I sat on a psychologist’s couch every week for about six years as I processed some of the most difficult battles of my life. Every week, I would talk about my overwhelming feelings of sadness and loss, wondering if I would ever feel better. I would go home feeling, sometimes lighter, sometimes exhausted, but nothing would really change. Little did I know that the Lord was preparing me for the calling He had placed on my life – a calling I could not yet imagine.
Since the first therapy session in 2017, the Lord has done an incredible work on my heart outside of the therapist’s office. He has broken me, softened me, moulded me, restored me, and taught me through the ministry of His Word. It is a continuous process of sanctification that has brought me to a place where I can begin learning how to counsel others with the Word of God, rather than relying on inadequate secular solutions. It was a long road that brought me to the beginning of my journey to a master’s in biblical counselling (MBC).
I realise many people have no frame of reference for the difference between biblical counselling, psychology and Christian counselling. So, as I conclude the first year of my studies, I thought it would be a good idea to compare these counselling systems and show you where true help can be found for every hurting soul.
Important Definitions
Throughout the ages, humans have developed systems of counselling to answer these deep questions of the soul:
“Why do people do what they do?”
“What is wrong with people?”
“How can we make it right?”
Counselling is a conversation where one person with these questions seeks assistance from someone they believe has the answers to these questions.
Psychology is as old as time. The word “psychology” consists of two Greek compound words: psyche (soul, mind) and logos (word, law). Psychology literally means the “study of the soul.” God was the first psychologist; with an intimate knowledge of the soul He created. The first recorded account of counselling occurred shortly after Creation. In the Garden of Eden, God (who had the answers) instructed Adam and Eve (who needed instruction) on how to live a blessed life. They did not heed his counsel and suffered the consequences. Instead, they were convinced by Satan that God’s counsel was not good enough and they needed more. They believed they needed wisdom apart from God for their eyes to be opened, and to be like God, to know good and evil (Genesis 3:5).
Since then, humans have sought countless forms of counselling to answer the fundamental questions of the heart. With each new school of psychology, the quest to understand who people are, what is wrong with them and how to fix them apart from God’s wisdom, causes a further drift from the true knowledge of the Creator of all people.
The Model for true change
Every counsellor, regardless of their methodology, wants to respond to people’s pain and brokenness by sincerely helping the hurting navigate the difficult circumstances of life. Biblical counselling is distinctly God-centred and recognises that only the Word of God, through the work of the Holy Spirit, can truly penetrate the sinful heart to produce lasting change or fill the broken heart with genuine hope. Biblical counselling is the only approach that relies solely on the Creator’s definition of human identity, operating under the authority of the King of the universe while holding to Christ’s Worldview. As a result, only Biblical counselling can correctly answer the questions of why people do what they do, what is wrong with people, and how we can make it right.
Defining Human Identity
At Creation, God made Adam in two parts: “The Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground [body] and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [soul], and the man became a living creature” (Genesis 2:7). God gave man his identity. He made man in His own image and commanded Adam, as our representative, to rule over all creation (Gen. 1:26). God declared man to be very good (Gen. 1:31). Adam and Eve had abundant freedom within God’s good and wise boundaries. Yet they could not accept this identity God had defined, and so the quest began to define humanity according to his own desires (Gen. 3:1-7). This is still the crossroads we face today: will we accept God’s definition of human identity, or do we want to seek our own?
As a result of Adam and Eve’s decision, humanity was no longer good. Instead, it is wicked, tainted with sin in every thought and intent of the heart (Gen. 6:5). Man lives according to “the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind” (Eph. 2:3). Nevertheless, the idolatrous heart knows this condition is not how we were created to live. Every human soul yearns for Eden and God’s good design before man tried to make things “better”. Thanks be to God; there is a way back.
The only answer to this miserable brokenness is Jesus Christ. Man’s greatest need is to have this sin forgiven and its guilt, power, deception and misery erased. Through faith in the life, death and resurrection of Christ, human hearts are made alive (Eph. 2:4-7). The one who is in Christ is now a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) and able to change back to the identity God originally intended. This process is a gradual transformation into the image of Jesus Christ through ongoing repentance and the renewing of the mind. The difficult suffering of life occurs within God’s good sovereign design to transform His people so that every man may be complete in Christ (Col. 1:28). From time to time, help is needed to navigate these difficulties through confrontation done out of concern for the purposes of changing what God wants to change in the Christian’s life. This is the purpose of Biblical counselling.[1]
In summary, the Bible teaches that the source of our problems stems from sin: our own sin, the sin of others, or the sinful world we live in. Thus, we can be held responsible for our problems, or for how we respond to the problems caused by others. The answer to our problems is only found in Jesus Christ. Through His salvation and His Spirit, which ministers through His Word, a soul can find true help.
