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

[Olo789]

Has anyone else experienced negative effects of specifically Nouthetic counseling?

What were your experiences? How did it affect you? Did it make your already existing PTSD worse? Did it cause PTSD for you? Did you live in one of their isolated rehabilitation programs? Did you require therapy afterwards to undo the damage?


The counselors are certified by an organization formally known as NANC but now known as ACBC (Association of Certified Biblical Counselors) and do not have to have college degrees related to counseling to practice. All of the counselors I was in touch with were operating without an LPC. The beliefs are very fundamentalist and impose traditional beliefs on women including dress and submission to men.

My current treatment team considers what I went through as a cult and psychological abuse.

 

[Olo789]

Just wanted to add that the term "brainwashing" has also been used by others in reference to my experiences.

 

[Ikob]

I grew up in a cult. Not of anything "Christian" but my family is "Christian", very fundlementalists, and I'd say they function like a cult. Totally not saying they are or "Christians" are, just saying that is what it reminds me of.

Many cults start out as "Christian" groups. It is how many of their followers were sucked in.

I will say that both of the counselors that had sex with me were "christian counselors". The other two stopped sessions. One because I wasn't ready for what he called exposure therapy (which being in a church was super triggering. Adding anything to that was just stupid) and the other one because I was too terrified to speak and sat there for however long he let it go and he said I "wasted his time".

Totally not dogging on "Christian counselors" and I am sure there are many good ones. Those are just my experiences. I would NEVER go back to one. My current liecenced and paid therapist is also a pastoral counselor. Just not in that office lol. That is a PDoc office/group. But that is listed in his credials. And I trust him more then anyone. He doesn't push "god stuff" on me but it is awesome to have that extra layer of experiences and beliefs as most of my f*ck up ness is over "god stuff".

Not sure if any of that is what you were asking or if any of it helps you. Hopefully something in there helps.

 

[Olo789]

I grew up in a cult. Not of anything "Christian" but my family is "Christian", very fundlementalists, and I'd say they f...

I'm so sorry for the betrayal you experienced. Sexual relations are never okay between counselor and counselee no matter the setting or certification.

My focus is more about the fundamentalist thought patterns and programming that occur in the Nouthetic style of counseling and also the punishments used for behavior modification in the residential/rehab setting.

 

[Bedehu]

I've never laid eyes on a rehabilitation facility that uses nouthetic counseling, although I've heard of one. For a time, I was studying biblical counseling/nouthetic counseling in my undergrad, but switched to an integrated approach that used psychology. The nouthetic degree was very "anti-psychology." My intro to psych course was all about debunking it. I should have run at that point honestly. I've also received nouthetic counseling. While the woman was kind and I liked her, it wasn't helpful. I was never comfortable enough to be completely honest for fear of my sins being highlighted. Yes, I realize that I've sinned and made mistakes, no it doesn't justify sexual abuse/assault. I'm not sure I'd recommend it to anyone. They certify through the same organization that you mentioned. I'm so sorry about your experience. If you'd like to discuss it further, hmu.

 

[Nitole]

Went through Nouthetic counseling when I first began counseling. More harm than you can imagine. Set me back years in my healing.

 

[Bowov]

I try to be sure of the state of mind and ability to reason of anyone I am trying to decide if I can trust, especially a counselor.

I believe that the only way a person can become religious in the first place is to be able to entertain two divergent ideas in their minds at the same time. Isn't that like an institution based on mild schizophrenia? Don't they have to believe there are forces they cannot see at work, that there are entities putting ideas in their heads that mean to do them harm? Don't they have to accept that they are basically bad people but with help they can be good? And that if this little goodness program fails it is their own fault? If you have been told how to be good and choose to ignore them and just be good on your own isn't that judged to be a failure on your part? The list of flaws in their thinking are far too great to fit this forum.

I cannot make the jump from my conclusion that christian people believe in faulty logic and are highly motivated to get more people to join them in their non anylitic thinking to a place where I could ever accept that they were able and willing to unselfishly help me in any way.

I truly believe that if there is a hell it is there for people that act selfishly and harm others. Judgemental skin deep christians will be first in line.

Run! Run away!

 

[Wukaro]

I also went undiagnosed for years because they don't do that and they were training us not to seek professional help. They didn't advocate for meds either. I take meds now and have seen some improvement.

 

[Ehod]

I married a man who was abusing me because of "Christian" councilors. The man did have a master degree in psychology, but god revealed to him the date I was supposed to marry my abuser and I believed him. I was only 17.

I also went through a program called Sozo. Keep in mind they believe PTSD is cause by Buddhist monks cursing people.

 

[Irev]

I was a guinea pig for this Bethel Sozo - Home

 

[Pogiw]

I went to Vision of Hope. They had persons with degrees in music, banking, and Spanish that were counseling girls with severe mental illnesses. Vulnerable individuals that are easily influenced and fragile.

It's taken years for me to come to terms with the wrong things I've learned there. It is their own brand of Christianity. Very fundamentalist in style. All forms of communication and media influence were highly controlled and monitored. The point really was not to think for yourself. Let them do the thinking for you and you be the sheep. That, and the "Holy Spirit", is how you're cured.

www.faithlafayette.org/voh/

 

[Benoc]

The counselors are certified by an organization formally known as NANC but now known as ACBC (Association of Certified Biblical Counselors) and do not have to have college degrees related to counseling to practice.

If they went to seminary or divinity school, they may have training in counseling; that's not uncommon. It's not the same as having a degree in any kind of counseling, of course.