River of Life Christian Counselling

‘Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’

John 7:38-39

Biblical Counselling offers a safe place to explore difficult emotions and situations that may be troubling you, using biblical scriptures as our foundation and guide. As a believer, it can sometimes be difficult to find counselling that will recognise the importance of your faith in the outcomes you are seeking through the counselling journey.

My professional experience as a fully qualified secular counsellor has shown me over the years that if you are a Christian believer, traditional counselling does not honour your beliefs but can actually lead you away from the source of all comfort, clarity and hope.  It is based upon a belief that there is nothing outside of ourselves. I liken it to using a sticking plaster to cover a wound rather than leading a client to a source of complete healing through a closer relationship with Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.  It is because of this that I changed my professional approach from Integrative to Biblical Counselling. 

 
‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble’

Psalm 46:1

I find it helps to see the counselling relationship as a journey we walk together. At the start of the journey we’ll meet each other and gently explore the situation you find yourself in and what you'd like to move towards - the aims and goals of therapy. We can discuss how your beliefs impact upon your situation and to what extent you are comfortable to discuss these and incorporate biblical scripture into your journey.  It may be important to you to incorporate prayer within and outside of your sessions.  Or you may be very new in your faith or just inquisitive about a faith based approach to counselling, and so perhaps prayer is not something you are comfortable with yet.  We can look at alternative approaches to begin your journey.

Wherever your beliefs lie, I will walk by your side at your own pace as you explore the difficulties you are facing and I will try to help you find your way. You are not alone.

‘Come on, then, and let us go together, and let us spend our time in discoursing of things that are profitable’

Bunyan J – Pilgrim’s Progress p.71