How Psychology is different
The modern definition of Psychology has evolved into “the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes.” Although Sigmund Freud first developed the modern idea of Psychology, many theories and themes have since proliferated from his ideas, and now differ greatly between hundreds of schools of psychology, making the term “psychologies” a more appropriate title for this subject.[2] Although some areas of Psychology can be scientific, e.g. the Psychology of Learning, Developmental Psychology, and so forth, most aspects of behavioural Psychology cannot be reliably tested in a scientific laboratory.
The Psychological premise of human identity rests on the foundation that humans are fundamentally good in nature. All instincts and desires are morally neutral, and the suppression of these desires is the cause of problems in a person’s life.[3] External difficulties, including psychological (genetics, trauma, early development, depression, anxiety, anger, isolation), social (relationships, adjustments) or spiritual causes (religion), cause bad feelings.[4] The goal of psychology is to help the patient feel better. To achieve this aim, negative thoughts and desires must be reconditioned and redirected to challenge the negative concept of self. This man-centred solution will result in becoming a better worshiper of self.[5] The whole process of psychological counselling is self-centred. From the self-evaluation aimed at finding the source of the problem outside of self, to the improvement of self-image, to grow in self-worth, self-love, self-confidence, all while addressing the inferiority complex, is autonomous, suppressing God, the Creator of the person.[6]
Thus, Psychology teaches that the source of the problem is outside a person, who holds no accountability for the problem. Yet the answer to the problem can be found within, rendering the person their own saviour.
Who Rules the Kingdom
Every counselling system is theological, holding an idea of God. Biblical counselling accepts the Bible’s definition of human psychology as imparted by the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches that self-knowing is only possible through knowing God. Exalting oneself is sinful and breaks the first commandment. We learn from the psychology of Jesus, in Scripture, about His thoughts, feelings, actions, desires, and relationships. We see Jesus humbled himself by giving up his throne in heaven to come to earth to die a horrendous death on the cross for sinners who hated him (Philippians 2:8). Jesus always wanted to do the will of the Father (Luke 22:42, John 5:30; 6:38). Jesus, “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15) did not seek to exalt himself and neither should we. God has created the human heart to love and serve Him alone, but this sin-cursed world forces man into a battle between trusting and loving God or trusting and loving a multitude of other inadequate idols. Biblical counselling helps the counselee identify where their loyalties have been divided and helps them reorient their hearts to their true King.
Psychological counselling is centred around helping the counselee think more highly of themselves, thus becoming a more effective worshipper of self. In effect, it denounces the authority of God while using the psychologist’s perceived cultural, social and pragmatic authority to offer the world truth, love and power.
Christian counsellors blend these two ideas. They agree with the general theological themes of Biblical counselling but claim to use the secular methods of Psychology to achieve change that only God can accomplish. With one leg planted in the world and one (unsteadily) planted in Christ, these counsellors claim to serve Christ but in effect serve the world. Furthermore, these counsellors have traded the Biblical view of admonishing, warning and instructing those seeking counsel for a mere comforting, encouraging and supporting the counselee without confrontation. They just want to help the counselee feel better, without confronting their sin.
Finding The Right Cure
“Wrong views of any disease always bring with them wrong views of the remedy. The right view brings the right remedy.”
David Powlison
Psychology sees humans as materialistic beings consisting of body, soul and spirit. They deny any non-material component. The soul is simply a product of the brain, not a separate, eternal entity. Psychologists, therefore, postulate that each part of a person must be cared for by a different professional: the doctor cares for the body, the pastor cares for the soul, and the psychologist cares for the spirit. Human desires are morally neutral, but the suppression of these desires is what causes problems. According to psychologists, the solution to our problems is eclectic and can vary from medication, ongoing behavioural therapy, or even institutionalisation. There is no clear diagnosis of the disease and thus no clear remedy. When one methodology fails, therapy moves on to the next option on the list. Through His Word, God warned us to have nothing to do with these worldly fables but to strive after godliness (1 Tim. 4:7).
