| What
is Biblical Counseling?
Our counselors are passionately committed to
ministering the Word of God in such a way that all of life is
illuminated by its eternal truths. Our counsel rests on the wisdom
of God. We seek to embody the very person of Jesus Christ by
extending His compassion, love, and patience to all who call on us
for ministry. If Christ is not reflected in our words and
attitudes then it is our conviction that we have failed in our
role as Biblical counselors.
Though all of our counselors hold or are working
towards advanced degrees (Masters or Doctorate) we recognize that
competency to counsel is not implicit in earning such degrees, but
is gained through a comprehensive understanding of people and
their problems as revealed through God’s Word.

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Counselor…
1. Is God’s Word the source of their counsel?
Is the Bible seen as being one truth among many other truths, or
is it the most reliable place for real help? Find a counselor that
is convinced that real truth applied to real problems brings about
real change. Lives are changed as the truth of God, as revealed in
His word, is applied to the toughest problems.
2. Is the counselor biblically sound?
Most
counseling errors stem from the fact that the counselor has views
of God, change, problems, etc., which are shaped more by culture
and Pop-Psychology than by God’s Word. Sound theology should
shape their psychology rather than the other way around.
3. Is the counselor committed to growth and change, or are
they more interested in endless discussions about the problem?
Many counselors are good at “diagnosing” but don’t have
answers for change. What results is “Diagnostic Damnation.”
Seek out a counselor that is more concerned with God honoring
change, than with labels.
4. Will the counselor lead me to answers found in God’s
Word, or tell me the answers are within me?
Most of the
250 commonly used approaches to counseling assume “…the
answers are found within.” Find a counselor who understands that
the Bible teaches that we need outside counsel from God and His
revealed truth. They should point people to real answers, not more
self-focus.
5. Is the counselor well-trained?
Find a
counseling center that is well-trained in Biblical counseling.
They should provide in-house training in addition to the degrees
they have already received. Please check out the ABC network to
help locate a Biblical counseling center in your area.
6. Will the counselor honor my marriage?
Much
marriage counseling today is really divorce counseling. Counselors
split couples up to work on “individual issues” with the end
result being the couple growing further apart. Ask the counselor
if they take seriously the commandment to “…not separate what
God has joined together.” Couples should be counseled together
and work toward real changes that will grow the worst marriages
into marriages that sing.
7. Will the counselor honor my authority as a parent?
Some counselors meet alone with children, and do not include
parents in the process. Find out if the counselor will counsel
kids with their parents present as well, because we believe it to
be the best way to implement real change. Biblical counseling
equips parents to lead their children.
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