It has been about 8 years since I was in school suiting up to be a "Christian" counselor. Unfortunately my experience was not at all what I had hoped for. I found myself not being prepared at all to be a Biblically-based, Christian counselor--instead, I was being set up for a psychological test in order to be licensed in my home state. I was being taught for a test. I understand that some of this was necessary in order to enter the world of "therapy" but I at least hoped I would learn to filter all the psychobabble and have real answers and real help for people. I was utterly disappointed and disillusioned. I wish I chose to become a nurse.
To this day when people speak of "getting help" and hail therapy, I find myself cringing inside. Our culture is so self-focused and therapy soaked. I want to believe and I do believe that there are good, Christian counselors out there. Sometimes I think I should have pushed through and become one. Other times, I do not regret my decision to graduate with a ministry degree instead (though I can't say I was prepared for ministry either--my classes were not Christ-centered.)
It is definitely biblical to have advisors and counselors, wise persons to go to. I crave this and appreciate this. I also love to be an encouragement and help to others.
But going to a licensed therapist for this sort of thing? I am weary, so weary. I hope that the Biblical counseling movement continues to gain ground. I think they offer much more solid answers and help than I ever experienced in the counseling room or in my education toward a counseling degree.
I remember multiple times a professor making the point that a Christian counselor is the same as a Christian plumber. You just do the job. I have to disagree. Mending a pipe and mending a soul are very different things. Your worldview is going to drastically affect how you help someone deal with their pain or difficulty. Your worldview probably won't affect how you fix a leaky pipe. My hope during my training was that I would be taught how to bring people to the foot of the cross, find their healing in their Savior, and look to their Creator rather than to themselves or others for fulfillment, purpose, and love.
When people make such positive comments about therapy, it kind of winds me up. Today that happened. Perhaps I get on a soap box about it and I need to be careful about that.
My response perhaps could best be: It is important to be careful. It is crucial to find a counselor/advisor that is Biblical and Christ-centered in their approach. It also may be worth having more than one advisor.
To this day when people speak of "getting help" and hail therapy, I find myself cringing inside. Our culture is so self-focused and therapy soaked. I want to believe and I do believe that there are good, Christian counselors out there. Sometimes I think I should have pushed through and become one. Other times, I do not regret my decision to graduate with a ministry degree instead (though I can't say I was prepared for ministry either--my classes were not Christ-centered.)
It is definitely biblical to have advisors and counselors, wise persons to go to. I crave this and appreciate this. I also love to be an encouragement and help to others.
But going to a licensed therapist for this sort of thing? I am weary, so weary. I hope that the Biblical counseling movement continues to gain ground. I think they offer much more solid answers and help than I ever experienced in the counseling room or in my education toward a counseling degree.
I remember multiple times a professor making the point that a Christian counselor is the same as a Christian plumber. You just do the job. I have to disagree. Mending a pipe and mending a soul are very different things. Your worldview is going to drastically affect how you help someone deal with their pain or difficulty. Your worldview probably won't affect how you fix a leaky pipe. My hope during my training was that I would be taught how to bring people to the foot of the cross, find their healing in their Savior, and look to their Creator rather than to themselves or others for fulfillment, purpose, and love.
When people make such positive comments about therapy, it kind of winds me up. Today that happened. Perhaps I get on a soap box about it and I need to be careful about that.
My response perhaps could best be: It is important to be careful. It is crucial to find a counselor/advisor that is Biblical and Christ-centered in their approach. It also may be worth having more than one advisor.
