Methodology
There are a couple of key elements to my counseling method. I believe that biblical counseling combined with temperament education is an excellent combination to gain understanding in the matters of the heart and help heal.
As a Christian, the bible is the handbook and the Holy Spirit is the ultimate healer. The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. We have a Savior who understands our pain because His life was filled with suffering. He not only understands our pain but is the answer to our pain – “the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him and by His wounds we are healed.” While sanctification is certainly a lifelong process, it is possible for counselees to experience a leap forward in healing as they embrace the finished work of Christ. Therapy without Christ at the center is two-dimensional at best.
We are each uniquely and wonderfully made, our God-given temperament is connected to our unique call and shapes how we interact with the world and others. Temperament also significantly impacts how we interpret and deal with trauma and abusive situations. Each temperament has amazing potential for great strength and great weakness – these manifestations are flip sides of the same coin. People are infinitely complex, so while no test in a panacea, I utilize the Arnold Profiling System as a starting point of temperament understanding. Watching the lightbulbs go on as people realize “oh, that’s why I do that,” is a lot of fun. Realizing how we are each uniquely created is liberating and empowering. The sanctified version of our true-self combined with redeemed life-experience is the focus of our counseling and the life-long pursuit.