Biblical counseling is necessary for believers struggling with hard circumstances or their mental health.
According to the World Health Organization, within the first year of COVID, anxiety, and depression rose rapidly by twenty-five percent. If there were ever a time to sound an alarm on the global crisis of mental health, it would be now. This rise isn't just within the secular world but also in the church. Believers like you, and I are battling mental health issues. Followers of Christ are not exempt from the difficulty of mental health.
I have struggled with panic disorder and general anxiety disorder since my teen years. Even as a believer, I have continued to battle. I have spent time questioning my faith and dwelling in doubt. I don't know where I would be today without the time I have spent in counseling. I know the Bible, but when anxiety strikes, I no longer see clearly, and I need someone to come alongside me and remind me of the Truth. Within the church, there is a stigma around mental health. Many fail to embrace biblical counseling and its benefits for the body of Christ.
Biblical counseling is more than a "pray it away" mentality. Its goal is to equip and edify the body of Christ to cope with mental health issues resulting from living in a fallen world. While the benefits are many, six primary benefits occasionally come to mind from my time as a counselee. Before we get to those benefits, I must say if you are struggling with mental health issues of any kind as a believer, it is vital to get help. We should not be afraid to pursue help as believers. This is why biblical counseling exists. Many Christian churches or denominational organizations have counselors on staff who are ready and willing to serve those in need.
The six following benefits, in no particular order, are things that I have found helpful in my own experience with counseling.
1. Biblical counseling has a holistic approach.
Holistic means targeting the whole person, not just a social or emotional issue. The holistic approach considers the social, emotional, and the spiritual. As believers, we are not just a result (or victim) of our circumstances, we are devoted followers of Christ, and this should be what guides our lives holistically.
The standard approach for most counselors, when a patient struggles with mental health issues is to focus on the problem. As believers, we live in light of who God is and who He says we are. Biblical counseling uses Scripture and traditional counseling methods to get to the root of their patient'spatients' mental health struggles.
2. Biblical counseling aids patients in acquiring skills that integrate spiritual truth.
There are many approaches within the counseling world—meditation, CBT, and reframing, to name a few. The beauty of these techniques is that they have a biblical counterpart. Thus, counseling patients receive the tools they need to cope with their mental health diagnosis grounded in biblical truth. A great example of this is reframing. This is a tool I have used for a very long time; it is necessary for anxiety sufferers because our thoughts often trap us, and we need to reframe them, not allow rogue thoughts to control us. Reframing is found in Scripture,
“...and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” - 2 Corinthians 10:5.
3. Biblical counseling uses practical theology.
A second benefit of biblical counseling is practical theology. Counselors are trained to place and relate the truth of Scripture into their patients' lives. This looks like Scripture memory, prayer, etc. These things are not a cure-all to our problems, but they keep us focused on the One who can. Scripture is not silent about the struggles of the mind and the heart. God has plenty to say about topics like anxiety and sorrow. God also reveals through Scripture who He is. He is the God of all Comfort (2 Corinthians 1). In times of darkness, we need to be pointed to the light and taught what the Scriptures say about these things. This is practical theology, applying the Scriptures to our daily lives.
4. A trained clinician is trained in both a scientific and spiritual understanding of mental health.
As we said earlier, biblical counseling has a holistic approach. It takes into consideration not only the physical but also the spiritual needs of the believer. Clinicians are trained to take care of both aspects. They are taught we have embodied souls, meaning the physical and the spiritual are both required for believers to find relief in their mental health diagnosis.
When looking for a biblical counselor, it is important to distinguish between a Christian counselor and a biblical counselor. These terms are not always interchangeable. I have been in both settings and can affirm they are different in nature and practice. A biblical counselor will use the tools of Scripture first, whereas, in Christian counseling, it is often the last thing approached.
5. Biblical counseling fosters spiritual growth and the pursuit of peace.
Biblical counseling has aided in my spiritual growth. As believers, we need to be reminded of the Gospel every day. As believers who suffer from mental illness, we need to be reminded of the Gospel and how to preach it to ourselves when we feel trapped in darkness. The tools that are given in counseling equip a believer to do what is necessary to keep our eyes on the Gospel at all times and through all things.
My pursuit is peace in all things, especially within my mind and physical body. My anxiety often manifests in physical pain, a frightening symptom I have sought help for from many medical professionals. Until I set foot in a counseling room, I believed all hope was lost or the pain was far worse than I could imagine. Biblical counseling helped me see the pain for what it was and respond in the right way to my anxiety. In this, I found peace and relief for the first time in years.
6. Biblical counseling is a form of discipleship.
Biblical counseling is a form of discipleship. As believers, we are called to proclaim the Gospel and teach and admonish one another. Biblical counseling is a way to do those things, specifically focused on the mental health of a believer. In a one-on-one session with a counselor, you will be taught the Scriptures and how to apply the truth of God's Word to your daily life. This is discipleship.
Biblical counseling is necessary for believers struggling with hard circumstances or their mental health. There is no shame in seeking help from someone who can open the Scriptures and point to the truth you need to hear to cope with this heavy world. There are many benefits of biblical counseling to believers as they seek to live out the Truth they cling to.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images: Jajah-sireenut
Michelle Rabon is helping women be disciples who make disciples. Michelle has her MDiv in Ministry to Women from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently serving as Women’s Ministry Director in her local church. She is also the author of Holy Mess. When she is not writing or teaching, she enjoys reading, being close to the ocean, and drinking a lot of coffee. You can connect with Michelle at www.michellerabon.com