Christian counsellors, who integrate psychology with the Bible, profess faith in Jesus and His salvific work on the cross, but do not hold to his instructions recorded in His Word. They don’t accept Christ’s definition that the cause of our problems is sin, either our own sin or the sinfulness of the world. Thus, they must look for diagnoses and remedies in secular ideas. Unfortunately, this often leads to a misdiagnosis. God is not neutral about blending His truth with that of the world, as James warns, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).
Biblical counselling agrees with God’s Word that humans are sin-sick and suffer due to sin and misery. A constant battle is raging in the human heart between good and evil. This manifests itself in scuffles between lies and unbelief against faith and truth. The only answer to the evil intentions of the human heart is Jesus Christ and his gospel. Through a believer’s positional sanctification, change is possible, and by his progressive sanctification, change is guaranteed (Phil. 1:6).
Where change takes place: The Hospital for Souls
It has been said, “The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.”[7] If human life’s struggles are due to our sin-sick souls, the only place to get the cure is the church, not a clinic. Jesus Christ is our model of counselling each other. He is patient with those who struggle and knows how to address every individual’s needs by offering practical care. Jesus embraces the weak and provides the anxious, depressed souls comfort and hope, while encouraging the fainthearted. At the same time, He challenges the stubborn, self-centred people with constraints and consequences and admonishes the unruly who use and abuse others. As the disciples of Jesus, we are instructed to follow his example by admonishing the unruly, encouraging the faint-hearted, helping the weak, and being patient with all (1 Thess. 5:14).
The Great Physician commanded his disciples to make new disciples and to teach them to observe all He commanded (Matt. 28:20-21). Through the teachings of Jesus, his disciples learn to become instruments of change in the lives of others. The Wonderful Counsellor makes apprentice counsellors who speak the truth in love and help others grow in all aspects towards Christlikeness.[8]
Since a good, biblical church is where the Word of Christ is preached and taught, it follows that this kind of church should be the place where His Word is counselled. Counselling is merely an application of the Word to specific individuals, as a form of focused discipleship.[9] The church is where God works His authoritative and mutual counsel.[10]
Where can you find true help?
When you navigate the storms of life and feel like you are about to drown, who will you consult for help? Will it be the person who is just as much a sinner as you, trying to grasp at new straws they have constructed to help you feel better while you drown? Or will you consult the One who knit together your inward parts and knows every intention of your heart- the One who has the power to save you and change you, not just to make you feel better?
Your answer to this question is not just a matter of preference; it is a matter of faith. Ask yourself if you believe God can help you grow into the image He has made you, by His Spirit, through His Word, or do you think he needs some help.
[1] Powlison, David, “Biblical Counseling in Recent Times” in Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically, ed John MacArthur, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2025), 23-28.
[2] MacArthur, John, “Rediscovering Biblical Counseling” in Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically, ed John MacArthur, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2025), 36.
[3] Powlison, David, “Biblical Counseling in Recent Times” in Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically, ed John MacArthur, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2025), 21.
[4] Greggo, S. P., Counseling and Christianity: Five Approaches, Downton Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2012, 76.
[5] Lambert, Heath, A Theology of Biblical Counseling: The Doctrinal Foundations of Counseling Ministry, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2016, 21.
[6] Powlison, David, “Integration or Inundation” in Power Religion: The Selling Out of the Evangelical Church?, ed Michael Horton, Chicago: Moody Bible Institute, 288.
[7] The origin of this quote is much disputed, but it seems to originate with Jean Phillips (“Dear Abby”) based on Jesus’s teaching in Mark 2:17. It has also been attributed to Augustine and Tim Keller.
[8] Powlison, David, “Pastor as Counselor” in The Journal of Biblical Counseling, Vol 26, no. 1(2012), 19.
[9] Powlison, David, “Biblical Counseling in Recent Times” in Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically, ed John MacArthur, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2025), 28.
[10] Powlison, David, “Integration or Inundation” in Power Religion: The Selling Out of the Evangelical Church?, ed Michael Horton, Chicago: Moody Bible Institute, 273.