Biblical Soul Care and Discipleship

Cornerstone Biblical Soul Care and Discipleship

We are now accepting counseling requests from everyone, both current Cornerstone members and those outside our church community. If you are seeking biblical counseling, please complete the forms below to begin the process of connecting with a counselor who can meet your needs.

About Our Soul Care Ministry

Cornerstone Biblical Soul Care ministry exists to glorify God (1 Cor 10:31) by laboring to present God’s people mature in Christ to live lives that are dependent on, pleasing and glorifying to God (Col 1:28; 2 Cor 5:9). We labor to help image-bearers reorient disordered desires, affections, thoughts, and behaviors by speaking truth in love (Eph. 4:15) and ministering God’s sufficient and authoritative Word (2 Tim 3:16; Heb 4:12-13; 2 Pet 1:3-7) to comfort those who are suffering and call sinners to repentance so they may be growing disciples of Christ. This is all done under the authority and care of the church.

Cornerstone Biblical Soul Care provides counseling to help individuals and couples meet life’s challenges in a way that encourages spiritual growth and trust in God. Our goal is to help others understand their problems and God’s good purposes in them. As complicated as life can be, we believe that the Bible has answers to life’s problems and questions. We offer hope through Christ-centered wisdom and practical help from a biblical perspective. After reviewing this information, please contact our office with any questions.

To schedule a counseling session, follow the instructions under “How do I begin” below.

Who are the counselors?

Our counselors consist of trained pastors and church members certified, or in the process of being certified, by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) (see http://www.biblicalcounseling.com for more information).

What types of problems do you address in counseling?

Counseling is available for any problems you may be facing – marriage, parenting, conflicts, grief, addictions, depression, anxiety, anger, etc. We believe the Bible provides sufficient guidance and instruction not only for faith but also for the practical issues of life (2 Peter 1:3, Romans 15:4). Our counseling is based on biblical principles rather than those of secular psychology.

What’s the cost?

The counseling sessions are provided at no cost as a ministry of Cornerstone Community Church. However, if you have benefited from counseling and wish to contribute to the ongoing needs of our counseling ministry, donations are always appreciated.

When is counseling available?

Counseling is scheduled with the counselor by appointment only after you have completed the personal data inventory (PDI—listed below). Days and hours vary depending on the counselor’s schedule. We aim to begin your counseling as soon as possible. However, since most of our counselors are ministry volunteers and we cannot control demand, there may be a wait before counseling can begin. We sincerely appreciate your patience.

How long will the counseling last?

Counseling sessions typically last about one hour. While it is impossible to determine how many sessions each person will need, we are committed to walking alongside you throughout the growth process. However, depending on the complexity and nature of the problem and the counselee’s investment in the counseling process, counseling can last from a few sessions to several months.

What will be expected of me in counseling?

You will be expected to show a desire to grow and change — guided by biblical principles and empowered by the Holy Spirit. You will be required to complete homework assignments between sessions to implement and ensure lasting change. There may also be an expense involved in the purchase of books or other resources that your counselor may recommend.

How do I begin?

Before we schedule your counseling session, we require two preliminary steps:

1. Carefully read our Informed Consent and Counseling Policy.

2. Inquire into the availability of a counselor by filling out a Request for Counseling form.

3. If a counselor is available, you will be directed to fill out our online Personal Data Inventory form.

4. After we receive your PDI form, a counselor will contact you to schedule a time to meet.

For additional support if a counselor is unavailable, you may also consider the following organizations:

Addictions

“Help and hope for those struggling with addiction”

Click here for a series of 12 helpful video lessons.

If you are interested in becoming trained in biblical counseling, click the “Biblical Soul Care Training” tab at the top of this page for more information.

Biblical Counseling & Soul Care Training

Care and Discipleship Course

People in our churches and communities face real hurts, difficulties, and challenges every day. God’s Word offers the biblical hope and help they need—not only for struggles with suffering and sin, but also for learning how to live and relate to one another in ways that glorify the Lord.

Beginning in 2027, Cornerstone Community Church will offer a 3-weekend, 3-month in-person training. The dates will be January 8 & 9, February 5 & 6, and March 12 & 13, 2027. This Biblical Soul Care and Interpersonal Discipleship Training exists to multiply and equip individuals in the knowledge and practice of biblical soul care and interpersonal discipleship. This training meets the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) Fundamentals of Biblical Soul Care requirement.

Within this training, we will learn what it means to counsel and disciple others biblically. Some of the subjects we will cover:

Definition and Goals of Biblical Soul Care
Key Elements of Biblical Counseling
Progressive sanctification
A Biblical View of the Heart
How to Help People Change
Biblical View of Marriage and Parenting
Biblical View of Emotions, Depression, and Anxiety
Thinking Biblically about Addictions, Suffering, and Medical Issues

Cost: $160 per person for all 3 weekends. This includes Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, Saturday lunch, snacks, light refreshments, and a printed notebook.

Schedule for all 3 weekends”

Friday – 3:00 pm (First Session Begins) – 9:00 pm

Saturday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

Location: Cornerstone Community Church, 1400 Lander Rd, Mayfield Heights, Ohio 44124.

Cornerstone Community Church is a Certified Training Center for the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors
(ACBC). More information about ACBC can be found at www.biblicalcounseling.com.

If you have further questions, please contact Ryan Thomas @ rthomas@cornerstonemayfield.org

Certification Option: While you do not need to pursue certification to take part, this course is approved for Phase 1 of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) certification process. Learn more at www.biblicalcounseling.com.

Your Instructor

Dr. Paul Tautges serves as senior pastor at Cornerstone, having previously pastored for twenty-two years in Wisconsin. Paul has authored or edited over 70 books, including Remade: Embracing Your Complete Identity in Christ, Anxiety: Knowing God’s Peace, A Small Book for the Hurting Heart, and Counseling One Another. He is also the consulting editor of the LifeLine Mini-Book series from Shepherd Press. Paul is a council member of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, a teaching fellow with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, and has completed the Formation Certificate from CCEF. He and his wife, Karen, enjoy their ten children, their sons- and daughters-in-law, and a growing tribe of grandchildren. Paul enjoys writing to cultivate discipleship among believers and, therefore, blogs regularly at Counseling One Another.