How Is Biblical Counseling Different Than Other Types of Counseling?
There are three general categories of counseling:
Traditional psychological counselors make an earnest attempt to help hurting people find wholeness as they use over 200 different, sometimes conflicting, psychological approaches for diagnosis and treatment. Psychological counselors will select from Freud, Jung and Adler's differing approach to Psychoanalysis, Skinner's Behavioral Modification, Rogerian Reflection, Maslow's Heirarchy of Needs, etc., or even mix and match differing psychological approaches as they attempt to assist those in need.
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It is important to note, however, that not only were these well-known psychologists and psychiatrists not Christians, but in many cases their moral foundations and approach to the human condition were the antithesis of Biblical thinking. It is important that a person should research these types of counseling and what is involved before making their decision.
Integrated counseling attempts to integrate Christian principles into the plethora of psychological approaches. The resulting counsel often neither resembles the original model nor the biblical principles which are being mixed together. Again, it is important that a person should research this type of counseling and what is involved before making their decision.
The Biblical counseling movement is founded on the premise that God, as Creator, has solutions to man's brokenness and that His solutions are more effective than those devised by man (Colossians 2:1-10). The solutions for man's brokenness and the guidance for living a full, abundant life are found in God's Word. The Biblical Counselor's dependence on the Holy Spirit, prayer and the use Scripture as the reference guide, along with other Biblically-based topical studies, makes Biblical Counseling distinctively different from the other approaches of counseling and it is extremely effective.
Integrated counseling attempts to integrate Christian principles into the plethora of psychological approaches. The resulting counsel often neither resembles the original model nor the biblical principles which are being mixed together. Again, it is important that a person should research this type of counseling and what is involved before making their decision.
The Biblical counseling movement is founded on the premise that God, as Creator, has solutions to man's brokenness and that His solutions are more effective than those devised by man (Colossians 2:1-10). The solutions for man's brokenness and the guidance for living a full, abundant life are found in God's Word. The Biblical Counselor's dependence on the Holy Spirit, prayer and the use Scripture as the reference guide, along with other Biblically-based topical studies, makes Biblical Counseling distinctively different from the other approaches of counseling and it is extremely effective.