A Biblical Counseling Process (a student response)
As a teaching fellow for the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, I enjoy being involved in the final phase of training for men and women who want to become a certified biblical counselor. As a fellow, I require my students to read two additional books and then to write a report on each. Having been helped by A Biblical Counseling Process, an excellent little guide by Lauren Whitman, it is one of my required books. Here is a review from a recent, female graduate, that I thought you might enjoy, especially if you are not familiar with Lauren’s book.
Lauren Whitman simplifies the counseling process by setting forth a clear purpose and method to accomplish that purpose. She explains that biblical counseling is seeking to connect the person who has come for help to the Person of Christ who is her help. This perspective points to the fact that I am there on behalf of the Lord. He is the one who brings encouragement, understanding, or conviction through His Word and Spirit. I am then seeking to come alongside someone to help her see God’s good purposes for her life, and how to walk in obedience to those purposes. The author exhorts us to examine if we are representing Christ in an accurate way that makes Him appealing to the counselee. This cannot be done unless I seek Christ faithfully and grow in grace and knowledge. I cannot represent Him well in my responses and with my direction if I do not know Him.
Lauren also stresses the importance of building a counseling relationship. It can be a difficult thing to come for counseling and open up your life to someone. As a counselor, I must have a heart of compassion for the person coming to me. Regardless of why this person is hurting, she is still hurting and should be treated gently. Something in her life is hard. The author states that people are helped by real, personal relationships. I must have genuine concern, grief, or even laughter together. My goal in the beginning should be that the counselee is able to leave encouraged and hopeful that she can be helped and that counseling may be an effective way of change and growth.
As the counseling case progresses, the author explains the importance of not making assumptions. No one is helped in lasting ways if I naively accept the counselee’s interpretation or fill in the details with my conclusions. I need to listen well and skillfully draw out what is in her heart. Questions given to the counselee to complete throughout the week about her experiences, thoughts, and responses provide useful insights for the counselor and the counselee. It is also important to take note of repeated phrases. One of my goals should be that the counselee would feel that I understand her concerns and then trust me to move forward with her in love.
The primary focus of the middle of the counseling process should be to help the counselee see her situation through the lens of Scripture and how to act on those new insights. I must apply biblical wisdom and pursue biblical priorities. The author explains this is simply considering together how the counselee can be stirred up to love and good works in the area that needs help resulting in loving God and others better.
Lauren gives four helpful indicators that can be used to determine when a counselee is ready to end counseling – the presence of spiritual disciplines, involvement of others, an ability to ask for specific prayer, and a commitment to a church community. My goal should not be to create dependency on me, but to come alongside a person for a season to equip her for faithful living and dependence on Christ. The counseling can be ended with a focus on the progress and growth that has been granted through the Lord’s faithfulness and her obedient diligence. This book ends with the encouragement that we will find the strength and wisdom to counsel through the greatest Counselor, our Lord and Savior.
