Counseling & Philosophy

[PujolsNonRoidHomerHitter]

I have some friends going through marital problems and have been trying to get them in to see a professional, Christian counselor. They are also receiving counseling from a pastor. A friend of this couple is trying to argue that they don't need any counseling other than Scripture. I don't agree with this and was wondering if anyone else has ran across this?

Go Cards!

 

[stan1980]

I have some friends going through marital problems and have been trying to get them in to see a professional, Christian counselor. They are also receiving counseling from a pastor. A friend of this couple is trying to argue that they don't need any counseling other than Scripture. I don't agree with this and was wondering if anyone else has ran across this?

Go Cards!

For what it's worth (although i think this is the wrong place to ask), i can't see a pastor being a substitute for professional counseling. A certified councelor will have years of professional training. I think your friend is irresponsible to advise them to only seek counceling through scripture.

 

[DoubtingThomas29]

For what it's worth (although i think this is the wrong place to ask), i can't see a pastor being a substitute for professional counseling. A certified councelor will have years of professional training. I think your friend is irresponsible to advise them to only seek counceling through scripture.

Big Ditto on that.

 

[Washington]

Ditto, ditto.

 

[PujolsNonRoidHomerHitter]

Are there general revelation principles that aren't in Scripture that both the saved and unsaved can utilize? I say absolutely. Is it ok to spoil the Egyptians -- taking a little psychology and sifting it through the mesh of Scripture? I see God as being the one through whom all wisdom came -- whether the human originator of that thought came from a Christian or a pagan. Is that a liberal opinion?

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[The Nihilist]

I have some friends going through marital problems and have been trying to get them in to see a professional, Christian counselor. They are also receiving counseling from a pastor. A friend of this couple is trying to argue that they don't need any counseling other than Scripture. I don't agree with this and was wondering if anyone else has ran across this?

Go Cards!

Conservative christians have a significantly higher divorce rate than does the population as a whole. This suggests that the methods employed by conservative christians do address their marital problems are less effective than methods more generally used.

 

[PujolsNonRoidHomerHitter]

Conservative christians have a significantly higher divorce rate than does the population as a whole. This suggests that the methods employed by conservative christians do address their marital problems are less effective than methods more generally used.

I wonder what those methods are, exactly? Where did you find those stats?

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[ExistencePrecedesEssence]

http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=10961
and
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4179/is_19991112/ai_n11735496

 

[ArchaicTruth]

I don't know how other Churches might do it, but my best friends mom was a Methodist pasture and councilor and she had to go to college for psychology and all that jazz just like everyone else...

 

[Washington]

I don't know how other Churches might do it, but my best friends mom was a Methodist pasture and councilor and she had to go to college for psychology and all that jazz just like everyone else...

Believe me, going to college and taking a few psychology courses and all that jazz, something just about every college student does, does not qualify one as a counselor. Not to say your friend's mother didn't get a degree or minor in counseling, but very few people do.

 

[ArchaicTruth]

all that jazz means everything, including a degree and an internship

 

[Received]

An experienced enough pastor is probably no different than a relatively new theory-saturated counselor. But I'd still go with the counselor.

 

[pebblesflintstone]

mmm maybe go to a faith based believing counselor or therapist- they do exist. =) and you get the best of both sides- the faith and the counseling..

 

[The Nihilist]

mmm maybe go to a faith based believing counselor or therapist- they do exist. =) and you get the best of both sides- the faith and the counseling..

That would be an awesome suggestion if it weren't the worst idea ever. Anecdotal evidence aside, it's inadvisable to see a faith based psychologist, particularly if one is neurotic. This is because the one necessary precondition for christianity is that one is not good enough. This only serves to strengthen the superego, which only strengthens the neurosis.
Psychology aside, it's still a ridiculous idea. Do you go to a faith-based auto repair shop when your car is broken? Do you go find a faithhealer when you're sick? Well, if you're crazy, then go find yourself a (gosh darned) professional, and not some inexperienced, undereducated hack who drives gay 14 year olds to kill themselves!

 

[quatona]

I have some friends going through marital problems and have been trying to get them in to see a professional, Christian counselor. They are also receiving counseling from a pastor. A friend of this couple is trying to argue that they don't need any counseling other than Scripture. I don't agree with this and was wondering if anyone else has ran across this?

Why don´t you ask this "Scripture" for advice in this question?

 

[Sojourner<><]

I have some friends going through marital problems and have been trying to get them in to see a professional, Christian counselor. They are also receiving counseling from a pastor. A friend of this couple is trying to argue that they don't need any counseling other than Scripture. I don't agree with this and was wondering if anyone else has ran across this?

Go Cards!

As I've run into problems in my own marriage, I've faced the same question way too many times. Usually it's the women... every time we hit a speed bump in the road, first my wife says something about "seeking help", and then I can expect to be getting phone calls and letters from mom and grandma within 48 hours notice....

It must be something about my inherent 'maleness' that makes that suggestion bother me to no end. It's like, the world expects me to not be competent enough to handle life or my family. Of course, the women would probably call it male pride, but it still bothers me all the same.

If you ask me, don't try to convince anyone that they "need" counseling. If the man in the family is anything like me, that's just going to sound like you're telling him he's not good enough to rule the roost, and it'll just make matters worse. Instead, give him an example of how counseling worked or helped you or someone else get through a situation and leave the decision making up to him, or them... whatever.