What is Biblical Counseling?

Life can be filled with seasons of joy, but it also brings struggles, questions, disappointments, and suffering. Biblical counseling is an opportunity to meet together, study God's Word, and seek His wisdom for the challenges you are facing. 

What Is Biblical Counseling?
Biblical counseling is a one on one discipleship-centered ministry that applies the truths of Scripture to the real struggles of life. Rather than relying on secular psychology or traditional clinical therapy models, biblical counseling seeks lasting heart change through God's Word, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Because of this approach, biblical counseling may differ significantly from secular counseling, mental health treatment, or clinical therapy techniques. Biblical counseling is also different from “Christian counseling” that incorporates psychological theories alongside Scripture. 

Counselors can address a variety of issues including suffering, coping with long-term illness, anxiety, additions, fear, relationship issues, grief, abuse, and much more.  

Certification and Accountability
​The Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) is an international organization dedicated to training and certifying counselors who are committed to the sufficiency of Scripture for helping people navigate the challenges of life. Certification requires extensive training, examinations, supervised counseling experience, and agreement with established doctrinal and ethical standards. Counselors also participate in ongoing continuing education to maintain their certification.

ACBC-certified counselors seek to provide compassionate, Christ-centered care that is firmly grounded in God's Word while serving under the oversight of a local church.

What You Can Expect
ACBC counselors are committed to:

• Praying faithfully for you.
• Listening carefully with compassion and grace.
• Opening God's Word to understand what it teaches about your situation.
• Encouraging you toward greater Christlikeness through the power of the Holy Spirit.
• Meeting regularly (typically for about one hour each session).
• Providing practical, Scripture-based study materials and action steps that encourage spiritual growth throughout the week.

Your Commitment
Biblical counseling is most effective when it is approached as an active discipleship relationship. As a counselee, you will be encouraged to:

• Pray regularly, asking God to give you understanding and a willing heart.
• Spend consistent time reading and studying Scripture.
• Come prepared to each session with your Bible, notebook, and any assigned materials.
• Complete the suggested study and action steps between sessions.
• Be honest, teachable, and committed to pursuing the change God desires.

Growth rarely happens overnight. As we faithfully apply God's Word day by day, He continues His work of transforming us into the likeness of Christ.

Our Foundation
The goal of biblical counseling is not simply to solve problems, but to help people know Christ more deeply and faithfully follow Him in every circumstance. Lasting hope is found not in our own strength, but in the sufficient wisdom of God's Word and the transforming grace of Jesus Christ.
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"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." — 2 Timothy 3:16–17

If you would like more information about biblical counseling, you can email [email protected] or you can search for an ACBC counselor at this link: https://biblicalcounseling.com/find-a-counselor/.