Health Education & Counseling

More than 75% of health complaints on MMI projects are typically due to conditions such as preventable diseases, parasitic infections, vaginal disorders, and contact dermatitis. Links have been discovered between one's emotional status and the physical manifestation of illnesses.

Integrated Health Education & Counseling (IHE&C) workers on a project counsel, teach, and provide information leading to the prevention of diseases and the promotion of health maintenance in its four functional aspects:

• Physical
• Environmental
• Mental-Social-Emotional
• Spiritual

Rather than provide temporary relief for crises and psychological concerns, trained counselors identify the cause and provide biblical counsel and direction to correct or ameliorate the problem.

Many short-term teams will involve workers focusing solely on IHE&C. This usually presents wonderful opportunities to share the Good News with patients.

Get involved! Ask your physician, dentist or other health professional for anatomical models, charts, posters, literature, videotapes, and sample health aids (such as large demonstration toothbrush and teeth). Make health cards from old greeting cards for giveaways. (Ask us for master copies.) Sign up for a project with IHE&C in mind.

For more about IHE&C, contact Elizabeth Seunarine, B.Sc. RN PHC.

Seminars in Biblical counseling are conducted internationally to train mental health professionals and pastors. In North America, seminar training is available for churches desiring to become better equipped for reaching a hurting world. For more information, contact Dave Peterson, ThM, LPC.