Faith-based counseling is best for Christians, since the advice offered will follow biblical principles that ensure the help and support of God, both at present and in the future. Secular people cannot understand the participation of a loving deity in an individual's life, and any advice given by a trained professional without a relationship with God may run counter to beliefs that are important to the Christian client. While Christians do suffer from broken or toxic relationships, failure, and depression, they have a hope that others will not comprehend.
Counseling is difficult for many people to initiate. It is normal for troubled individuals to feel that they can handle their own problems. It is also usual for people who have serious difficulties with addictions - to drugs, alcohol, gambling, pornography, over-spending, or other self-destructive activities - to blame those around them rather than to accept responsibility.
Once the need for help is recognized and found acceptable, the choice of an advisor needs to be made. Since the world view of a Christian counselor will differ from that of someone with secular training and perspectives, it is important to find help that will follow biblical principles. Both client and practitioner should share foundational beliefs.
For instance, forgiveness is a fundamental rule and tool for Christians. It is human nature to hold on to resentment, hurt, and self-recrimination. Moving beyond a problem and making a fresh start is harder when bitterness and unforgiveness is not dealt with. Some programs of healing start with confrontation of others, not in a forgiving spirit but in a systematic understanding, acceptance, and 'bringing it all out in the open' manner.
For many, this keeps the focus on what others have done rather than on personal responsibility. A Christian is expected to recognize what others have done, offer and seek forgiveness, and then turn to God to get healing from bad experiences and move forward personally. Whether or not the other parties involved respond in a spirit of reconciliation is not of paramount importance.
Focusing on God and His teaching helps people to take their focus off their past problems - which people can relive over and over for a lifetime - and move on to a relationship with God that helps them start anew. Changing themselves, in attitude and action, is key to successfully restoring relationships and beginning to live with hope.
Sharing foundational beliefs will help counselor and client understand each other and work together to plan future conduct. Instead of following psychological reasoning, the client can see in the word of God why certain behavior will result in healthy emotional balance and a feeling of hope. Basing the future on forgiveness, love, and trust makes even bad circumstances bearable. That is why people can find happiness even while serving a life sentence in prison.
Of course, being a Christian as well as a trained counselor is not a sure-fire certificate of competence. It is still important for those seeking faith-based counseling to choose carefully. Getting recommendations from pastors and people who have been helped, as well as seeking direction through personal prayer, can help those in need find the advice and support they require to move forward in a new direction.
Counseling is difficult for many people to initiate. It is normal for troubled individuals to feel that they can handle their own problems. It is also usual for people who have serious difficulties with addictions - to drugs, alcohol, gambling, pornography, over-spending, or other self-destructive activities - to blame those around them rather than to accept responsibility.
Once the need for help is recognized and found acceptable, the choice of an advisor needs to be made. Since the world view of a Christian counselor will differ from that of someone with secular training and perspectives, it is important to find help that will follow biblical principles. Both client and practitioner should share foundational beliefs.
For instance, forgiveness is a fundamental rule and tool for Christians. It is human nature to hold on to resentment, hurt, and self-recrimination. Moving beyond a problem and making a fresh start is harder when bitterness and unforgiveness is not dealt with. Some programs of healing start with confrontation of others, not in a forgiving spirit but in a systematic understanding, acceptance, and 'bringing it all out in the open' manner.
For many, this keeps the focus on what others have done rather than on personal responsibility. A Christian is expected to recognize what others have done, offer and seek forgiveness, and then turn to God to get healing from bad experiences and move forward personally. Whether or not the other parties involved respond in a spirit of reconciliation is not of paramount importance.
Focusing on God and His teaching helps people to take their focus off their past problems - which people can relive over and over for a lifetime - and move on to a relationship with God that helps them start anew. Changing themselves, in attitude and action, is key to successfully restoring relationships and beginning to live with hope.
Sharing foundational beliefs will help counselor and client understand each other and work together to plan future conduct. Instead of following psychological reasoning, the client can see in the word of God why certain behavior will result in healthy emotional balance and a feeling of hope. Basing the future on forgiveness, love, and trust makes even bad circumstances bearable. That is why people can find happiness even while serving a life sentence in prison.
Of course, being a Christian as well as a trained counselor is not a sure-fire certificate of competence. It is still important for those seeking faith-based counseling to choose carefully. Getting recommendations from pastors and people who have been helped, as well as seeking direction through personal prayer, can help those in need find the advice and support they require to move forward in a new direction.
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