Companion LeShalom Centre

Director’s Report

Report from Dr. Lam Suet Man Angel (Director, Companion LeShalom Centre)

Thanks be to God for all his protection and guidance, for His presence through our counseling program to bless the churches and communities. Our counseling programs are divided into three categories: pastoral counseling, professional counseling, and peer counseling. Due to the pandemic situation and social changes, many people have suffered from emotional distress and more counseling training is required to respond to the needs. Since 2017, 200 students have received training from the counseling program, including 92 current students and 33 new students enrolled in the counseling program in 2021-2022. Over 60 students will graduate in the coming June. So far, more than 150 companion counselors and more than 20 professional counselors have been so equipped. Our graduates continue to practice what they have learned from the counseling programs through the CLC. About 10 graduates have continued to provide professional counseling services in the Companion LeShalom centre (CLC); and over 15 graduates have become the small group mentors of the experiential camps of the counseling program.

 

To improve the quality of our counseling program, we are planning to reorganize our Christian Counseling programs. As well as the above, the CLC will design a new short-term counseling training, "Walking with Self, Others and the Lord", in the coming June to respond to the urgent needs of the church community and society.

 

Over the past year, Companion LeShalom Centre (CLC) has continued to update its services and to take appropriate measures to respond to changes required by the effects of the pandemic. During this difficult period, we had been forced to suspend or provide limited physical counseling services, and adjust the working hours of staff as needed to ensure that all staff, counselors and service recipients stayed safe with limited provision of service. In order to meet the increasing demand for online counseling services, the CLC launched an online training in "Online Counseling Service" in early 2022 to strengthen and equip our students and counselors to provide online counseling services. For improving the operation of CLC, we have regularly revised the "Operational Menu", and discussed operational procedures in monthly meetings. Relevant trainings and guidance briefings are provided to the front-line staff.

 

The CLC launched a membership system in September 2021 so to establish and connect more believers and friends to echo our vision of "Counseling Ministry", and to unite people from all aspects to work, walk and grow together. We hope that through participating in different programs and activities together, we could build a sense of belonging as a team and continue to walk and grow together. We also are encouraging more people to care for themselves and to promote learning and walking together. The CLC has planned to launch various activities and workshops for members to join. Members are also encouraged to become part of the volunteer team of the CLC to practice companionship with others. We have more than 80 members as of February 2022

 

CLC set up a core team in 2021, including: Dr. LAM, Suet-man Angel (Director), Ms. CHAN, Lai-kwan Julia (Executive Secretary (Christian Counseling Ministry)), Ms. LEE, Man-yee Molly (Chairman, Administration and Human Resources), Ms. TANG Suk-yee Yvonne (External Relations and Outreach Development), Ms. LAM, Kit-ying Eva (Secretary, Marketing and Promotion), Mr. SZETO, Wing-yue Simon (General Affairs and Volunteer Liaison). CLC has a total of 44 counselors, including 14 Post-internship counselors, 6 counselors, 6 senior counselors, 8 clinical psychologists, and a total of 13 clinical supervisors. From January 2021 to December 31, 2021, CLC had provided a total of 1,764 sessions of counseling services, 145 sessions of supervisions, and a total of 1,510 service head-counts throughout the year.

 

We are very grateful for the "4th Anniversary of CLC" this year. Starting from January 2022, we have shared the graduates sharing on Facebook and IG posts every Thursday evening, hoping to inspire and encourage more people and to bless the community.

 

Companion LeShalom Centre (CLC)

Companion LeShalom Centre (CLC) was established in 2018 with the vision and efforts of the Board of Trustees, professors, alumni, and believers of the Lutheran Theology Seminary (LTS), to match with the development of their counseling programs. CLC provides an internship platform for the students taking its counseling courses so that they can sharpen, deepen and apply what they have learned in class through clinical supervision and internship.

 

Moreover, CLC supports the professional personal growth needs of the seminary students, alumni, pastoral staff, and assists the strengthening of the Christian counseling and caring ministry of the churches.

