What Is Biblical Counseling and a Personal Testimony
After earning a master’s degree in psychological counseling, I intended to make a difference in this world. Little did I know, but my world was turned upside down when I discovered the difference between counseling the psychological way versus the biblical counseling way.
I began my career working in addiction counseling. Starting on an inpatient floor and eventually facilitating outpatient groups, I truly enjoyed this area of counseling. I did this for about ten years until life shifted, and I was “forced” to become a stay-at-home mom.
Why “forced”? I had three children under the age of 3 ½. Daycare for three kids was simply unaffordable. While I was a bit salty about stepping away from my career, little did I know God was working on my heart during that time.
Considering myself a Christian—I attended church and followed the motions. But God showed me that attending church didn’t mean I was indeed one of His own. Without diving too deeply into my full testimony, I’ll say that God grabbed hold of my heart during a women’s Bible study, and I discovered what it meant to be His child. (scroll to the bottom of the About section to learn more.)
Returning to Work and Discovering a New Approach
Fast-forward a few years: my kids were all in school, and it was time to return to work. I was excited but nervous about re-entering the professional world.
By this time, I had developed a habit of reading Scripture daily and applying it to my life. I decided to bring this wisdom into my work, sharing it with anyone willing to listen.
When I returned to the addiction counseling field, I began to notice something that surprised me: the foundations of secular psychology often conflict with Christian beliefs. My eyes were opened to see things from a biblical perspective, and God began prompting me to rethink my approach to counseling.
At first, I resisted.
Navigating Professional Standards and Biblical Truth
As a licensed counselor, I’m bound by ethical standards. One key requirement is to avoid making formal decisions or judgments on disputed matters, like differing interpretations of religion. Therapists are called to stay mindful of their role and avoid adjudicating religious or spiritual beliefs.
However, I also began to recognize the importance of worldview.
A worldview shapes how a person thinks, perceives, and acts. It’s their beliefs, values, and attitudes about the world. Biblical counseling stands apart because its worldview is rooted in Scripture. It offers wisdom for understanding identity, purpose, and the reasons behind life’s hardships.
The Difference Biblical Counseling Makes
Biblical Counseling is psychology because it is the study of the mind. Yet, unlike regular psychology, biblical psychology doesn’t ignore or try to brush off life’s difficulties – instead, it embraces them. Counseling biblically recognizes the spiritual facets of suffering. While psychology can sometimes foster spiritual growth, it often falls short of addressing the need for a relationship with God—the One who created us.
Using scripture within counseling goes deeper, offering hope rooted in Christ. It provides answers to the big questions:
- Why do hardships exist?
- How can we find peace and purpose in pain?
- Who do we rely on during life’s trials?
A Summary of Biblical Counseling
Michael R. Emlet explains biblical counseling this way:
“Biblical counseling is rooted in Scripture, providing a framework for understanding people, their challenges, and the solutions to those challenges. The goal is to remain faithful to biblical teachings while effectively ministering to others.”
Scripture serves several key roles in biblical counseling:
- Revealing God’s nature and our identity.
- Acting as a lens through which we interpret life’s challenges.
- Providing the central message of redemption through Christ.
- Shaping the counselor’s character and approach.
Counseling biblically integrates these principles into conversations, guiding people toward spiritual growth and transformation. Being connected to a local church is encouraged as essential in creating community and grace-filled relationships to support the counseling process.
Experience the Difference
Are You Ready Counseling provides biblical support from an experienced, licensed counselor. Most insurance plans are accepted, and affordable self-pay cash rates are available.
Discover the difference when you allow God to guide you through life’s toughest challenges.
Visit www.areyoureadycounseling.com to learn more, or book a Free 20-minute consultation to ask questions and see how Biblical counseling can help you.
