What are You Going to Focus on When Life is Out of Control? Sometimes it's easier to focus on the things we can't control than on the things we can...
Seeking Christian Counseling is a difficult decision to make. Sometimes it’s marked by a feeling of coming to the end of ourselves. We may feel like we’re all out of ideas. The dialogue in our head can sound like this… “I have tried everything! Nothing is working!’… We’ve all been there. The decision to seek…
In this age of overwhelming media, it can feel like an uphill battle. This article from Pure Flix Insider reminds us of the good news: we have a choice.
Kristi and I (Bill) have been offering Christian psychotherapy in Irvine, CA since 1987, Kristi as a Marriage and Family Therapist and myself as a Psychologist. In psychotherapy we help people to overcome depression, anxiety, compulsive behaviors, and relationship conflicts. As part of the therapy process we can help people to grow in the grace of
In this article, I will be covering the topic of Biblical affirmations. Biblical affirmations are simply agreeing with the Word of God. It is believing what the Most High says about you instead of what you believe about yourself. Don’t forget to sign up for a printable copy of the Biblical affirmations PDF so you…
Thoughts are powerful, but we can hold our thoughts captive! Read how to overcome negative thoughts as a Christian so you can always be anchored in truth!
Christians who rely—to one degree or another—on the counseling insights of secular people have been called integrationists, Christian counselors, and Christian psychologists—among other things. In order to do that, I will describe areas where biblical counselors agree with our brothers and sisters in Christian counseling, as well as some areas where we disagree. 5 Areas Where Biblical and Christian Counselors Agree Biblical counselors and Christian counselors have had their fair share of disagreements over the years. Because that is true, it’s easy to lose sight of all the areas of agreement between biblical and Christian counselors. Biblical counselors and Christian counselors affirm the practice of psychology Third, biblical and Christian counselors agree that psychologists make true observations that are often helpful. Biblical counselors and Christian counselors agree that secular psychology gets things wrong This point is on the other end of the continuum from the previous one. Biblical counselors and Christian counselors agree that not all problems are counseling problems We all agree that the presence of a problem does not mean that the solution for that problem is necessarily counseling. To say it a bit differently, both biblical and Christian counselors believe that people have physical problems that require medical treatment. Areas Where Biblical and Christian Counselors Disagree All of that agreement still leaves more than enough room for disparity when it comes to our positions regarding counseling. In the face of many areas of agreement between biblical and Christian counselors, there are two central areas of disagreement. Biblical counselors and Christian counselors disagree on the necessity of secular counseling techniques In spite of our agreement on the ability of psychologists to make true observations, our two movements continue to disagree on whether it is necessary to augment the Scriptures with secular counseling practices. Whereas McMinn believes it is required to add secular counseling techniques to Scripture in order to be maximally effective, Powlison responds to this suggestion with a “flat no.” I see no evidence that biblical and Christian counselors are any closer together on this issue than they have ever been. Biblical counselors and Christian counselors disagree on whether the Bible is a sufficient counseling resource. The foundational reason for this dispute is due to the second area of fundamental disagreement between biblical and Christian counselors: the question of whether the Bible is a sufficient counseling resource. Christian counselors believe that secular counseling strategies are a necessary adjunct to the Bible? Because the Bible lacks information Christian counselors believe to be pertinent to counseling, they move toward psychology, expecting it to fill in the gaps. When we agree that the discipline of psychology makes true observations, that agreement is based on a theological commitment that God has given grace to all people (believers and unbelievers alike) to understand true things. When we agree that the discipline of psychology gets many things wrong, that agreement is based on a theological commitment that sin has so stained the thinking of human beings, we cannot see many crucial realities without the enabling of divine grace. When we agree that not all problems are counseling problems, that agreement is based on a theological conviction that people are physical and spiritual beings and can be afflicted with problems in both aspects of their nature. When biblical counselors and Christian counselors disagree, the basis of that conflict is also inherently theological. Biblical and Christian counselors debate the necessity of secular counseling resources and the sufficiency of biblical resources because of different theological commitments about the contents of Scripture. When biblical and Christian counselors advocate their competing positions, they are making a statement about the contents of Scripture. This is a theological claim requiring theological knowledge, deman
Typically, when we view anger, we think of the ripple effect anger has on those around us. We view all the people as victims in the path of anger’s destruction. Rarely do we see the person who had an angry outburst as a victim as well. But anger typically goes deeper than an impulsive reaction…
The benefits of Christian counseling, and how it helped transform my perspective of God and myself through the power of biblical truth.
SAVE THIS PIN FOR LATER! Before we learn how to stop negative thoughts, we have to learn how to identify negative thought patterns. At first glance, it seems a simple task to identify negative thoughts. However, negative thought patterns are shaped over the span of our lives beginning in childhood. Consequently, the way we think…
1. What are core beliefs? 2. Where do core beliefs come from? 3. Is it difficult to change core beliefs? 4. How to change core beliefs. What are core beliefs? Core beliefs are the way we see ourselves, God and the world/people. At first, this may seem fairly insignificant, but our core beliefs actually inform…
Practicing good habits to improve mental health is a way of life. By living out the mental health tips shared in this article, you’ll be better equipped when stressful situations or seasons come your way. All of the habits to improve mental health in this article are grounded in God’s Word and Bible verses are…
The act of forgiveness might possibly be one of the most challenging topics to discuss and even harder to execute. In this article, we will tackle lots of Scriptures on forgiveness. First, we have to point to God’s mercy through the Lord Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross. Forgiveness of our sins is…
What is gratitude and why practice it? There are HUGE benefits of practicing gratitude! Gratitude has a two-fold definition, according to Robert Emmons, a leading scientist on gratitude. First, it is an affirmation of goodness. Second, it’s a recognition that the source of goodness is outside of ourselves. In other words, we have to first…
Christian self care is a hot term these days. In Christian circles it can be viewed as negative or selfish. I assure you, the Bible backs up Christian self care, without using those specific words. Our human bodies have limitations. Our capabilities are limited this side of heaven. This means, we must care for ourselves…
Forgiveness is an incredibly powerful topic. Choosing to forgive someone who has hurt you can free you from the pain caused by others. Consequently, unforgiveness can shackle you to the past, robbing you of peace and joy. Forgiveness isn’t complicated, but it is difficult. Why is forgiveness so hard? Over the years, I’ve done quite…
Spiritual growth leads to spiritual maturity. Growing in spiritual maturity is growth in our relationship with Jesus- As we grow spiritually we depend more and more on the One through Whom everything is held together (Colossians 1:17). In this article, 50 questions for spiritual growth are outlined to help you become increasingly aware of God’s…
The stigma behind addressing mental health and Jesus is something the Christian community should look to change. Jesus cares about that too.
Are you dealing with mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, or chemical dependency? Learn how to rely on the Lord to help you overcome.
The heart of idolatry is truly central to most of the issues we face in counseling. Just like the other sins with which we struggle, idolatry is rooted in the immaterial part of man we refer to as the…
