When I say I offer “Biblical counseling,” what can you expect?
Biblical Counseling is the process where the Bible, God’s Word, is related individually to a person or persons who are struggling under the weight of personal sin, trauma and/or the difficulties, with suffering, so that he or she might genuinely return to the Lord as His follower. The fruit of counseling is spiritually mature people who increasingly reflect Christ (relationally, rationally, volitionally, and emotionally) by enjoying and exalting God and by loving others well and wisely* *(Matthew 22:35-40; Galatians 5:22-6:10).
Biblical counseling seeks to reorient disordered desires, affections, and behaviors toward a God-designed anthropology to restore true worship of God and right fellowship with others. This is accomplished by speaking the truth in love and applying Scripture to the need of the moment by comforting the suffering and calling sinners to repentance thus working to make them mature as they abide in Jesus Christ.
How is it different from “regular” counseling?
Although many of the same techniques are used for issues such as anxiety, depression, addictions, etc., the foundation is grounded in religious principles and scriptural teachings, integrating faith and real-life struggles. Another key distinction revolves around the framework which guides the counseling process.
What does Biblical counseling look like?
For Biblical counseling to be rooted in God, it must acknowledge God as the Creator of all things, uphold the sovereignty and authority of God, remain confident in God’s eternal work in His people, rely upon God’s Word for knowledge, wisdom and direction, embrace characteristics of God’s counsel including compassion, forgiveness, and mercy.
What are some techniques used?
In addition to many of the same techniques used in secular counseling (CBT, EMDR, ACT, DBT, etc.), I like to bring in some of these options, depending on the person and what we are facing:
- Listening prayer.
- Forgiveness of others and of ourselves.
- Bible exploration.
- Finding JOY.
- “Deeper Walk” and “Immanuel Approach” methods as outlined by Marcus Warner.
- Understanding and living out who we are in Christ.
- Exploring spiritual warfare.
- Soul counseling-together moving to deep wounds that can only be healed by Jesus.
What is the goal of this kind of counseling?
The end for biblical counseling is transformation and conformation. By conformation I’m talking about being conformed into the image of Jesus, who perfectly reflects God. That’s what we’re always working towards in our daily lives, right? We are person-centered in one aspect. The person we’re centering on is Jesus. We’re not trying to conform our client into a better image of themselves (“their best life now”), I’m not even trying to orient the client around the counselor. I am simply being led by the Holy Spirit to help return you/lead you, to Christ, as His son or daughter that you are!