to Biblical passages for guidance and instruction.

Although the approach is somewhat atypical, the Hurds say their goal is the same: healing and restoration of the individual.

"Biblical counseling makes greater use of the scriptures," Jim Hurd said of how Bible-based counseling differs from many other faith-based practices. "It adds to the principles, saying 'Here is where it declares that in the Bible.'"

The Hurds say Renewed Life has existed in Butler County for about 25 years, with the idea of Bible-based counseling expanding to other areas.

"Since we started, a lot of different people have started small (Bible-based) clinics. Some took training from us and set up centers in the east side of Pittsburgh," Jim Hurd said.

Baughman said Samaritan has seen a similar growth in demand for Christian counseling services. "We have 10 therapists spread out over six locations. We have two locations in Butler County and three in Allegheny and one in Beaver.

"Our center has been open 22 years. When I came to Samaritan 11 years ago, there were two locations, so in the last 11 years we've opened up four new offices. That's an indication of our growth. There were three therapists, so our staff has grown."

The Hurds, who comprise the counseling staff at Renewed Life, say they conduct about 60 one-hour sessions per month. Their clients represent more than 30 denominations and churches. Some clients are nonbelievers, they say.

Although church pastors have traditionally counseled their parish members to some degree - especially in cases of turning to specific Biblical references for aid - Hurd said pastors are not equipped to handle long-term need for help.

Having worked as a pastor for several years in an independent church near Rochester, N.Y., Hurd said he understands the many demands on a pastor's time.

"Pastors can't develop that (professional counseling) skill along with managing the church and managing their congregations. When there's a difficult case, pastors look to refer out."

Baughman said much of his business has always come from pastor referrals, but in recent years managed care companies have become Samaritan's primary referral source.

Although the level of pastor referrals has held steady, the managed care referrals have increased - probably because stigmas about mental health care are fading, he said.

"People are wanting to use their health care benefits, but they also want faith-based counseling," Baughman said. "Those are the first two questions, they ask: if we are faith-based and they ask if we'll accept their participating insurance company."

"Every year we have seen more than the previous year. Every year it has grown. In the Yellow Pages our ad has the phrase 'Counseling using the resources of faith.'

"If they found us through the yellow pages, they will say that phrase is what attracted them to us. People really do want to know their counselor understands their values and views and will respect them."