Christian Counseling for Family & Specializing in Women's Issues
Shalom Counseling Place
About Christian Counseling
As a Christian, Jesus is the center of my live. Christian counseling takes this fact and brings analytic skills into a process that helps people understand the source of their problems.
Christian Counseling vs Secular Counseling
As a general rule, both Christian counseling and secular counseling share the same desire to help people overcome their problems, find meaning and joy in life, and become healthy and well-adjusted individuals, both mentally and emotionally. Most counselors have graduate degrees and have spent years learning their craft.
Christian counseling is distinct from secular counseling
Christian counseling rises to another dimension. "In contrast to psychologically-integrated systems, Biblical counseling seeks to carefully discover those areas in which a Christian may be disobedient to the principles and commands of Scripture and to help them learn how to lovingly submit to God's will."
Christian counselors are able to do that because they have an absolute standard by which to measure their objectives and evaluate their counselee's lifestyle. They see the Bible as the source of all truth. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The secular counselor has no such standard, but instead, they use the latest psychological findings or societal norm, both of which change with the winds of time. Therefore, a secular counselor has no absolutes with which to judge morals and the choices people make. Christian counselors understand that the Bible has a lot of practical wisdom about human nature, marriage and family, human suffering, and so much more. By using biblical concepts in counseling, they can instruct people in the way they should go and also hold them accountable. (Psalm 119:24) says, “Your testimonies also are my delight, And my counselors.”
I believe as a Christian counselor, will use skills psychology and Christian counseling, and recognize that the Bible, not psychology, is the final authority. (2 Peter 1:3) “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.”A Christian counselor's major strategy is to help the clients substitute biblical truth for error as they go about their day-to-day lives. They know that the truth, when known, believed, and obeyed, God sets people free. When people are set free, they are fulfilling their true calling.
(John 8:32) “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Christian Counseling Use the Word of God as Guidance
(Hebrews 4:12) "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Christian Counseling
In addition to resolving conflicts, providing guidance and bringing growth and psychological therapy to the counselee, Christian counseling adds the healing dimension of the Christian faith, perspective and bible guidance to the sessions.
Definition of Christian Counseling
Christian Counseling is a specific type of counseling where the advice and direction of the communication are based on Christian faith and principles. Similar to secular counseling, the session is conducted by a counselor with a post-graduate degree and many years of experience. Christian Counselors are themselves Christians and may share church involvement with the counselee. This tie between the two parties may help develop trust between the counselor and the counselee.
Basis of Christian Counseling
"In contrast to psychologically-integrated systems, Christian counseling seeks to carefully discover those areas in which a Christian may be disobedient to the principles and commands of Scripture and to help them learn how to lovingly submit to God's will." In the reports of the International Association of Biblical Counselors." Christian counseling is based on scriptures. The consistent and unwavering doctrines of the Bible are the fundamental to most of the counseling tools used in the session. This is in contrast to secular counseling where the latest psychological findings and social norms that change from time to time are used as the basis.
Christian Perspective
A counselor who is secure with his/her Christian faith will communicate his theological security to the counselee. As such, qualifying Christian counselors will take the time and practice necessary to develop theological principles and methods that are easily applicable and integrate into one's life. It is also crucial for the counselors to have achieved satisfactory levels of application of theological teachings for counseling and giving professional advice.
Healing: Forgiveness of Sin
Christian counseling focuses on forgiveness of sin where healing is possible as the counselee's life challenges and misery, originated from Adam's sin, are forgiven. Counselee feel healed and lifted by the effects of the counseling sessions as the counselor directs the counselee to seek the forgiveness of God and allow Christ to bear the burden of issues. Forgiveness is possible as the counselor guides the counselee to seek (1) God and (2) develop a proper perspective on the suffering of one's life challenges.
Deciding if Christian Counseling is Right for You
Christian counseling may not be for everyone. As Christian counseling uses the Bible and theological principles to guide the counseling sessions, non-Christians may find the advice not fully applicable to their current challenges and life style.
The word "counseling" can have multiple meanings, including offering advice and encouragement, sharing wisdom and skills, setting goals, resolving conflict, etc. Counselors usually probe the past (whether the problem happened a week ago or during childhood) in an attempt to repair the present. A major part of counseling is resolving and restoring conflicts between people.