Different types of psychology


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Competency in Counseling

There is no shortage of advice-givers inthan a Sunday school knowledge and
today's society. Actually, it seems nounderstanding of God's word? How can the
matter where you turn, you hear someonecounselor provide the lamp and light if he
giving advice or counsel on one issue ordoesn't know its whereabouts? Richly implies
another. Frequently it's hard to try andhe should not only possess the word, but it
avoid those wanting to give advice. To proveshould have a significant place in the
my point, simply express to others a dilemmacounselor's life. The counselor should be
you have, and watch folks stumble overengaged in frequent reading, hearing, and
themselves to give their opinion. Somemeditation  on  the  word.
counsel you hear is good, little is from a
biblical worldview, and much counsel isNext, the counselor should possess wisdom.
simply bad and ungodly. With that in mind,James Strong defines wisdom as "devout and
who are capable to provide counsel or giveproper prudence in relations with men
advice? Are Christians competent to counselincluding the skill and discretion in
people with problems? What actuallyimparting Christian truth." The counselor
constitutes competency? What are themust learn how to discover the facts about
qualifications  for  a  counselor?the problems to which he must find biblical
solutions. Psalm 111:10 states where one
Biblical counselors frequently quote Romansshould start in obtaining wisdom, "The fear
15:14 to support the position that Christiansof the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all
possess adequate ability (competency) towho follow his precepts have good
counsel: "I myself am convinced, my brothers,understanding."
that you yourselves are full of goodness,
complete in knowledge and competent toFinally, the counselor should speak with
instruct one another." Colossians 3:16 isboldness. He should reprove, advise, and
considered the comparable verse to Romansexhort without dread or fear. 2 Timothy 4:2,
15:14, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and
richly as you teach and admonish one anotherout of season; correct, rebuke and
with all wisdom,...." Continuing in Romans,encourage--with great patience and careful
Paul makes the case for boldness: Romansinstruction."
15:15, "I have written you quite boldly on
some points, as if to remind you of themHaving stated the biblical prerequisites for
again, because of the grace God gave me."what constitutes a competent counselor, what
Each of these verses contains the necessarythen constitutes an incompetent counselor?
characteristics or prerequisites required ofOne might assume it would be just the
a competent counselor. Counselors are to be,antithesis of what I just stated. However,
"full of goodness," "complete in knowledge,"since all Christians possess the key
the word of Christ should dwell in themcompetent attributes in some degree (albeit
richly, they should be full of wisdom, andmany in extremely small amounts), there is
they  should  speak  boldly.more to what constitutes incompetency. The
strength of biblical counseling begins with
First, counselors should be full of goodness.its presuppositions. In other words, it
This is not goodness that is natural withinaccepts on faith that God exists and the
us, but is from the Spirit of God whose fruitBible is true, and understands the
is goodness, Galatians 5:22. Being full ofimplications  of  adhering  to  it.
goodness denotes an abundance of grace
consisting of benevolence, humaneness, and anWhat are some of the key presuppositions in
understanding to fellow Christians in thebiblical counseling? To start, counseling
spirit of Galatians 6:1, "Brothers, ifissues are theological issues because our
someone is caught in a sin, you who arelife is lived before God. That is the exact
spiritual  should  restore  him  gently."opposite of psychology's main presupposition
of there is no God. If there is one single
Second, counselors should be complete indifference that makes the two counseling
knowledge. This is spiritual knowledgemodels stand out, it's the fact that one
relating to: 1. God, His nature andacknowledges God and the other does not.
perfections, His mind and will, 2. Christ andAlso, the heart drives behavior and all
the work of redemption, 3. The Holy Spiritcounseling issues are heart issues. This
and how He operates, 4. The Gospel knowledgeestablishes that all behavior is righteous or
necessary to salvation. If a counselor is tounrighteous, not healthy or unhealthy; and
have an understanding of the biblical issuescertainly not the psychological heresy
relating to human nature and behavior, the"feelings are neither good nor bad, they just
study of the scriptures will be fundamentalexist."
to his or her qualifications and
effectiveness. It would be paradoxical forFurthermore, one's view on the nature of man
someone to say they counsel biblically, yetis critical in understanding behavior and
lack the wherewithal or inclination tooffering biblical solutions. If man is
provide biblical explanations to issues anddepraved and his behavior is the result of
problems. 2 Timothy 2:15, "Do your best tosin, the biblical counselor can offer
present yourself to God as one approved, asolutions, hope, and a cure. If there is no
workman who does not need to be ashamed andsin, reductionism becomes the presupposition
who  correctly  handles  the  word of truth."and all behavior is reduced to chemical
imbalances, diseases or other ambiguous
Third, the word of Christ should dwell richlyimpulses. Doctors David Tyler and Kurt Grady
in the counselor. The counselor shouldexplore this further in their book,
understand the scriptures, especially those"Deceptive Diagnosis: When Sin is Called
which speak of Christ and testify of Him,Sickness." Dr. Dr. Ed Bulkley comments from
teach pardon by His blood, justification bythe forward of the book are most appropriate:
faith, and salvation. He must know the Bible"The church has a growing tendency to
thoroughly and how to use it practically. Ipathologize every form of spiritual
would seriously question the motives anddiscomfort..., instead of seeking God's
presuppositions of a biblical counselor whodefinitions and explanations of human
lacked the willingness or desire to study andbehavior, more and more pastors, elders, and
learn the doctrines central to the work of acongregations are accepting a secular
true biblical counselor. If a counselorworld-view which is based on humanistic
believes "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,psychology rather than the Bible. The result
and a light unto my path," Psalm 119:105, howis an increasingly weakened Church, no longer
can that truth be applied without having morecertain of its message, mission and calling.



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