What are the Theological and Philosophic Differences Between Biblical Counseling and Other Counseling Approaches?

Some of the Theological and Philosophic differences between Biblical, Integrated/Christian and Psychological counseling are best seen in what we believe.

In Biblical Counseling we believe:  

• Faith and beliefs are the foundation of actions rather than feelings and desires (James 1:14-15).  Morality and ethics are defined by the Scriptures rather than by society, the individual or the experience of the moment.
• Man is simultaneously body and soul.
• Man experiences fullness only in relationship with God rather than freedom from God.
• Man answers to God as revealed in Scripture as the higher authority rather than to himself.
• All truth is not God's Truth. Many of the "truths" as defined by mankind contradict God's Word, which claims to be THE source of God's Truth.
• Sin exists. It is part of our very nature rather than something we experience.
• All counseling is based on a belief system involving man, God, values and ethics. Accordingly, no counseling is neutral.
• Reality, truth and experience are not synonymous.
• Man is responsible for his behavior, responses and attitudes. This is contrary to psychotherapy which says he is merely a product of primal urges or unconscious responses to parents, environment or childhood traumas, and is therefore not responsible. He is a victim.
• It is more important to align one's thoughts, words and deeds with the transforming power of God through Prayer and Scriptural application than to merely modify behavior.
• People find hope in the mercy and grace of God rather than inward, investigative self-knowledge.
• A biblical self-judgment and self-esteem is found only when the focus of life is on God, service to God and to others, and on what lies ahead through Christ-esteem (Philippians 3:10-16), rather than an inordinate delving into the past and focusing on building up the self.
• The Scriptural path to wholeness is in obedience, encouraged by hope, guided by faith, motivated by love rather than probing the depth of your own heart, i.e. your self.