When it became necessary for me to recommend one of my parishioners to a professional Christian counselor, the following guidelines were most helpful in determining that choice. Someone who can be trusted to keep confidentiality It is very important that people in your congregation who have been referred do not hear their stories from the pulpit some Sunday or in a gathering of community Christian leaders.
People go to a counselor to be heard.
It is so critical they be given a hearing rather than a sermon by the counselor. This should not be. Before you recommend anyone to anybody, please check their credentials and experience. Someone who is adequately educated by a reputable school I know degrees and accreditations can be misleading, but for the most part you can tell a great deal about the Christian counselors you choose by where they have received their training and done their internship. Someone who tracks with me theologically This will vary from person to person, but you most often should recommend a therapist who agrees with, or is at least sensitive to, your theological position.