What is Faith Based Counselling?

Faith-based counselling, particularly Christian counselling, is defined as the integration of evidence-based psychology with a Christian worldview. Its 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 faith and spirituality are used in this approach:

• Integration of Evidence-Based Psychology with Christian Worldview

  This form of counselling acknowledges that individuals are "whole people, heart, soul, mind and strength". It recognises that psychological disorders can stem from "genuinely misfiring neural pathways in the brain" and "chemical imbalances," not solely from a lack of wisdom. Therefore, it combines professional therapeutic modalities with Christian principles.

• Welcoming 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.

• Understanding Suffering within a Redemptive Story

  Faith integration helps clients view their suffering, hardships, and relational difficulties as part of a "redemptive story". This approach acknowledges the reality of pain but instils hope "because God is good," which often serves as a powerful "counter voice" to anxiety and stress.

• 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". Practices may include stretching exercises accompanied by Bible verses and Christian songs, or simply prolonged prayer. It fosters focused attention on God to know Him on a deeper level and discern His will, and can be "quite confronting" as busyness often self-medicates underlying issues, allowing these hurts to be brought "before the Lord".

• Distinction from Secular Counselling and 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. In pre-marital counselling, for example, faith-based approaches specifically incorporate sections on "spiritual beliefs" and explore the theological understanding of marriage as a covenant and a metaphor for Christ and the church, emphasising commitment over mere compatibility.

• Non-Judgmental and Confidential Space

  Faith-based counselling aims to be a non-judgmental space, particularly for Christians who may fear condemnation within their church communities if they reveal struggles. Confidentiality is paramount, even when an organisation is paying for the service (e.g., Employee Assistance Programs), ensuring that discussions with the counsellor will not be reported back to management.

In essence, faith-based counselling provides a professional, supportive, and compassionate environment where clients can address their challenges through a lens that integrates sound psychological practices with their spiritual beliefs and Christian teachings.

Ready to take this important step?

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