Counseling with a Biblical Foundation

Brian Sutter

One of the things as a practice that’s really core to who we are is to be clinically sound but also biblically sound. And that integration is one of the things that we really value and also in some ways is unique to us or unique to others that seek  to integrate those two worlds together and what that looks like.

And so, it’d be interesting to have a little bit of discussion about how you do that or what that’s been like in your work. And I don’t know if one of you would be willing to start that discussion.

Ted Witzig

One of the things that I would just start with in saying is sometimes people say, well, so you have the mental health field and then you have the Bible.

What do you do if they conflict? That’s one of the first questions that we get sometimes. And I would say that these are two areas of thought, but they’re not equal. And so, it’s really more like this. It’s like biblical truth and the Christian worldview is the foundation through which the other things are actually filtered and seen.

And so, we’re always going to start with the fact is when the Scripture speaks to it, we’re going to honor that and we want to honor that in what we do.

Brian Sutter

It’s like we would say the Bible is true and our training in many ways is theory, you know, and so when you look at it through that lens, it’s okay. This is what is true. These are theory things that have been observed and there’s certainly wisdom in that. And how do those things work together to help? And any thoughts there on what your perspective would be?

Ron Messner

We would all say, as we work with clients, we get a sense where they’re coming from. And there are some things that we see that are very clinical and they need to know about. What might be causing that, whether that’s actually neurological or something like that, or from past trauma and those kinds of things and other things. It’s very easy to point to Scripture and say, you realize that what you’re saying is not aligned with this.

So, this would be a good way to change. So, I think it has a lot to do with what they bring, what they present and then also what they’re looking for. Our clients will often let us know that they want more assurance that there’s sound spiritual basis for that. They’ll hear what you have to say, but assure me, show me that it aligns with that.

And I think it’s, it’s helpful when you talked about psychology being theory, which I don’t disagree with. But I think as science, and I would include psychology or mental health, is it goes to actual conclusions or observations, then it aligns with Scripture. So, we have to deal with philosophy, which might contradict.

But when it comes to actual, you know, facts may be too strong, but it supports those. They’re not as contradictory as what people assume that they are. I think the other thing I would say is I think all of us make a point, even if somebody is not needing a lot of assurance or what they’re presenting seems more clinical to include prayer, to include reference to spiritual, just to acknowledge that regardless of what level. That is the focus of what we’re doing. And I would say most of our clients seem comfortable with that. I think they’re comfortable if we help them be comfortable.

Brian Sutter

Kaleb, what’s it like in the marriage and family world for you?

Kaleb Beyer

Well, one of the things I was just thinking about is in the assessment process, that’s constantly as part of our mind, we have souls. And so, part of the spiritual walk and their growth is something that I think is part of how we engage the intervention.

So, we would say biopsychosocial spiritual model. And so, the spiritual piece is a foundational piece, not just in integrating how we work with them, but in assessing and engaging them. That’s an area that we bring up, we talk about and assess how does the interaction of how they’re doing emotionally influence spiritually.

Brian Sutter

Which is one of those things that’s interesting. It seems like to me that in many ways, the psychology field catches up to where what we’ve already known. And that would be one of those places that spirituality right now is like, oh, we know, we can see that this is important. And they have a concept of, oh, I don’t know what this is, but I can see value in it.

And as believers, we’re like, yeah. And not only do we know spirituality, but Christianity and the Scriptures and Christ and that we’ve got a whole framework to work from. And they’re kind of just now coming on the scene and saying, there’s something here, but we don’t know what it is.

Ted Witzig

I think another thing is you oftentimes work with adolescent and young adult women and there’s a lot of development going on and a lot of identity development and how spirituality and Christian faith is really a part of what they’re going through.

Kathy Knochel

Yeah. And this aspect of things in the counseling office is a very important thing. Like everyone here has mentioned, I think just in any counseling session, we’re always looking for what are your strengths? What are your supports? And so spirituality is one of those things. You have a church community that offers support and strength, and then we can, as identity is being developed, we can pair that to the truths of the Bible to help with growth and just charter that in the right direction.

Ron Messner

That’s spoken like a good social worker. Yeah, absolutely. You help people deal with trauma or families be more respectful or in a place that they’re healthy. But it is for the purpose of being able to come closer to God and have a different kind of walk. It’s one of the avenues, one of the tools that we have the privilege of doing, that helps people move in that direction.

Brian Sutter

That’s one of the things I’m really grateful for working here. Where I worked at prior, that really wasn’t part of it. And it felt like you’re just helping somebody feel better, but you’re not addressing the core. Whereas here, those that are coming in know that’s part of who we are, and that’s generally a part of who they are. Exactly. And they want that, and that gets to be part of the work then, and I’m so thankful for that.

Ted Witzig

When you think about our mission phrase, Helping the Hurting, Nurturing Hope, Encouraging Growth, I think one of the things that we all appreciate is oftentimes people are coming in, and they’re in pain, or something feels broken, and we can help them with symptom reduction.

But we don’t stop at symptom reduction. It moves from, yeah, we want to get that depression or anxiety down or want the marriage to function better. But then it is figuring out things like their Christ centered self-worth and healthy boundaries and their identity. So that as they go out and encourage growth, they become part of the solution and they affect other people with that. And that’s truly one of the most exciting things about our work.

Ron Messner

Yeah, I would put it, I know not everyone would agree with this, but sometimes people ask if our focus is spiritual, why would you promote medication? And I think our experience is that if somebody has a brokenness that’s biological in some way, or that can be helped with medication, it draws them closer to God.

It’s not instead of, but getting in a subtle place, a place that you can be more rational or think more clearly prepares us for the future to serve and embrace God in a better and healthier way.