Biblical Counseling Takes on Psychotherapy

Counseling recently has taken a dramatic step backwards as traditional psycho-therapy models are being abandoned for biblically based counseling. What is going on? Why are individuals, corporations, and health plans going back to pre-Freudian counseling?

A Brief History

In the late 1800’s Sigmund Freud who was studying to be a physician began working with a Viennese physician named Josef Breuer. Up until this time the primary mode of counseling in the world was through the clergy: priests and pastors who addressed the relationship and emotional complaints individuals suffered through a Biblical, pastoral model.

In 1895, Freud and Breur co-authored a book on hysteria which offered that every hysteria is a direct result of some traumatic experience. Freud later added that secret sexual desires were the root of all hysterical neuroses. Over the years Freud continued to refine his theories and in 1923 with the publication ofThe Ego and the Idestablished the method of psychoanalysis most frequently used by counselors until recently.[1]  Freud saw the human being as driven by primitive wants, impulses, and drives he called the Id, but which competed with an individual’s Superego (roughly the conscience) that developed as a by product of one’s relationships with parents, church, teachers, and other external stimuli (including, for example, other individuals, earthquakes, and tornadoes). According to Freud, problems exist when the stimuli is inappropriately socialized throwing your Superego and its relationship with the Id out of balance.[2]

From the 1920’s through the 1960’s Freudian psychotherapy was the most common form of counseling. Unfortunately, as early as the 1950’s it was becoming obvious that Freudian psychotherapy was not working. At the American Psychiatric Association symposium in 1955 on “Progress in Psychiatry” it was stated that “Psychotherapy is today in a state of disarray almost exactly as it was 200 years ago.”[3]

In 1960,Lookmagazine, in its 21 page long feature article, called psychiatry “the troubled science.”[4]

In 1964,Time Magazinenoted:

Psychotherapy has not yet been proved more effective than general medical counseling in treating neurosis or psychosis.[5]

Peter D. Kramer, a psychiatrist and faculty member of Brown Medical School who specializes in the treatment of depression, said "I'm afraid [Freud] doesn't hold up very well at all. It almost feels like a personal betrayal to say that. But every particular is wrong..." AndNewsweekmagazine in 2006 labeled Freud "history's most debunked doctor."[6]

In other words, psychotherapy has made little, if any, real medical progress. Patients of psychoanalysts still spend one hour four to five times per week for two or more years with little if any results.[7] Sometimes prescription medications such as antidepressants help and sometimes such medications seem to be of no assistance.[8]

What is the Solution?

So if typical psychotherapy and prescription medications are not the answer, what is? Now, more than anytime in history since the advent of Sigmund Freud and psychoanalysis, Biblical Behavioral Therapy is being applied in counseling sessions and working.

Behavior Therapy is most famously known for television Behavioral Therapist, Dr. Phil whose television show is must viewing for millions of Americans across the United States. Biblical Behavioral Therapy is similar to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, but it applies Scriptural principles to patient problems and issues looking at behavior as the “external fruit of an internal root” (Proverbs 23:7 and James 1:14-15).

Behavioral Therapy Works

In dozens of patient trials over the past thirty years Behavioral Therapy has been tested and documented to effectively address “depression, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress syndrome, bulimia, hypochondria, and insomnia.” Additional studies are underway in approximately 150 other behavioral therapy trials.[9]

Behavior Therapy is different from psychotherapy in that you do not so much talk about your problem as you address steps to fix your problem. Behavior Therapy does not spend nearly as much time searching for the reason for past hurts as it teaches patients how to cope and fix the current problems they face.[10]

Biblical Behavior Therapy is similar. Using the Bible the counselor addresses the external (fruit) and internal (root) problems the patient is experiencing and recommends a course of action that is consistent with Scriptural teachings. Biblical Counseling has experienced extremely successful results in addressing depression, addiction, anger, anxiety, stress, schizophrenia, and a host of other issues.[11]

AsPsychology Todayhas observed,

Americans are flocking to counseling that incorporates a spiritual or religious element. Over the past 10 years, faith-based therapies—from pastoral counseling to ecumenical Christian counseling to fundamentalist Bible-based treatment—have surged in popularity.[12]

Americans Prefer Biblical Counselors

Americans feel more comfortable seeking help outside the traditional psychological profession for a number of reasons including the fact that psychotherapists tend to be less religious than the general population.[13] With over 95% of Americans believing in God, over 75% of Americans owning a Bible and believing that religious faith is very important, and over 70% saying they are Christian,[14] psychotherapists are simply out of touch with their clientele as only 32 percent of psychiatrists and 33 percent of clinical psychologists believe that religion is important.[15]

People, especially those who are seeking counsel because of emotional pain, prefer counselors who share their religious beliefs, and who support, rather than challenge, their faith. Individuals often complain that secular counselors view faith as part of the problem or a symptom, rather than as an agent for healing. For these reasons over 75% of Americans believe a faith based counselor is important. Indeed, more people would prefer to see a religious counselor than a psychiatrist or a psychologist.[16]

So, Why Biblical Counseling?

The answer is simple. Biblical Counseling works and psychotherapy does not. Biblical Counseling is the oldest and most reliable form of counseling in the world dating back thousands of years. Moreover, it is less expensive than psychotherapy, usually lasts only two to six months, and seldom involves prescribing expensive pharmaceutical drugs. Logically, the question would seem to be, why not Biblical Counseling?

For more information on the topic of Biblical Counseling go to or nanc.org.

[1] From on Sigmund Freud.

[2] Jay E. Adams,Competent to Counsel(Zondervan 1970), p. 4 andForbes, “Patient, Fix Thyself” by Robert Langreth, April 9, 2007, p. 84-85.

[3] Zilboorg, G., in Mowrer,The Crisis in Psychology and Religion(Princeton: Van Nostrand, 1961), p.3.

[4] InLookmagazine, February 2, 1960.

[5] InTime Magazine, February 14, 1964, p. 43.

[6] From on Sigmund Freud.

[7] InForbes,April 9, 2007, p. 82.

[8] InForbes,April 9, 2007, p. 86.

[9] InForbes,April 9, 2007, p. 82.

[10] InForbes, April 9, 2007, p. 82.

[11] Jay E. Adams,Competent to Counsel(Zondervan 1970), p. 201 and Jay E. Adams,The Christian Counselor’s Manual(Zondervan 1986) pp. 25-29.

[12] InPsychology Today,“With God as My Shrink” by Pamela Paul, available online at psychologytoday.com, p.1.

[13] InPsychology Today,“With God as My Shrink” by Pamela Paul, available online at psychologytoday.com, p. 2.

[14] George Barna,Grow Your Church from the Outside,(Regal Books, 2002) pp. 71-75.

[15] InPsychology Today,“With God as My Shrink” by Pamela Paul, available online at psychologytoday.com, p. 2.

[16] InPsychology Today,“With God as My Shrink” by Pamela Paul, available online at psychologytoday.com, p.2.