Secular Counselling Methods (Therapies) vs Biblical Counselling

I thought I would do a bit of investigation into some of the secular counselling methods. I went to some of the Psychotherapy websites and came across the following list of most-recognized and well-used therapies.

They include:

- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT),

- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT),

- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT),

- Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT),

- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDRT),

- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT),

- Dielectrical Behaviour Therapy (DBT),

- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT),

- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT),

... and I am sure there are more.

I don't really have time to investigate all of these and I am not sure as a Biblical counsellor that I even should. Then it came to me that none of these really seem to tackle the HEART of a person. That is, the real source of will, emotion and behaviour as described in the Scriptures.

Unless PRIDE is stripped from a person, then all of the diagnosed methodologies that are labelled in the above list of therapies won't actually do anything to address this root of evil, ungodly behaviour, better known as sin. Indeed, unless sin is recognized by therapists then most improved behaviours using the above therapies are merely treating the wounds with bandages. Even though the bleeding may be curtailed, the source of the bleeding is often not.

Therefore, in my opinion, since the root of nearly all SIN is PRIDE, then the major purposes of Biblical counselling ought to be to address the PRIDE issue. This is best accomplished when Biblical counselling is focused on discipleship that will 'renew the mind' and 'kill the pride'.

I would therefore label the 'therapy' of Biblical counselling as either KTPT or RTMT. That is 'Kill The Pride Therapy' and 'Renew The Mind Therapy'. Both of these are addressed by the Holy Scriptures such that they must be the core of all counselling.

This is why it is virtually impossible to Biblically counsel a non-believer. Discipleship and even Evangelism must be done before behaviour issues are to be addressed. God wants to change the HEART first, which will in turn will change behaviours to bring a person to a right relationship with God. Amen