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Link Care Center provides therapy and pastoral counseling for pastors and their families. If a pastor is in the local vicinity of Fresno, he may receive counseling services on an outpatient basis. We also have the ability to receive pastors, and their families, into the full Restoration and Personal Growth Program. Link Care deals with all types of issues including individual, marital, children, family and church relations issues.
Individual Pastoral Restoration Services
Restoration and Personal Growth Program
Purpose:
The Restoration and Personal Growth Program exists to meet the needs of missionaries and pastors who have encountered difficulties in their fields of service. A primary goal is to help Christian workers increase their effectiveness in their personal lives and ministry. Through an intense team approach in a residential setting, we at Link Care are committed to the principle that lasting effectiveness comes only when the Spirit of God motivates and empowers all that we do.
Through a team approach, clients receive professional counsel and guidance that relate to their whole person: body, soul, and spirit. The length of stay varies, depending on the presenting problems and available resources. We encourage a one-month, open-ended stay that would enable additional assistance, if needed. The average stay is between 2-3 months, but some clients have come for as little as 1-2 weeks.
The components of Link Care's treatment plan include:
Diagnostic Assessment
Upon arrival at Link Care, the client completes two assessments: psychological and spiritual. The psychological assessment looks at psychological functioning and behaviors which are likely sources of difficulties. The spiritual assessment focuses on spiritual history and development. The results from these assessments, coupled with information from the referring organization, are used to help form a treatment plan and guide the therapists and pastors.
Individual & Marital Therapy
A therapist is assigned to a client and will conduct anywhere from three to five sessions per week (or more) to explore issues relating to the presenting problems. With families, there may be multiple therapists assigned to work with different family members.
Pastoral Care
Each client is assigned a Pastoral Counselor with whom he will meet one to two times weekly to help explore areas of spiritual formation and growth, including identity in Christ issues, view of God and His view of them, and spiritual conflict in the midst of ministry. The goal of the Pastoral Care component is to help clients increase their intimacy with Jesus Christ and experience His grace and power in increasing ways in their life and ministry.
Men's Group & Women's Group
These weekly 90-minute group sessions, led by a therapist, are intended to help explore areas of growth and to gain perspective and insight of others who are also participating in the program.
Community Group
This weekly 90-minute gathering is for all adult clients on campus. The format is more didactic in nature and often covers such topics as boundaries in ministry and personal life, overcoming shame and experiencing God's grace, and growing in relationship with Christ. Optional sharing of prayer requests is also an important part of this group.
Family Potluck
A potluck is held once a week for all adults and children on campus. This is a social time of community, of sharing a variety of different kinds of food, of fellowship over a meal, and of getting to know others on campus.
Kids Club
Apart from individual therapy that children may receive, there is a Kids Club program three times a week for children to attend. The age range is from 3 to 12 and the Club consists of various activities. This time is recreational and designed to give specialized attention to children's play needs.
Community Infusion
For teenagers, 13-17, this once-a-week gathering provides a place for fun, fellowship, and connecting with other young people on campus. Community Infusion is offered when the teen population requires it.
Physical Exercise
An optional component of the program involves going to a nearby health club and working out as often as desired. A swimming pool is available on campus, as well as a basketball and volleyball court.
Other Notable Information:
Accommodations
Accommodations are on the Link Care campus, in either a three-bedroom, a one-bedroom, or a studio apartment. Linens and cooking equipment are furnished. Each family unit is responsible for the purchasing and preparation of food. We are unable to accommodate pets.
Program Cost
The cost of the Restoration & Personal Growth program varies widely, depending on the number of family members receiving services and the length of time spent at Link Care. A detailed estimate of the first month's costs will be given to clients prior to their arrival at Link Care.
Volunteer Service
Each client is encouraged to volunteer for up to four hours a week around the campus doing various tasks. This allows clients to get their minds off their issues for a time, as well as have an outlet for physical exercise.
Library
Link Care has an on-campus library where books can be checked out. We strive to have books in the library that are recommended reading from counselors.
