What Is Biblical Counseling? A Simple Definition
By Daniel Szczesniak
What is biblical counseling? How is it different from other forms of counseling, therapy, psychology, and mental health care? And what should you expect when you receive biblical counseling?
Definition
Biblical counseling is an approach to holistic soul-care that is informed, bound, and shaped by the Scriptures as the authoritative Word of God.
Biblical counselors seek to apply God’s truth to every area of life, particularly when someone is struggling with sin and the trials brought on by living in a fallen world.
This is done by lovingly pointing counselees to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, focusing on change rooted in a heart that longs to please the Lord, and providing practical instruction on how to live in a way that honors God in every circumstance.
Distinctives of Biblical Counseling
1. The Bible is authoritative and sufficient for your needs.
We believe that the Word of God is sufficient to meet your needs, and can be applied in practical, life-changing ways.
Biblical counseling seeks to consistently and effectively apply what God’s Word says about your situation, to help you no matter what situation you face.
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.
- 2 Peter 1:3
2. The problem is sin.
Yes, we have all sorts of problems like physical ailments, harm done by others, financial difficulties, and more. These are the effects of living in a rebellious, sinful world.
Biblical counselors believe that we humans contribute to this problem with our own sinful behaviors, reactions, and desires.
And [Jesus] said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
- Mark 7:20-23
3. The solution is Jesus Christ.
Thankfully, in Christ God has provided the perfect solution for sin. Jesus is a worthy savior because, for those who repent and believe, his sacrifice cleanses us from sin, restores our relationship with God, and grants us his Holy Spirit to change our hearts and help us live well and fully.
Biblical counseling seeks to point people to Jesus to receive a new heart, clean conscience, and to learn to live rightly before God.
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
- 1 Timothy 1:15
4. The process is relational.
Biblical counselors seek to develop a relationship of soul-care, rather than a sterile, clinical exchange of information. This is a ministry of God’s family, the church.
God’s Word calls every counselor to speak the truth in love, showing compassion and walking alongside counselees as they seek to grow in Christlikeness.
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14
5. There is genuine hope for change.
When we use the right resource (Scripture) to identify the problem (sin), we have hope for growth and change because the Bible clearly and consistently points to Jesus Christ as the savior of sinners.
Biblical counseling seeks to identify what God’s Word says about every situation, desire, habit, response, and emotion. In doing so, there is great hope for real, lasting change as your life is conformed to what God says about you.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
- Romans 15:13
How People Change
Biblical counselors hold that people change as the Holy Spirit works through the Word of God. It’s that simple.
Look at 2 Timothy 3:16-17:
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
In this verse we see four terms that provide the basic approach of biblical counseling.
Teaching. First, Scripture must be taught. A good counselor will show you what the Bible says about your situation or problem.
Reproof. Second, you must believe that there is something that needs to change. One initial goal of biblical counseling is that you would become convinced that you need God’s forgiveness and enabling power to change in any area that you are not living rightly.
Correction. Once the problem has been identified and you are convicted that it needs to change, biblical counseling offers correction from God’s Word. Instead of the same old (hard!) ways, it’s time to learn the new way: God’s way.
Training in righteousness. Knowing the right thing to do isn’t the same as actually doing it - and doing so consistently. Biblical counselors will walk with you to help you put off old habits until you are well-trained in righteousness, accustomed to the joy that comes from living a life that is pleasing to God.
Our approach is simple, but it’s not simplistic. After all, each person’s life is unique, complex, and multifaceted, and the Bible is a big book.
So it will take some time, patience, and effort to apply the teaching of Scripture to your life, both by you and by your counselor.
To this end, our counselors are trained and competent, certified (or are in the process of pursuing certification) by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). In addition to the time spent with you in sessions, your counselor will arrive well-prepared and be praying for you throughout the week.
What to Expect in Biblical Counseling
In order to best serve you, we will need to know a little bit about you. Before your first session you will be asked to fill out a form that asks about things like occupation, education, health, family, faith, and the problems for which you are seeking counseling.
Once that is complete, you will be paired with a counselor and your first meeting will be scheduled. If you have a Bible, bring one, because we will use it.
The initial meetings will involve a lot of questions as your counselor begins to look at many aspects of your life and history so as to best understand your unique situation. We aim to create an environment that is friendly and helpful, yet serious and intentional.
At the end of each session your counselor will give you practical ways to apply what was discussed in the meeting. Essentially, this is homework. You can’t expect your life to change unless you take steps outside of the counseling room to make that change a reality. As counseling progresses, this homework might include things like Scripture reading, journaling, articles and books, worksheets, and specific routines and habits to develop.
With prayer, effort, and a heart open to receive instruction from the Word of God, we generally expect most people to receive about 8-12 sessions. This could be more or less depending on a variety of factors, but this gives you a general idea of what to expect when you receive biblical counseling.
Are you ready to begin?
Go here to get in touch with one of our biblical counselors.