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Christian Counselling Overview
Psychology, theology, and spirituality in Christian counseling content
Psychology, theology, and spirituality in Christian counseling content
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Recommended: Christian Counselling Overview
What Is Biblical Counseling?
Biblical counseling is the sharing of information found in the Word of God with the goal of improving the life of another person. The Bible contains excellent material for counseling. Knowledge of scripture is essential for the person of God who wishes to help others achieve a better life. Biblical counseling is the application of the principles of relationships found in the Bible and is often given to other Christians experiencing difficult circumstance.
The Bible is a holy book that outlines the best course for all of life’s endeavors. The Apostle Peter said, “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,” 2 Peter 1:3 (NKJV). God’s word gives us ALL things that we need to be healthy and productive in this world. Furthermore, Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly,” John 10:10 (NKJV). Jesus came not only to give spiritual life but to also provide through His word a better quality of life. In Galatians 6:2 the Bibl...
As a Christian counselor, we have the power of the Word on our sides, but so many of us do not understand how to properly apply scripture into the counseling relationship in an effective manner. In Interventions that Apply Scripture in Psychotherapy, Garzon (2005) attempts to accomplish the following; educate individuals on the various techniques one can use to apply scripture, and to encourage and stimulate God ordained creativity in the hopes to create new techniques and methods for applying God’s Word in the counseling relationship.
Confidentiality. Confidentiality is just as important in Christian counseling as it is in secular counseling. According to the American Association of Christian Counselors (2014), “confidentiality recognizes that every client has a fundamental, moral and legal right to privacy and to have a wide range of personal thoughts, opinions, beliefs, and behaviors that are protected from public knowledge” (p. 22). It is crucial for counselors to maintain client confidentiality unless what a client discloses brings harm to themselves or other people. Confidentiality should be kept at all
A counselor’s first responsibility is to listen to the client while being aware of tone of voice, gestures, posture and non-verbal communication. To answer client questions, counselors must understand how God reveals His will and His ways to humanity. “Revelation” refers to the ways in which God communicates to us about Himself, creation, His purposes and character. “General Revelation” refers to the observable universe and nature the specific words and deeds recorded in Scripture are called “Special Revelation.” “For the counselor to understand and help others know God and His purposes, we need to be familiar with both types of revelation.” (Collins pg 26) Psychology methods focus on scientific data
It is necessary for the counselor, and mainly for the Christian counselor (since for the latter, the picture with the help of the Christian counseling is much more extended than from the secular counseling) have the necessary knowledge to lay a foundation in the word of God. It is true that for the counselor who is not Christian it will be fine
In the times that we are living in the visions of Christian Counseling is more relevant and needed. In a sense to where the counseling it self is almost a dying breed. Where the conflicts between personal and group counseling can be a hit or miss with
The Word of God is powerful and has the ability to help those who are hurting, heal. Counselors need to have an understanding of how the Bible applies to their profession. They need to research the different therapeutic methods they could use, such as scriptural interventions. According to Garzon (2005), “Christian counseling is a diverse profession and within this diversity exists a wide variety of perspectives on if, when, and how to use Scripture in psychological treatment” (p 113). The article utilizes a case study to highlight the different “interventions that might incorporate Scripture has a resource” (Garzon, 2005, p. 113). Different methods are applied to the subject in the case study.
The bible provides individuals with principles to live by while on this earth. In addition, God’s unconditional love for man is illustrated. In the result of the fall humans were destined for damnation which is separation from God. However, God loves his people to the point he gave his son as a sacrifice for our sins. Furthermore, the Bible offers a story-line that leads to the coming of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus, as well as the return of Jesus.
Our main goal is to present everyone fully mature in Christ. (Col. 1:28) we warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. (1 Th. 5:14-15) We pray for them (Jam. 5:13-16) and help them to recognize and repent for their sins. (Matt.
“We are ministering to profoundly fallen people in a profoundly fallen world”. (Hawkins, n.d.). As a result of this truth, I have accepted the Apostle Paul’s charge that we as believers are “competent to instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14 New International Version) I intend to fulfill this command by earning a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Counseling that will combine the truth of the Holy Bible with proper counseling techniques. The text of this paper will discuss my experiences and approach to biblical counseling followed by a discussion of needs and expectations of the course PACO-500 – Introduction to Pastoral Counseling, specifically as it relates to solution-based pastoral counseling.
Pastoral care as a source of counselling advice is one of the key areas of development for pastoral training.
Jesus came to not only teach everyone how to be righteous but, He also died to cleanse the people of their sins. In so doing, He gave everyone the opportunity to choose between life and death. That is, life and death in the spiritual sense. “ Therefore, Jesus is teaching everyone to prepare for the spiritual life while in the physical world. Jesus has already done His part. Now it is up to the individual to do his or her part.
He further avers that as in any ministry, a person who would try to enter full-time counseling must be assured of God’s leading (Charles, 1993, pg.20). Jones (1994) would rather say that our ongoing quest is to understand what God is calling us to be and to do, and to live in keeping with that calling personally and vocationally. Such understanding of counseling save the believer from attempting to deal with complex problems without the competence required, endangering the wellbeing of the client. Agreeing with this concept, Adams (1973, pg.5) thinks that while every Christian must become a counselor to his fellow Christians – equivalent to being a witness – the work of counseling as a calling is assigned particularly to the
Through the exploration of the Old and New Testament regarding counseling and addiction, one is imperative in understanding the other. The Bible speaks very highly of counsel, due to the learned discernment and instilling purpose. With counsel from God and those appointed as healthy in Christ, one gains wisdom and is able to continue the cycle of teaching, counseling, and modeling a Christ like lifestyle. This process is impossible without the need for help and guidance.
Pastoral guidance involves knowing, being and doing. According to John Patton, “Presence is not only prior to guidance, but also it continues on through any guidance that takes place. The guidance is strongly associated with wisdom. A guide points out the way [and] directs others on a course” (John Patton 35, 36). In addition, “in guidance, the major task is not directing the person’s life, but reminding and listening to the person cared for” (John Patton 37). John Patton talks about “the aspect of leading into the right paths, “[of which] one offers guidance and right direction first of all by listening carefully listening with care” (John Patton 42). “Without listening, the inward sense of the person is not expanded” (John Patton
Acts 20:35 states, “By this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Pastoral, or Christian, Counseling is a form of giving. It is the giving up of one’s time, compassion, and wisdom to benefit the individual, or individuals, sitting in front of them who have brought their trust upfront, believing they can strengthen their quality of life and more than that, their walk of faith, through professional guidance. By pursuing this career, a follower is ultimately taking his heavenly father’s values to heart and acting upon them. A better understanding of what that looks like, in this sense, can be found by examining the traits that are important