I am so sorry you received such reductionistic counseling. It is painful and disorienting.
There is a movement of biblical counselors who are taking seriously the need to promote holistic care (biblical counseling that has a high view of the brain-body-soul connection).
Not all “biblical counsellors say that most mental illnesses find their roots in further sins of selfishness and pride or spiritual doubt and discouragement.” The Association of Biblical Counselors is growing and includes many counselors who are skilled and faithful licensed clinicians. The counselors in this movement are seeking to counsel from a trauma/clinically informed perspective, with some licensed clinicians using different modalities (Neurofeedback, EMDR, etc)in their scope of care.
There is a lot to undo from the nouthetic movement. But I see faithful biblical counselors rising in ABC. Eliza Huie, Esther Smith, Jeremy Lelek, Jonathan Holmes, Beth Broom with CTHN and many more, all seeking to help redeem what has been painfully lost through a distorted view of people and Scripture.
Well, I followed you many years ago when I was also deep into biblical counseling. I have now since disentangled myself from it. I am glad you are seeing the problems with it.
I don't know if the Biblical Counseling movement can ever be redeemed. I feel thatvthe undercurrent of Biblical Counseling isn't to help, but to control and to compete wit what is out there in the world just to prove a point. Not to mention how many women this movement has harmed.
Honestly, if anyone wants to be a counselor, they need to get licensed. Going to a seminar or a talk isn't a replacement for actual training.
It took me years to love my Bible again and not see it as some counseling manual.
I love that you wrote this. I’ve been “feeling” this (which is another bad word in the biblical counseling movement) for awhile. I’ve sat under countless advice “just do that” or “if you would just do this”, I’ve also heard my troubles described as pride, disobedience, and controlling/lack of submission. I’ve been asked if I’ve prayed and asked God to take it away and had it implied that the right amount of faith would heal. I’ve heard “if you wanted to do ______, you would”. I’ve heard the argument that anything we do or don’t do flows immediately from desire - but strangely this is only applied to things to give them a self-motivated spin. We don’t hear it applied to things we don’t want to do that are good, but do anyway by the help of the spirit.
And your post comes 1 day after I’ve given up trying, against what I really believe is true, to pull myself up by my bootstraps. I’ve sought help - and am now really trusting God. 🙏🏻
I’ve asked God (Mark 4:38) do you care?I’ve asked God (Mark 1:40) are you willing?
And I believe he’s been there all the time and even the painful journey was even part of his best for me to truly know him. I’m comforted to read this article today. 🙌🏻
I think you are so brave ! To write such an article as one who suffers , as one who is in the throes of the very thing you are writing about. Can’t wait to read part 2!
As someone who suffers with (at times) crippling scrupulosity (OCD), thank you for writing this. Thankfully, no one who has counselled me has labelled my disorder sinful - but I am aware many mental sufferers have had a horrid time at the hands of people who should know better.
I am so sorry you received such reductionistic counseling. It is painful and disorienting.
There is a movement of biblical counselors who are taking seriously the need to promote holistic care (biblical counseling that has a high view of the brain-body-soul connection).
Not all “biblical counsellors say that most mental illnesses find their roots in further sins of selfishness and pride or spiritual doubt and discouragement.” The Association of Biblical Counselors is growing and includes many counselors who are skilled and faithful licensed clinicians. The counselors in this movement are seeking to counsel from a trauma/clinically informed perspective, with some licensed clinicians using different modalities (Neurofeedback, EMDR, etc)in their scope of care.
There is a lot to undo from the nouthetic movement. But I see faithful biblical counselors rising in ABC. Eliza Huie, Esther Smith, Jeremy Lelek, Jonathan Holmes, Beth Broom with CTHN and many more, all seeking to help redeem what has been painfully lost through a distorted view of people and Scripture.
Well, I followed you many years ago when I was also deep into biblical counseling. I have now since disentangled myself from it. I am glad you are seeing the problems with it.
I don't know if the Biblical Counseling movement can ever be redeemed. I feel thatvthe undercurrent of Biblical Counseling isn't to help, but to control and to compete wit what is out there in the world just to prove a point. Not to mention how many women this movement has harmed.
Honestly, if anyone wants to be a counselor, they need to get licensed. Going to a seminar or a talk isn't a replacement for actual training.
It took me years to love my Bible again and not see it as some counseling manual.
Sorry, this comment is a lot.
I love that you wrote this. I’ve been “feeling” this (which is another bad word in the biblical counseling movement) for awhile. I’ve sat under countless advice “just do that” or “if you would just do this”, I’ve also heard my troubles described as pride, disobedience, and controlling/lack of submission. I’ve been asked if I’ve prayed and asked God to take it away and had it implied that the right amount of faith would heal. I’ve heard “if you wanted to do ______, you would”. I’ve heard the argument that anything we do or don’t do flows immediately from desire - but strangely this is only applied to things to give them a self-motivated spin. We don’t hear it applied to things we don’t want to do that are good, but do anyway by the help of the spirit.
And your post comes 1 day after I’ve given up trying, against what I really believe is true, to pull myself up by my bootstraps. I’ve sought help - and am now really trusting God. 🙏🏻
I’ve asked God (Mark 4:38) do you care?I’ve asked God (Mark 1:40) are you willing?
And I believe he’s been there all the time and even the painful journey was even part of his best for me to truly know him. I’m comforted to read this article today. 🙌🏻
I think you are so brave ! To write such an article as one who suffers , as one who is in the throes of the very thing you are writing about. Can’t wait to read part 2!
This is a much-needed message. Thank you for writing it!
As someone who suffers with (at times) crippling scrupulosity (OCD), thank you for writing this. Thankfully, no one who has counselled me has labelled my disorder sinful - but I am aware many mental sufferers have had a horrid time at the hands of people who should know better.
Wise, beautiful, compassionate, life-giving writing. This piece is a gift. Thank you, thank you.
Thank you for writing this, Lara 💛