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trace the depression to irrational or ineffective giving. Bible verses may offer comfort as well.
ways of thinking about things that lead to the Still, these are only using the faith as techniques
symptoms of depression, and by changing these to treat the diagnosis, all the while not questio-
will allegedly free the person from the depressi- ning the medical model assumptions behind
on. Therefore, the goal is changing the thoughts this.
purported to cause the symptoms. I do not want to imply that there is no place for
Then there is the more humanistic approach diagnosis at all. However, I do want to suggest
where the counselor will actively listen and re- that not all emotional suffering or behavioral
flect what the person is expressing. The basic problems are functions of some type of illness.
model assumes experiencing conditions of wor- The model assumes that most any suffering is
th from others is the cause, so the unconditional due to an illness that needs to be treated. That
positive regard will achieve the goal of making is not the case, even in the realm of the physi-
the person feel valued and accepted, thus alle- cal. The pain of a long run or soreness after a
viating the depression. challenging tennis match do not imply there is
illness. The pain may actually be a step toward
Some models will see emotional problems un- greater health. So, what if symptoms are simply
derneath, or lack of motivation, or family pro- problems or challenges, and not indicative of a
blems, or attachment issues, or the story one is mental illness? This would alter our goals dra-
telling oneself, or a lack of skills. All share in matically.
common that the symptoms reflect an “illness” These traditional approaches to counseling
that has a cause (like the streptococci above) build on philosophical assumptions that may
and fixing that cause becomes the goal of thera- not be completely compatible with what the
py. All of this comes with the interpretation of Bible teaches. For example, humanist approa-
the “symptoms” as a disease (or disorder). ches to counseling see people as intrinsical-
ly good and thus the goal is to bring out the
For others, the only issue is that the counselee is goodness within. This contrasts with the Chri-
suffering in some way and that suffering needs stian doctrine of original sin that sees humans
to be eliminated at most any cost. Sad feelings after the Fall of Adam and Eve as inclined to
are bad because they feel bad. Anxiety is bad be- do wrong. The goals of these approaches, then,
cause it feels bad. Therefore, the counselor may may actually lead in directions contradictory to
work with the person to help them eradicate or biblical goals. John Calvin (1960/1559), a major
avoid bad feelings at any cost. Often this is fine. theologian of the Reformation, saw self-denial
If I have a splinter in my finger, I see no need to as the hallmark of the Christian life, a goal that
leave it there just to show virtue in suffering. I is contrary contemporary notions of self-esteem
will pull it out. But there is also pain that pro- as the key to individual well-being.
motes character and growth (like Paul’s thorn The medical model is also built on a limited
in the flesh in 2 Corinthians 12:7), and that God model of seeing counseling as simply getting
may use for his purposes. Both the medical mo- rid of an illness while ignoring the goal of grow-
del and the getting rid of pain approaches limit th. For Christians, this includes a key feature of
counseling to dealing with deficits, and lack an the Christian life – sanctification. The ancient
orientation to the true goals of a Christian life. idea of what we call counseling would now be
separated into spiritual formation or disciple-
Does This Approach Fit A Christian View of ship, with more of a forward aim of growth in
Persons? Christ. This view sees our sin and foibles not
as mental illnesses but as obstacles to growth
Many Christian psychologists and counselors in our union with Christ. This contrast unveils
have sought to integrate faith with practice by a major flaw in psychology that has been so
trying to apply Christian ideas or practices to busy defining abnormal that “normal” has been
fit into this medical model. Praying may allevi- overlooked (though in recent years the field of
ate some sadness, particular prayers of thanks- positive psychology has begun to look at this). I

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