The focus of counseling is to help a person reach their maximum potential, and to become fully functioning as a person. Using the Bible can be a source of unique insight for optimum mental health. Ask yourself this question, what can we learn from the Bible about mental health. It is full of stories and accounts that a therapist can use as examples for assisting a client to change their ways. The therapist can help the client use these insights gained from scripture into everyday behavior. Many people, including myself, have used the Bible as a way of shaping my life both in business and personal life. Improving our knowledge and renewing our faith in God, can only strengthen us individuals.
One of the fundamental differences between Biblical counseling and traditional counseling, is the premise that man and woman was created by God. “In the beginning, God created heaven and earth” (Genesis 1:1). God then proceeded to create all living things. God was also responsible for wiping out entire civilizations as in the story of Noah’s ark where God saw society was becoming corrupt. We can point out to present day events such as in 2005 when God created Hurricane Katrina to wipe out New Orleans because he saw that society was corrupt. We can apply stories from scripture to real life to help us in changing our ways and renewing our faith in God.
There are many stories in the Bible that can be used as examples in a counseling session for both Christians and non-christians. Some biblical stories include Noah’s ark and Hosea’s wife and children, just to name a few. In the story of Hosea’s wife and children, the Lord said to Hosea to take a wife so he did and she bore him and son. The Lord said to call him Jezreel, roughly translated to mean bloodshed, so that the Lord will punish the house of Jehu (Hosea 1:2-11). The story of Noah’s ark can be related in counseling to Hurricane Katrina as a way for God to wipe out the corruption and to send a message to change. Just like Hosea talked about punishment coming for Isreal and Judah (Hosea 5), so the Lord punished the citizens of New Orleans in 2005 for their misdeeds.
The Bible can help the therapist point out such stories that are pertinent to treating a particular individual.
