Biblical Counseling Basics

As a secular counselor with a Master's degree in Social Work, I began feeling like I was putting Band-Aids on my clients as I counseled them through life's most challenging problems without being able to mention Jesus, the only one who could heal all their wounds and give purpose to their suffering. This is because secular counseling focuses on fixing the problem by removing the source of pain or discomfort or offering coping skills when the source of pain can't be removed. 

Biblical counseling is based on the truth of Scripture and its primary focus is the problem of sin and need for a Savior. Once a counselee trusts Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, he or she is able to abide in Jesus, joining in His suffering, and to discover how God wants to use it for his or her sanctification and His glory.

A follower of Jesus can learn to:

• Embrace trials — John 16:33

• Choose joy when faced with trials because they are necessary for your growth and provision — James 1:2-3

• Work with God to fulfill His purpose in you (to glorify Him by being a light in the world) — Philippians 2:12-16, 1 Peter 2:18-25

• Seek the Wonderful Counselor — There is one thing that all hurting people need in order to experience the lasting comfort and healing: His name is Jesus, and He is the Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6).   

In a sermon that our pastor, David Daniels, gave called "Our Wonderful Counselor," he shared 5 reasons why Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor:

1. He knows our need — Matthew 6:8 says, “Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him.” 

2. He invites us to unload on Him — Matthew 11:28, "Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.'" 

3. He has been where we have — Hebrews 2:18 says, “Since He Himself has gone through suffering and testing, He is able to help us when we are being tested.” 

4. He is the solution to every problem — John 8:32 says ,“You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”  

5. He has given us all we need — John 14:26 says, “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” 

In a nutshell, we serve a living God who counsels and comforts His children.  

Not only do we serve Him, but He lives in us, and we have had firsthand experience with His care and counsel in our own times of brokenness and despair. So we don’t have to have it all together or have all the right words in order to help hurting people. After all, they don’t need us, they need the Wonderful Counselor.   

Helping people through painful life experiences is ultimately about directing them to seek God’s counsel.

The counseling structure I follow: 

• Four to six one-hour sessions 

• Every other week 

When I counsel people to seek God’s counsel I use these basic steps: 

Session 1: 

• Listen to their story and empathize with their pain. Don’t jump in with a Bible verse just yet! 

• Pray with them. 

Session 2: 

• Set 2 to 3 goals they have for counseling and begin counseling them to seek God's counsel by reading the Bible and praying. 
  
  
  • Teach them how to read the Bible daily, as if it was the only thing that was going to carry them through the day. 
    
    
  • God’s Word brings comfort and breathes life. Psalm 119:50, “This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life."
    
    
•  Offer them tools:
  
  
  • Memory verses
  • Books of the Bible
  • Bible studies 
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy— Renew their minds to think rightly—that is, to view their circumstances and feelings biblically.
  • Prayer, journaling, & worship — Teach them how to pray to God as honestly as they would with their closest friends—sitting with Him, lamenting to Him, and expecting Him to answer. Time spent in God’s presence and in prayer can bring clarity, joy, and healing — Psalm 16:11, Psalm 147:3.

Session 3:

• Follow up on their homework. Gauge their progress in reaching their goals and start planning on passing the baton by giving them referrals for connection, discipleship, and support (recovery ministry, support groups, marriage classes, biblical community, small groups, etc.).

Session 4: 

• Review their goals, the tools they have gained, and what they have learned, discuss red flags, and prepare them for maintenance. Set boundaries for your relationship moving forward.

Encourage them to continue in this way: 

• Remind them to seek God’s counsel daily by remaining in Bible study and prayer.
• Remind them to stay connected and utilize support systems.