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Counseling is a taxing ministry, no matter how many counselors share the load. Even with six full-time pastors, the staff at First Assembly of God in Grand Junction, Colorado, was swamped.

"One of the most time-consuming procedures is gathering initial information," says David Epps, minister of outreach and campus ministries. "We were spending lots of time tactfully asking the person about his or her background, spiritual awareness and commitment, previous history of problems, and so on."

Recently Epps streamlined this process by having counselees write down basic background information before they see the counselor. He uses the questions found in the Personal Data Inventory at the end of Jay Adams's Competent to Counsel.

Besides asking for name, address, health information, and religious background, the forms also ask:

• What brings you here?

• What have you done about it?

• What can we do?

• Do you believe in God? Yes—No— Uncertain—

• Do you pray? Never— Occasionally—Often—

• Do you read the Bible? Never—Occasionally—Often—

Counselees are assured that all information will be kept confidential and that these facts are needed to help treat the problem.

"Most people offer no objection, and no one has refused to complete the questionnaire," says Epps.

"People can complete the forms in 15 minutes, rather than requiring one or two hours to get information through interviewing," says Epps. "In addition, many counselees for the first time are able to put down in black and white what troubles them, and that's therapeutic in itself."

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