It is common for people to ask how to begin the very first counseling session with another person (informal or formal). For what it’s worth, here’s what I do.
Direct them to God as Helper.
I begin by thanking the person for showing a desire to seek God’s help for their particular struggle. I assure them that I am not “the answer man,” but that God is our Helper and He has given His infallible Word and the Holy Spirit to be our Counselors (Psalm 119:105; John 14:26). I remind them that Jesus is the merciful and empathetic High Priest who has experienced every form of suffering we can imagine, and more (Hebrews 4:15). I will often read parts of Psalm 46.
Take them to God’s throne of grace.
I then lead them in prayer, thanking God for being our ever present help in times of trouble, and asking Him to guide our time together, lead us into His truth, open our spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear from His Word, make our hearts teachable, help us to be slow to speak and quick to listen to each other, give us hope, and move our wills to be
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