Negative Effects Of "nouthetic" (biblical/christian) Counseling

[Faze]

It's not the same as having a degree in any kind of counseling, of course.

and going to seminary or divinity school isn't the same as going to an accredited college, most of the time. I would consider that piece of paper about as liberal as you can get with a liberal arts degree. Where else can you get a college degree where most of it comes from the study of one book and the rest comes from other books that are read with an eye towards making their subjects fit the tenants of the first book?

Biology without evolution, history that ignores the fossil record, why would you think you could get a grasp on psychology while ignoring everything but the biblical interpretations?

 

[Aho]

Unless they have the actual academic background to be giving and using therapy, I don't see how it would help at all, and I can see a lot of problems with it.

Think of it this way: Would you go to a get medical treatment from a "doctor" who doesn't have a background in medicine? Would you get your car fixed by someone who has no mechanical training? Would you have someone build you a house who has no idea about engineering, carpentry or electrical?

No?

Then why would you get therapy from someone who has no background in mental health?

 

[Olo789]

If they went to seminary or divinity school, they may have training in counseling; that's not uncommon. It's not the sa...

Most didn't even have that in their background.

 

[Amim]

If I get any religious people to counsel me, and I speak as a christian, i would prefer talking to a non fundamentalist pastor or leader. With a lot of religious leaders in regards to counseling, some will either go with unconventional beliefs about abuse, or will say these things bother simply because you because you lack in faith. Hell, I've seen miracles right before my eyes, some I've prayed to come to be. I'm a devout christian and I will never forget what I've witnessed. Don't tell me I lack faith. I simply lack mental peace.

Just trust your gut if you're going down this route. If it sounds wrong and does you no good, walk away before it worsens your problem.

 

[Epa]

I now consider myself to be a devout atheist. I had so much bad information & crappy advise based in shame & finger pointing, that I just decided any type of organized religious philosophy was worse for me because it left me in the hands of people who were CLUELESS or PREDATORY to my way of thinking!

 

[Ikowa]

I'm surprised that we are still dealing with j adam's legacy. When i began my path of becoming a christ counsellor who works as a secular counsellor, J Adams seemed like legalis/pharisee to me. So I never went there. It would have killed me. Sure I've been judged by those people but they exist ouside of christian as much as within it.
When I read their claims of success I imagined people fleeing their offices scream I'm healed in order to escape. Your experience confirms this.
I have found over my 25 or so years in the field that usefull psychotherapy is in harmony with the bible. For examale the bible tells us to listen, but not how to listen; for that you should read Rogers.
I have also been on my own healing journey these past 25 years. I saw many secular therapist along the way and I donot believe I was injures by any of them. I have found Christian prayer ministries less helpful because they didn't understand, though there were some better than others. Recently I was surprised to find a listening prayer minister who is better at listening than any of the secular counsellors I've seen. She has been more helpful than the secular counsellors.
(I saw one who had been so bad at listening I considered giving up on talk therapy entirely. I learned that if a therapist can just shut up and listen they will be more helpful than most.)
Getting back to nouthetic counselling it is all based on will and there are some people that works for, at least for a while. Perhaps it is also what some people want to believe (both Christian & non). But for most people it is the poison of legalism and condemnation; something that Jesus was really unhappy with.
True Chrisrianity begins with God's acceptance of us no matter how bad we are, have been, or will be. It is on this foundation that we can begin to heal. Unfortunately we are more likely to find this acceptance with a secular counsellor than with a nouthetic whatever.