Pastoral counseling is unique and differs from other types of counseling. First and foremost, pastoral counseling must be biblical counseling, as opposed to psychological counseling.
Biblical counseling is an approach to counseling that uses the Bible to address the issues in the lives of individuals, couples, and families. The Bible teaches that our thoughts, motives, attitudes, words, and actions flow from the sinful selfishness of our hearts. Biblical counseling addresses the heart as the source of these human actions and reactions using the wisdom and approaches revealed in the Bible.
Biblical counseling is practical and effective. It does not view people as simply spiritual beings with spiritual problems; instead the biblical counselor sees the individual as a physical, emotional, cognitive, and relational being. One focus of biblical counseling is to help others develop a biblical worldview of their life and recognize the core truth that guides right thinking and actions.
The goal of biblical counseling is spiritual maturity.
Biblical counseling also values the rule of the local church in the process of ones change of heart or sanctification. Heart change brings about life change, but this is accomplished most effectively in an authentic Christian community, the local church.
“Do you know how when people say their door is always open to you, but they don't really mean it? Well, Jaron is not one of those people. Jaron is the kind of leader that will not only share with you wisdom and knowledge, but he will also point it out for you in the Bible and share with you his journey. It is because of Jaron holding me accountable for my actions and my own walk with Christ that I am now, "Spiritually Fit"”
Taelyr, 28
BIBLICAL
COUNSELING
How Does Biblical Counseling Differ from Life Coaching?
The main difference that comes into play is the role that God and His will plays in our lives. For Believers, one of the hardest things to do is to live a life that reflects, "not my will, but Your [God's] will be done. So, an important part of Biblical or Pastoral Counseling is for me to assist you in discovering what God's will is for your life and then to coach you into alignment. In some ways, this counseling can be harder and in many ways easier. The hard part is accepting and moving in a direction that is contrary to ours when we feel that is what God is leading us. Easier, because of the peace and assurance that God provides to us along the way.