Is Biblical Counselling Biblical?

Biblical counselling, within the framework described in the sources, is understood as a form of faith-based counselling that integrates evidence-based psychology with a Christian worldview. The overarching purpose is to cultivate holistic Christian flourishing by helping individuals find a deeper sense of meaning, purpose, and hope throughout their healing process.

Here's how this approach is considered "biblical":

• Holistic Understanding of the Individual

  Biblical counselling operates on the understanding that individuals are "whole people, heart, soul, mind and strength". It recognises that psychological struggles can stem from spiritual issues, as well as biological and emotional factors, such as "genuinely misfiring neural pathways in the brain" or "chemical imbalances," which are not solely a "lack of wisdom".

• Integration of Prayer

  Prayer is a welcome and permitted part of sessions if the client desires it, applicable to psychologists, relationship counsellors, and spiritual counsellors. Counsellors can also model how to genuinely bring prayers and petitions to God, focusing on God Himself rather than just on outcomes.

• Purposeful Use of Scripture and Theological Paradigms

  Scripture is used not by applying "out-of-context Bible verses unhelpfully," but by tapping into fundamental theological "paradigms". This involves exploring:

  ◦ Identity: What the scriptures say about who the individual is.

  ◦ Character of God: Understanding God as a loving Heavenly Father, rather than a tyrant or punitive figure. This involves discerning what clients are functionally believing in their heart versus their confessional theology (what they claim to believe), allowing for honest exploration of anger or perceived punishment without condemnation.

  ◦ Worldview: Examining how a client's beliefs about the world impact their relationships and perception of suffering, with the aim of replacing unhelpful beliefs with a more biblical understanding.

  ◦ Redemptive Story: Faith integration helps clients view their suffering and difficulties as part of a "redemptive story," instilling hope "because God is good," which acts as a powerful "counter voice" to anxiety and stress.

• Emphasis on Spiritual Disciplines and Christian Meditation

  Christian meditation is seen as a biblical idea and a "very important corrective to our modern age". It is differentiated from other forms of meditation as it is not about emptying the mind for its own sake, but rather "emptying to always to refill with what is good and noble and pure". This practice encourages slowing down thought patterns, challenging inconsistencies with biblical truths, and reorienting "the pathways of our brain through thought". Prolonged prayer is also considered a form of Christian meditation, fostering focused attention on God to know Him on a deeper level and discern His will.

• Application of Biblical Values in Specific Contexts

  In areas like marriage counselling, biblical values become particularly prominent. The Christian understanding of marriage as a covenant is emphasised, which is viewed as a "higher call" than secular societal expectations. This includes acknowledging that "life will be hard" and there will be "peaks and troughs," with God as the centre and head of the marriage, offering hope and grounding through challenges. It also includes biblical perspectives on "equal value but different roles" for a man and a woman, carefully guarding against misapplication of power or mistreatment.

• Distinction from Pastoral Care

  While pastoral care focuses on "sitting with somebody without necessarily having to fix their problems" and walking alongside them, professional counselling adds "specific technical qualifications and modalities" to offer more "precise and technique-oriented" methods. The goal is to triage the primary issue – if it's a spiritual wrestle, it's a pastor's territory; if it involves symptoms of depression, anxiety, or relationship issues, a more precise counselling or psychological model may be needed.

In summary, biblical counselling, as presented in the sources, is not merely spiritual advice but a professional discipline that intentionally integrates psychological best practices with a deep reliance on biblical truths and a Christian understanding of humanity and God, all within a non-judgmental and confidential space.

Ready to take this important step?

Contact Life to the Full today to learn more and schedule your sessions.