How does gospel-centered counseling differ from other counseling?

Before diving into the differences, the first thing to understand is the benefit that other information can provide, such as from psychology and science. According to David Powlison, the observations in these disciplines can help biblical counselors in two primary ways: first, they can fill in the experiential gaps that the word of God does not describe, such as childhood development or neurological disorders. Second, the observations can help counselors through detailed acuity of the human experience. 

 

The primary differences between contemporary psychological theories and gospel-centered counseling are observations, causation, and goals. The logic tends to go something like this: general revelation is God’s truth. If “all truth is God’s truth,” then all truth is general revelation. That is not incorrect; all truth is God’s truth. However, one must distinguish between God’s truth/general revelation and human observations of truth. General revelation can only come from God, since as we stated, “all truth (including general revelation) is God’s truth.” Science and psychology do not create or even discover truth, they observe it. They observe humanity and God’s creation as he designed. Heath Lambert emphasizes that it is not the observations that biblical counselors object to; rather, it is the interpretations of the observations. Secular science and psychology start from an anthropocentric (man-centered) foundation. They do not see man as God sees man. They believe that man’s problems can be treated from a purely man-centered solution. Science and psychology are not general revelation.

 

Mike Emlet distinguishes between physiological and psychological diagnoses from the standpoint of observations. If someone is experiencing pain in their chest, the doctors can run objective tests to diagnose the issue. Regardless of what the individual may say or not say, the tests can detect the physiological problem. Psychology on the other hand, is primarily subject to the therapist’s personal interpretation and the diagnostic (DSM) manual’s standard of health. The problem with this is twofold. The first problem is subjectivity. The therapist can only diagnose based on what the individual tells him, others tell him, or what he sees. He cannot see the heart of man (1 Sam 19). 

 

Second, the therapist must diagnose based on the latest diagnostic manual. The DSM has updated about 5 times since it’s inception. The diagnoses within it are based, primarily, on the opinions, testing, and observations of parents, siblings, professional counselors, and doctors. While this may sound like hard science, it is not. The manual can be useful to demonstrate behaviors commonly observed within different categories of human experiences. However, it is insufficient because of how it sees mental illness. If the issue described creates personal, professional distress, and or is considered dangerous or deviant behavior, then it is categorized and included in the manual. This definition is fluid and inconsistent. As culture redefines the human experience, what is or is not seen as deviant or dangerous behavior changes. When that definition changes, so do the diagnoses. The following information is taken from a current (2022) article explaining the DSM:

“Cultural attitudes changed, and acceptance became increasingly clear in the population, prompting professionals to remove homosexuality from the DSM entirely in 1986. The DSM removed Gender Identity in 2012 as a disorder from the DSM and this due to protests by the transgender community.

 

Though it has been heralded as a significant contributor to the mental health field, it has certainly held its flaws. But time, research, and empirical evidence continuously progress the manual forward to remain as accurate and current as possible to modern culture. This ensures that it remains a successful tool in the diagnosis of mental disorders.”
–betterhelp.com

 

The Bible, on the other hand, does not submit to culture and does not change its standard of measurement for what is healthy and good. If the word of God has all we need for life and godliness, then Christ is our standard (Eph 4), the paradigm by which all humanity and experiences are measured.

 

Paul uses the idea of imitation throughout the Epistles. In Ephesians 5:1, he tells the church to imitate Christ. He tells them to also imitate him as he imitates Christ. Therefore, when Paul describes and commands believers to put off unrighteous behaviors and put on righteousness, these are the ways in which we obey and model healthy living – cognitively, affectively, and volitionally. These standards do not change based on opinions, perceptions, or cultural norms. They are not affected by protests or attitudes.

 

God designed us to be interpreters of life. The problem is that our interpretations are distorted because of our fallen nature (sin). John Frame explains that man’s interpretations are really reinterpretations of God’s. Either man agrees with God’s interpretations, or he rejects them. He either agrees and conforms to them, or he rejects them and disobeys. This is the foundation for the third distinction between secular science/psychology and gospel-centered counseling – causation. 

 

Even though the DSM admits that most, but not all, of their diagnoses do not have any hard scientific tests by which to see patterns or causation, the majority of its readers assume the etiology is biological (Mike Emlet). The Bible, on the other hand, states that man’s deepest issue is not biological or physiological, but a sinful heart. The word of God is the standard by which all behavior, thought, and affections can and should be measured to see where they align with or fall short of God’s will (Jeremy Pierre).

 

The goals for science and psychology are the final distinction from gospel-centered counseling. Psychology desires to improve man’s self-esteem, autonomy, and happiness. God desires that man improves his image of Christ, that he realizes who he is in or apart from Christ. Scripture displays man’s need for a Savior and dependency on the Lord. God’s primary desire is not our happiness, but our holiness, even if that means going through trials, pain, suffering, and loss.

 

The Apostle Paul cautions the believers, in Colossians 2:8, to be careful in creating a philosophy about people based on empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. The counseling profession is one of the easiest professions that can fall prey to this type of thinking and strategizing. Secular counseling and science begin from a man-centered foundation. It does not recognize man as sinful, and Christ as the Redeemer. It views man’s problems and solutions from a purely atheistic foundation – this by definition, is insufficient.