As a Christian, what kind of counseling should you look for? What convictions or core beliefs should your counselor have?
It’s important to know that not all “Christian” counseling is the same. Your counselor’s beliefs about God will shape their understanding of life’s problems and their proposed solutions.
Here are five convictions we recommend that are critical to counseling from a biblical perspective.
1. We connect you to the Good News of the Gospel.
The hope of the Gospel is the greatest answer to life’s hurts and struggles. Modern counseling is full of self-focused techniques and temporary relief strategies, but only Jesus (His life, death, and resurrection) offers eternal transformation of both body and soul.
We won’t treat the Gospel as unimportant because we believe that Jesus calls us to trust Him in our trials and see our relationship with God as the most important thing. (Matthew 6:33)
2. We trust God’s Word to guide the process.
God has given us all the truth we need to pursue a healthy life. (2 Peter 1:3) Sadly, many Christian counselors never open a Bible in the counseling room because they don’t have confidence that it can address the tough topics they are presented with.
Whether you face anxiety, relational conflict, an overwhelming health trial, or unwanted habits, God’s truth is exactly what you need. All of our counseling is full of biblical truth.
3. We understand that sinful choices are destructive.
Every person who comes to counseling is dealing with sin, whether it’s their own or someone else’s. Good counseling doesn’t ignore sin when it comes to the surface.
Counselors should help you battle sin and understand how God helps you overcome it. Further, while the consequences of sin are real, God’s forgiveness is available to all who seek it. (1 John 1:9)
4. We help you see God’s loving purposes for trials.
Many people come for counseling while trying to make sense of the broken world we see around us or the personal pain in their lives. Some counselors ignore these questions because the answers create discomfort and defy complete resolution.
We have seen that God is faithful to grant joy after sorrow, peace after pain, and purpose after tragedy. We don’t all adjust to life trials at the same speed, but with God’s help, we can overcome any trial. (James 1:2-4)
5. We encourage you to grow in your faith.
As Christians, we believe our salvation is just the starting point. We must continue growing our faith, maturing our thoughts, and living our lives to bless others. (2 Peter 1:5-9) Many Christian counselors will orient around whatever outcome the counselee might want from counseling and not necessarily what God wants.
Good counseling is full of discussion about faith and prioritizes how to live in a way that pleases God.
Conclusion
Who you listen to when you’re hurting or in crisis makes a big difference in the outcome you can expect. Find a counselor who holds to these same convictions that you do.
All of our counselors believe in these truths. If you or someone you know needs counseling, learn more and schedule an appointment today! Our counselors have availability within the next week at our in-person Chicago offices or online.
*Our next post on this topic will explain how various types of Christian counseling can differ in practice and purpose.
