I have served as a counselor now for fifteen years. I would like to say that during those years I have perfected my craft to the point that I witness stunning results with every person I serve. To make such a claim, however, would wreak of dishonesty. The fact remains that even with fifteen years under my belt I continue to encounter people and situations where my perceived effectiveness as a counselor is less than impressive.Whether you are new to the world of counseling or a seasoned veteran my assumption is that you can relate to being ineffective in your work with others...
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Reality, to a large degree, is constructed subjectively through the processes of the mind. ”Facts” are perceived, variables of that perception shape an interpretation, and these interpretations ultimately serve to shape a person’s experiential reality. By no means does this diminish the fact that objective, absolute truth exists, but it is important to recognize that this process of perception, interpretation, and conclusion has a significant impact on the way people experience life. Understanding this can have a profound impact on helping people walk through difficult seasons of suffering.
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God honoring biblical counseling requires continual assessment of our own hearts, knowledge, skills, and shortcomings. Simply because one becomes licensed, certified or simply accrues hundreds or thousands of hours counseling does not permit us to relax in our zeal to know God’s Word more deeply.
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When I entered the counseling field fifteen years ago I confidently referred to myself as a Christian counselor. My genuine intent moving into this field was that I would strive to ensure that my counsel would always reflect genuine biblical teaching.
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Imagine struggling with an incessant issue wherein its history is filled with harsh stigmatism and bigotry. Imagine suffering under this daily condition feeling as though you were a shameful, less than human, unlovable outcast.
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Biblical counseling requires impeccable stewardship. It is a practice in which we, as counselors interpret and apply sacred truth to hearts often ravaged by the relentless presence of sin and suffering. This is a profound responsibility. Misapply or misinterpret the divine treasures of God’s Word and hearts are not mended, but tragically wounded. Even worse, […]
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Is biblical counseling exclusively about passing along theological information from one person to another? As practitioners of God’s Word are we to only occupy ourselves with doctrinal understanding or scriptural application as it regards the sin and sufferings of others? While theology and doctrinal acuity are essential components of biblical counseling, wisdom guides us to understand that,
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One of the most influential people in my development as a biblical counselor is Dr. David Powlison. I watched this video of his exceptional handling of a very sensitive question, and wanted to share it with the ABC family. If you are counseling someone who has experienced abortion, know someone who has had an abortion, or yourself have experienced an abortion, this video should serve to bless and minister to you!
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Reality, to a large degree, is constructed subjectively through the processes of the mind. ”Facts” are perceived, variables of that perception shape an interpretation, and these interpretations ultimately serve to shape a person’s experiential reality. By no means does this diminish the fact that objective, absolute truth exists, but it is important to recognize that this process of perception,
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What is your mentality when you sit down to counsel someone? Do you seek to be kind, loving, compassionate, merciful, quick to confront, ready to offer solutions, or eager to give the answers you know are in the Bible? Do you place pressure on yourself to have it all figured out within an hour so you will appear to know what you are doing? What tends to consume your thinking when you enter the counseling context?
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