Individuals may contact Link Care directly by calling 559-439-5920, and asking for the New Client Coordinator. Or they may e-mail their questions to the following address: info@linkcare.org
Juniper Tree Room Program
For today’s Elijah, A private retreat room provided as a gift to pastors by Link Care Center.
This one room (motel style) accommodation can be reserved for up to 6 days (five nights). These rooms are reserved on a “first come first serve” basis for pastors, missionaries and ministry leadership.
For your convenience, the room is equipped with a television, AM-FM receiver/CD player, refrigerator, coffee maker, a microwave oven, and linens (sheets and towels).
To preserve the serenity of your visit, you will not find a telephone or computer outlets. You will be responsible for your meals. We do not provide room service, mail or telephone messaging.
For more information:
Contact: Dr. Dale Ackley
Phone: 559-439-5920, Ext. 115
E-mail: DaleAckley@linkcare.org
Ministry of Helps
PURPOSE:
According to Ephesians 4:11, the Lord gifted the church with individuals to “train Christians in skilled servant work (equip the saints), working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.”
The Ministry of Helps is part of that “equipping the saints” in that it trains the laity of a church body to come alongside hurting and wounded people within a congregation and be a servant-leader to facilitate healing to their hurts. This Lay-Counseling Training Program will take an individual that has a desire to serve and equip them with the ability to serve others by giving them the tools of ministry to touch people where they hurt.
This service is done under the guidance of pastoral leadership and provides a motivation for the church laity to minister to one another and serve one another in the context of Scripture.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To prepare the biblical lay-counselor for a more effective service within the church body.
2. To assist each student in an understanding of basic biblical counseling dynamics operating under the umbrella of a “Ministry of Helps” within the church.
3. To provide the tools and training necessary to enable a “Ministry of Helps” within the local church setting as directed by pastoral leadership.
4. To enable each student to establish a “Ministry of Helps” ministry based upon the foundation of biblical principles that direct us on how to serve one another.
5. To fulfill the requirements for a “Ministry of Helps” Certificate of Completion granted by Link Care Center.
CLASSES:
Class 1 Introduction to Christian Counseling
Class 2 Effective Biblical Counseling
Class 3 Substance abuse
Class 4 Personality Plus
Class 5 Financial Counseling
Class 6 Crisis Counseling
Class 7 The Problem with Emotions
Class 8 Prayer in Counseling
Class 9 How You See Yourself: Self Image
Class 10 Developmental Psychology
Class 11 Marriage Communion (The Godly Marriage)
Class 12 The Counselor and the Law
Class 13 The Marriage Factor
Class 14 Family Structure and Dynamics
Class 15 Putting it all Together – Where do we go from here?
For more information:
Contact: Dr. Dale Ackley
Phone: 559-439-5920, Ext. 115
E-mail: DaleAckley@linkcare.org
Pastoral Consultation Service
Link Care Center offers a service to pastors in the area of counseling helps. A pastor may be "stuck" on a counseling case on which he is working and perhaps needs some clarification or help. Please keep in mind that because we do not have all the information, nor is the person with whom the pastor is working a client of ours, we cannot take responsibility for the outcome of the pastor's counseling with this person/couple. And, in all situations where a pastor feels as if he is "over his head," we recommend referring to a qualified Christian therapist in the pastor's area. If the pastor is unaware of a Christian therapist in his area, we may be able to give a referral, as well.
By phoning or e-mailing Link Care, we can get back to you within 48 hours to help with your situation. Call (559) 439-5920, Ext. 122 or Ext. 115, or e-mail KenRoyer@linkcare.org or DaleAckley@linkcare.org.
Pastoral Internship Program [PIP]
The Pastoral Internship Program (PIP) is intended to provide training in both scriptural and practical arenas for the beginning pastor. The program combines the resources of experienced pastors, psychological clinicians, pastoral care providers, selected books, study material, video tapes and a daily schedule of academic, physical and spiritual activities to give an intensive experience. The program consists of a one-year study commitment whereby a ministry individual or couple may stay on or off campus to complete their residency. Both on and off campus requirements must be met by the intern through a network with local churches that have consented to make themselves available for intern training and mentoring.
