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Abstract
This paper provides evidence that the presuppositions of the person who develops and practices counselling directly determine his theory and methods. It is the view of this author that Christian Counselling combines modern methods of counselling with Scriptural principles, using Biblical Truths as the reference point for integration. The mind, soul and body become the essence of counseling as the integration of this tripartite nature of a counselee is the focal point of the Christian counselor. The perception of a more rewarding here-after reinforces behaviour change and behaviour modification in the counseling process. The premise is that God is very concerned about the way the client thinks, and refers to the importance of "renewing the mind" in scripture. Likewise, a counsellor often attempts to "renew the mind" in therapy through the appropriate use of techniques and interventions. Humanistic, existentialist and other therapeutic approaches underline Christian counsellimg. Thus, it is critical that the Christian counseling interaction is with a counsellor who is a "like-minded" bearing in mind that the client's mind is very often the subject of the change process in counselling.
Preamble
For centuries, when individuals needed counseling, they went through the church. Clergymen and pastors used biblically based models to address the emotional. With the rise of psychotherapy, many authors have sought to give adequate answer to the question:
What is Christian Counselling?
Authors have come up with a variety of answers. To some an adaptation of some existing - secular - form of psychotherapy, sufficiently serve the purpose of all forms of Christian counselling; others have opposed all secular psychotherapy. Some have started in theology; others in their practice of helping people cope with trauma, such as the death of loved one or facing a terminal disease.A variety of counseling techniques are available to the pastoral counselor. Pastoral counseling still consists of caring, reassuring, exhorting, empathizing, and giving Biblical guidance. With the present interest in and exposure to psychology, many pastors want to become skilled in counseling and work with troubled people using various counseling techniques. (Hess 2009). Spirituality becomes the bedrock of christian counseling as goals of counseling essentially are Bible based.
At a superficial glance, it would appear that a biblical or Christian counselor and a psychotherapist who is...