Background and Vision

Founding Background

The establishment of CLC started with a vision - the vision for Christian Counseling is to strengthen one’s inner life. Through personal growth counseling, clients can become more aware of, and accept, themselves. No matter what happens, they will be able to have a strong heart and be capable to face any challenges and difficulties in life. Walking with their own self means so as to have a more harmonious relationship with self, others and God.

 

This vision was conceived by Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS) in 2015 to start the "Helping Oneself and Others-Companion Counseling Diploma". The purpose of this Peer Counseling is to equip believers to become a self-help person. It also assists the caring ministry in church community. With the support of the Lutheran Theological Seminary TEE Committee, the first milestone was thus laid. This is the first milestone of our mission.

 

Our Lord let us see the needs of equipping Christian professional counselors so as to provide quality professional individual and group counseling services as well as to assist pastors in the pastoral counseling and caring work in the church community. We started the “Advanced Diploma in Christian Counseling”and “Master of Arts in Christian Counseling” Programs in 2017. This is the second milestone of our mission.

 

In order to match the development of counseling programs in LTS, “Companion LeShalom Centre” was established in 2018, located in the center of Kowloon. The center provides a practicum platform for students to deepen their learning through clinical supervision and internships, to achieve the goal of combining knowledge and practice. In addition, the centre renders also support to students, alumni, pastors, and believers in personal and psycho-spiritual growth, strengthening the church’s pastoral care and counseling ministry. This is the third milestone of our mission.

 

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.”

Ephesians 3:16-17

Vision

The mission of CLC is built on the Lord Christ, emphasizing on walking with the Lord, self and others. Through personal growth counseling, more people can experience healthy spiritual and personal growth. As the saying goes, preventing is better than curing. Thus, strengthening people’s inner self can help them to face different challenges in life. They will not easily stumble. Even if they are knocked down, they can recompose themselves quickly. Our society will be different and changed for the better if everyone has a healthy inner self.

Goals

  1. Nurturing professional counselors -building up a team of“Christian Counselors”
  2. Nurturing pastors and church workers-strengthening their inner selves
  3. Being the partner of the churches-providing professional counseling services for the church community
  4. Responding to the need of society-promotion mental health education in community

Service Philosophy

 

Our counseling service focuses on personal growth, accompanying individuals to experience life renewal, establishing goals and regaining motivation. When one’s life is strong, one will not easily stumble. Even if we slip, we are able to stand up again. We can then face different challenges, such as emotional distress, pressure of work, interpersonal conflict, family problem and growth challenges, etc. in a more efficient and effective way.

 

Our Christian professional counselors help their clients to have a more harmonious relationship with themselves, with others, and with God.

 

Five cores of Christian counseling: walking with the clients in:

  1. Personal Growth – accompanying them to have a truer and deeper awareness of their inner self, so as to achieve a better understanding of getting along with their own self, with others and with God;
  2. Emotional Renewal - inspiring them to have insights and renewal of their own emotional patterns so that they can get along well with themselves in a harmonious way;
  3. Overcoming Difficulties - helping them to explore their strengths and resources in facing various challenges in life, and thus attaining personal growth through difficulties;
  4. Seeking God - guiding them to seek God's guidance and will while walking with God in life;
  5. Referral - assessing their mental state, and making appropriate referral to different professional help when necessary.

Meaning of Name and Logo

"Companion LeShalom Centre" is named after our vision, expressing the meaning of walking together and growing together. The word “Companion” expresses the core value of the center which is to emphasize walking with people. Shalom is a Hebrew word which has rich meanings of peace and well-being. The word “Le” placed in front of “Shalom” is to point out that the purpose of this center is to establish a harmonious relationship among oneself, others, every creature on earth and God.

 

The logo is designed with the first three letters of the center’s English name, CLC. As shown by the logo, three persons moving forward together, expressing walking with self, others, and God. This is the basic concept of Christian counseling. The composition gives people a sense of moving forward towards the left, expressing mutual support, mutual watching, love and care. It can also be seen as three persons kneeling down together, looking up to God praying, as well as walking together and growing together.


“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.”

(Ephesians 3:16-17)