The internship program is designed to assist the intern as he develops proper attitudes toward the church, the work of the ministry, fellow ministers, and the people to whom he will serve. The program will assist the intern in discovering his own specific gifts, styles and talents for evangelistic outreach, church planting, pastoral responsibilities, administrative duties, special occasions, preaching and teaching practicum, pastoral counseling, hermeneutics, homological presentation, spiritual formation and other areas of ministry for determining further training needs. Further, the practicum will result in a firm commitment to biblical faith and the tenets of God’s Word as demonstrated by the light of a Christian lifestyle to be lived out in a gloomy world.
For more information:
Contact: Dr. Dale Ackley
Phone: 559-439-5920, Ext. 115
E-mail: DaleAckley@linkcare.org
Pastoral Sabbatical Program
One of the greatest issues facing pastors and their families these days is that of personal renewal. How does one stay physically, emotionally, and spiritually fresh when confronted with the pressures of ministering in the contemporary world? The Pastoral Care division of Link Care Center is working to address this concern. As a result, an innovative, care-giving program has been developed which is designed as a resource to help revitalize pastors and their families.
The new program is called the . While the concept of the sabbatical has been successfully implemented in the educational and corporate worlds it represents a new dimension of ministry. The introduction of such a concept in the church requires further explanation. This work provides a detailed description of the meaning, function, and implementation of the Pastoral Sabbatical. The information is presented for the benefit of the pastors, parishioners, and those who otherwise may need an explanation of the sabbatical process.
The idea is first mentioned in the book of Exodus: He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord…” (Exodus 16:23). As the program is envisioned, the following is a simple definition of the Pastoral Sabbatical: The sabbatical is an extended leave of absence from the pastorate for the purpose of renewing the pastor (and family) physically, mentally, and spiritually.
For more information:
Contact: Dr. Dale Ackley
Phone: 559-439-5920, Ext. 115
E-mail: DaleAckley@linkcare.org
Pastoral Staff & Church Board Team Building
Link Care Center offers a one-day seminar to help build and improve inter-personal relationships between church staff members, members of the church board, and pastors and their wives. The training is called "LIFO," short for Life Orientations Systems. LIFO is one of the best interpersonal team building and conflict resolution seminars we have found. It is used by hundreds of churches throughout America and with many of the Fortune 500 companies.
What is LIFO's focus?
In a low stress, non-threatening way, we will discover who we are as individuals, with our own unique abilities and gifts, and how we can best use our abilities to work together as a team. The focus on conflict resolution teaches us valuable lessons about our "excesses" and "blind spots."
Why is LIFO important to you as a pastor?
We trust you will gain a greater understanding of team dynamics, individual strengths, relationship styles, and how not to let your "greatest strength become your greatest weakness."
For more information on hosting a LIFO seminar, please call:
Ken Royer (Ext. 122) or Dale Ackley (Ext. 115) at (559) 439-5920, or KenRoyer@linkcare.org, or DaleAckley@linkcare.org.
Shepherd 2 Shepherd
The workshop meets quarterly on the second Saturday morning unless otherwise specified and is offered to ministry leadership as a NO COST ministry of Link Care Center.
A common complaint among pastors is that they did not not receive enough training in seminary regarding counseling skills. The clinical and pastoral departments at Link Care have teamed up to provide local pastors and ministry leaders with a concentrated counseling training program, empowering them to increase their effectiveness in pastoral counseling.
Topics Covered:
- The pastor as a person - his/her strengths and limitations
- Understanding and dealing with difficult people in the church
- Understanding personality disorders
- How to deal with depressed people in your church
- Medication: Is it really needed?
- Premarital counseling
- Helping conflictual marriages
- Spiritual warfare counseling
- Forgiveness in the counseling process
- Family systems and family sculpting
- When and how to refer to other professionals
- LIFO - Team building in leadership
Training sessions are offered throughout the year.
For more information:
Contact: Dr. Dale Ackley
Phone: 559-439-5920, Ext. 115
E-mail: DaleAckley@linkcare.org
Visiting LinkCare
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