I just met with a ministry friend in town and he asked me what would be my number one advice on becoming a better counselor. (This is a paraphrase of his question.) I told him there are two things that I would do above anything else. And they are:
- Grow in my theology: this means a better understanding of the Gospel and its implications on our life.
- Grow in my ecclesiology: this means a better understanding of the local church and it implications as a context for change.
I would focus very little on becoming a better counselor. Some, but little.
I hope to write more on this later.
I agree with what you are saying here Rick. My own counseling has progressed from the standard put off and put on to a heavy emphasis on the heart change that must motivate the process. This has resulted in a much more gospel centered approach to counseling. I also agree with the importance of the local church and the role of community in the counseling. Thanks for summing this up so well.
How to be a better counselor!
A. Humility is priceless! And be in the |Word of God more than anything else.
Be sensitive to the vagaries of local churches, but draw your answers to the church of the Bible and let God’s Word do His work.
C. Practice keeping your mouth shut more than
keeping it open.
D. Listen to God speaking to you as your client talks to you.
E. Always be honest. I don’t know is a great beginning.
F. Take notes that you will be able to read!
How to be a better counselor…
I would just add: be a better counselee! Work on growth and change in your own life. This always helps me to remember how hard change can be, and how much joy it can produce. Then I’m able to understand how difficult it can be for my counselee’s.
To be a better counselor. This may sound simplistic, but.
1. Read the Scripture (obviously).
2. Read books by Paul Tripp
3. Read books by David Powlison.
The books that Paul Tripp and David Powlison wrote, have had the most impact of me & how I counsel. Both focus on the centrality of the Gospel.
People in trouble, don’t recognize the sinfulness of sin, the Holy character of their God, and they do not know how to humbly apply the truth of the Gospel to themselves each and every day. So in one sense to be a better counselor, I want to know God better, and know and apply the Gospel better each day.
All well said. I, personally, have gleaned so much from suggested reading by the Biblical Counseling Center (biblicalcounselingcenter.org). One of my all-time favorites is Theology of Christian Counseling by Jay Adams. You can never go wrong with his writings!
I have sat on that question a bit, at first thinking, “study, stay on top of my CEU’s, etc.” The only asset I truly have is to be in direct continual relationship with God, to keep the 2X4′s out of my own eyes, and to be authentic in relationship with others. I cannot hear the present truth of God in a situation unless I have spent time with Him. A good book I recommend also is “Christian Counseling Ethics” by Randolph K. Sanders. It outlines the MUST of having a go-to counselor for yourself. I think regular peer supervision, is a must, even better if it can be combined with intercession!