h distinctly religious methods as prayer and involvement in church. Another characteristic of Christian counseling is the use of Jesus Christ as a role model for effective counseling; the Bible urges Christians to teach all that Jesus taught. Often the Christian counselor recognizes biblical parallels in the lives of his or her counselees and can use the Scriptures as guidance to bring understanding to certain problems. The definitive distinction of Christian counseling is the pervasiveness of the Holy Spirit in all aspects of people-helping: "the counselor-teacher becomes an instrument through whom the Holy Spirit may work to comfort, help, teach, convict, or guide another human being" (Collins 20).
The church plays an important role in Christian counseling in its capacity as a healing community. The church comes together for fellowship, support, and guidance. The Bible teaches that each member of the church has been granted special gifts and abilities that strengthen the spiritual community.
Some controversy exists within the church regarding the efficacy of insight gained through psychology. Conservative church leaders contend that the Bible provides the Christian counselor with the only study of psychology needed. On the contrary, the study of psychology has much to offer the Christian counselor. Psychology helps Christians take a closer look at themselves, providing them with time-honored research tools and methods for problem-solving.
In Chapter Two, Collins explains that counseling is an intensive endeavor that can be both fulfilling and hazardous. The fulfillment of counseling is the gratification of helping counselees build harmony and emotional well-being. Hazards, however, are ever-present and numerous.
Counselors must examine their motivations for becoming people-helpers. The focus must be on ministering to the needs of others, not addressing your own needs. Five unrecognized personal needs that ...