What We Are
MBCC’s Side by Side Care Ministry is designed to provide one-on-one short-term care and encouragement to women who are members of Mountain Brook Community Church and are navigating a new or difficult season of life. In a safe and confidential environment, our lay counselors offer prayer, a listening ear, biblical insight and guidance to lead counselees toward resolution, healing or positive change. Our Care Contacts offer support and encouragement for women walking through similar experiences. 

LAY COUNSELING: Our lay counseling ministry particularly aims to serve the woman who may not seek pastoral or professional counseling, whether it be due to her preference of opening up to a woman or because she considers her struggle too embarrassing, private, or even insignificant. We’re committed to walking alongside one another and helping you resolve the challenges you’re facing. Our lay counselors have been trained by the Biblical Counseling Center and can address a range of issues including anger, depression, anxiety, fear, guilt and shame, marital conflict, family or relational tensions, parenting struggles, spiritual concerns, addictions, and more. 

Please note that we do not provide professional or long-term counseling. We meet with individuals for up to five sessions (in a calendar year) and then help them make connections and establish a support system for continued care if necessary or desired. If this time frame or approach does not seem adequate for your needs, we can refer you to a qualified Christian counselor.

CARE CONTACTS: The Side by Side Care Ministry also aims to connect women in our church family who simply desire to talk with someone who has endured similar circumstances or challenges. Care Contacts are women within the church who volunteer to talk with a woman in the midst of a trial or challenge that the Care Contact previously experienced and for which she can provide some insight and encouragement. Examples include infertility, miscarriages, body issues, betrayal, financial strain, discontentment, adjustment to marriage or to motherhood, disease or cancer diagnosis, caring for aging parents, etc. A woman may seek both lay counseling and a Care Contact at the same time.

What We Are Not
Lay counseling should not be substituted for professional therapy or counseling. We do not perform psychiatric evaluations, make diagnoses, or prescribe medication. Our lay counselors are not licensed therapists but rather volunteers who are well-trained to address many situations and life challenges from a biblical perspective. Please note that there are some counseling situations that are beyond our training. When this is the case, professional counseling will be recommended. Please click here to read our full Lay Counseling Policies. 

If you would like to meet with a lay counselor or care contact, please click the box below to complete our initial assessment, and we will be in touch soon.  Thank you. 

Becoming a Care Contact
Our Care Contacts offer support and encouragement for women walking through a trial or challenge they’ve previously experienced. This is done in an informal manner, and it does not commit Care Contacts to long-term mentoring. 

If you are open to discussing your own experiences with someone in order to provide perspective, insight, support, and encouragement, please complete and submit the form below. Examples of topics include infertility, miscarriage, body issues, betrayal, financial strain, discontentment, adjustment to marriage or to motherhood, disease or cancer diagnosis, caring for aging parents, etc.  By submitting this form, you are not committing to meet with anyone or to discuss a particular topic marked below. Our Care Team will always consult a potential Care Contact before matching her with anyone. We realize that availability and even emotional capacity to share can vary from season to season.