Scripture-Based Christian Counseling: A New Paradigm

Philosophical Assumptions and Key Concepts

As human beings, religion is at the core of our existence. Therefore, the effective counselor must recognize the critical value of integrating belief into their work. In recent years, the scholarly field of clinical counseling has gradually recognized the need to be more inclusive in acknowledging the religious and spiritual factors that shape clients' lives. Evidence can be found in the American Psychological Association's decision to include religious identity as a key element of human psychology (Wolf, 2001). Stemming from this official endorsement, the motivation for combining counseling with religion has grown within a model of objective rationalism — that is, controlling one's volatile thoughts — and the hope of addressing the underlying psychological issues the client is struggling with.

This general style of counseling combines Rational Emotive Behavior Theory, Behavioral Theory, Cognitive Theory, and Existential Theory. Furthermore, this paradigm addresses the value of rational thinking within a religious framework. "Rational Emotive Behavior Theory can be summarized in one sentence by Ellis's paraphrase of Epictetus, the stoic philosopher: 'It's never the events that happen that make us disturbed, but our view of them'" (Murdock, 2009). The way one interprets past events and one's own identity has a powerful influence on the manner in which one lives in the world. Beyond this, the ability to manage one's thoughts is critical in how clients handle dynamic situations. The Christian nature of this approach can be witnessed in the Bible, where being in control of one's thoughts is possible through God. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 it is written: "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (New American Standard Bible).

One further element of this paradigm is that it follows the objectives of Behavioral Theory, where "what needs to be changed, then, is the underlying cause, not the symptom. If you don't treat the cause, you get more symptoms, perhaps different ones, but symptoms just the same; this process is called symptom substitution" (Murdock, 2009). It is critical to understand that for a major psychological problem to be effectively addressed, a counselor must help a client heal their own thinking processes. Despite Cognitive Theory establishing its techniques via the Darwinian theory of evolution, it does have value in asserting that "it recognizes that a critical aspect of human existence is the creation of meaning from experiences" (Murdock, 2009). It is critical that human beings derive life meaning through their past experiences.

Existential Theory can also be of use in this context, as this theory argues that "meaning is inherent in each individual — each individual has an ultimate, true calling — and it is the task of the individual to discover it" (Murdock, 2009). Though Existential Theory does not argue for a role for God in counseling, a greater purpose in life is nonetheless recognized. In Jeremiah 29:11 it is clear that God has a calling for the individual who follows Him: "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope" (New American Standard Bible). All of these theories can be used by the modern Christian counselor as they help people achieve greater purpose through the recognition that one's thoughts must be effectively controlled to allow one to fulfill one's life's purpose.

Model of Personality

In evaluating various perspectives on the nature of man and how he develops throughout life, it is critical to examine a patient's past, present, and future goals in order to determine the best direction for their counseling. Under Behavioral Theory, significant focus is directed toward "understanding reinforcement contingencies operative in an individual's past," which then "makes it possible to implement different contingencies in the present and, thus, to change behavior" (Murdock, 2009). This is vital because most behaviors are acquired during childhood, and it is therapeutic for the client to recognize the origin of pathological behaviors in order to make a transition toward a healthier thought process.

Rational Emotive Behavior Theory "postulates that humans are a product of both inherited influences and environmental teaching" (Murdock, 2009). This model asserts that a number of behaviors are inborn, but that does not mean they cannot be changed. The theory also provides an effective spectrum that allows certain behaviors to be learned and therefore amenable to counter-learning through counseling. Similarly, Cognitive Theory argues that "based on the amounts of positive and negative experiences we have, we develop corresponding views of ourselves and the world" (Murdock, 2009). Synthesizing these various models, it can be stated that counseling has a firm understanding of how an individual's psychology matures and takes shape.

Yet Existential Theory offers the most insightful statement when it argues, "They would contend that each individual has the choice, on a moment-to-moment basis, to determine who they are" (Murdock, 2009). This is most in line with biblical teaching, as expressed in James 1:2–5: "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (New American Standard Bible). As Christians, it is essential that all believers maintain a relationship with Christ and seek God's wisdom. It is the moment-to-moment choices that most affect who the individual is, and if God is a part of those choices, we will be more like Him with every decision made. Man is ultimately made up of his genetic inheritance, learned behaviors, the environment in which he was raised, and his life experience. According to Christian counseling, it is these myriad factors that make each person unique in the eyes of God.