Consecrated Counseling: Reflections on the Distinctives of Christian Counseling

Abstract

Authors seeking to clarify the distinctives of Christian counseling have chiefly emphasized (a) the context of counseling—church and parachurch settings, (b) the context or intervention techniques and the topics addressed in counseling, (c) the motivations or goals of counseling—conversion, discipleship, and service, and (d) counselor characteristics—assumptions/world view, personal relationship with God, and ecclesiastical role (e.g., pastoral). Viewed superficially there seems little agreement. Considering factors that are implied, but not emphasized, significantly increases agreement among authors. Clear identification of the distinctives of Christian counseling has been complicated by the failure to distinguish between spiritual counseling and mental health counseling. Christian counseling (a) requires deep personal faith, (b) is done with excellence, (c) reflects a Christian worl dview, (d) is guided by Christian values, (e) actively seeks God's presence and work, and (f) uses spiritual resources and interventions within ethical guidelines. Such consecrated counseling is primarily concerned with the person of the therapist, is consistent with many theoretical models and techniques, and can be adapted to the great variety of human needs.