What is Biblical Counseling?
For those familiar with the Scriptures and the practicality of God’s Word, biblical counseling may be familiar. With others outside of this realm, or those individuals not part of churches that teach the sufficiency of Scripture, this phrase may cause some confusion.[1]
Biblical counseling, simply defined, is counseling from the Bible. This, of course, is a brief, simple definition. For the most part, most people have a general idea of what counseling is. In their minds they picture a well-educated, sophisticated man or woman sitting in a nice, leather chair. The counselee lays on the couch in the counselor’s office, telling all their problems and struggles.[2] The counselor, then, offers constructive feedback, encouraging the counselee to develop their own process for healing or progression.
I realize this is highly simplistic and not at all consistent.[3] I hope that the reader will, however, acknowledge that this is the popular conception of counseling. Biblical counseling follows a similar approach. A counselee comes to the biblical counselor with a problem or question. After asking questions, the biblical counselor then provides advice based on the Scripture for the issue at hand.[4] There are several key points that deserve mentioning. First, the biblical counselor is one who studies and applies the Bible. While secular psychologists/psychiatrists utilize research and methods based on naturalistic ideologies, the biblical counselor functions within the realms of the sacred Scriptures.[5] In addition, the counselee comes to the biblical counselor with issues that he or she cannot solve on his or her own. These problems can be related to sin but are not always are moral issues. At times, they come to the counselor for help in discerning their progression in life. Finally, the Holy Spirit is involved in biblical counseling as the agent of change.[6] As the biblical counselor opens the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit utilizes God’s Word to produce change. This change, as has already been mentioned, can come in the form of victory over sin, direction for life, or developing spiritual growth.
At this point, a graphic distinguishing the individuals/support involved in biblical counseling may be helpful.
| Counselor | Counselee | Holy Spirit |
| An individual who studies the Scriptures to address the various problems faced by human beings | An individual with a problem, confusion, or other issues unable to progress on his or her own | The third person of the Trinity, equipping and empowering the biblical counselor to use the Word of God for the people of God to produce change for the glory of God |
The biblical counseling process can be illustrated like this:
| Counselee comes to Counselor with problem (or, issue) | Counselor listens to problem, asks follow-up questions, and proceeds to offer biblically-based advice | The Holy Spirit applies the Word-based advice to the life of the counselee to produce lasting change |
Several assumptions are observed. First, the counselee is assumed to be a believer. That is, the one coming for help can only enjoy biblical change if they are a follower of Jesus Christ. Another assumption is that the biblical counselor is familiar with the Scriptures in such a way that he or she can take the problem or issue presented and direct the counselee to the way for hope. A third assumption is that the Holy Spirit is active in the process. Additionally, it is assumed that the counselee responds to the counsel in a positive manner.
While more could be said, this provides us with a brief overview of what biblical counseling is. Over the next few months, we will use this information as a basic outline to flesh out some of these ideas in greater detail.
[1] In the future I hope to provide a post discussing the sufficiency of Scripture. The sufficiency of Scripture is an important aspect of biblical counseling and needs its own post.
[2] A “counselee” is the one (and at times, several) receiving counsel.
[3] For example, the methodologies of secular psychologists and psychiatrists (secular distinguishing between the biblical counselor’s acceptance of God’s revelation and His supernatural work in the world), differ widely.Thus, their approaches, while consistent within their respective approaches, are in no wise consistent across the board.
[4] This process of asking questions in the initial sessions is referred to as “data gathering.” See: Joel James, Counsel with Confidence: A Quick Reference Guide for Biblical Counselors and Disciplers (Wapwallopen, PA: Shepherd Press, 2018), 32-35; Jay E. Adams, Critical Stages of Biblical Counseling: Finishing Well, Breaking Through, and Getting Started (Stanley, NC: Timeless Texts, 2002), 59-64; and Paul David Tripp, Instruments In the Redeemer’s Hands: People In Need of Change Helping People In Need of Change (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2002), 161-181.
[5] Besides the rejection of supernaturalism, secular psychologists/psychiatrists work to help their counselees determine what steps they need to take, rather than offering advice or constructive criticism. See Gerald Corey, Marianne Schneider Corey, and Patrick Callahan, Issues and Ethics In the Helping Professions 8th ed. (Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning, 2011), 76-111 for a representation of this view.
[6] At this point, the reader would do well to read Adams’ chapter on “The Holy Spirit and Counseling” in Jay E. Adams, Competent to Counsel (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1970), 20-25.
The Library Musings 