NAMPA, Idaho (CBS2) — Mental health is a wide-ranging subject with a unique situation for every person. One-size-fits-all cannot encompass everyone, so some people in the Treasure Valley have tried faith-based approaches to help them in their journeys.
Faith-based counseling is offered in Nampa at Grace Center. The program sees itself as another piece of the mental health puzzle. It hopes to ease the stress of overcrowded counseling centers, to provide help to those that need it urgently.
"If a desperate person tries to get into a counseling center, it can be up to three months or so," Keith Waggoner, the lead pastor of Grace Bible Church said. "And it's because they're a great counseling center. What we want to do, is be a gap solution."
Waggoner mentioned that the counselors are not there to diagnose or prescribe for someone. He also spoke on the faith component, and how it comes into play.
"As a faith-based counseling center, we don't hide the fact that we are faith-based," Waggoner said. "We're looking at this holistic approach that includes the spiritual component. While you do not have to be a person of faith to receive counseling at our center, we don't hide from the fact that we're going to offer biblical counsel as well as mental health coaching."
Ultimately, Waggoner understands that the Grace Center might not be the final destination for someone, but rather a stop along the way.
"If there's nothing we can do to meet their need, we want to advocate for them," he said. "We might not be the place that's going to offer them help. We want to connect them to other counseling centers or other mental health coaches that can address the specific need."
Grace Center has more information on the counseling services they provide on their website.
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