1. Is Christian counseling biblical? How do you integrate Christianity and psychology?

Counseling has its roots of origin in the Bible. Just take a look at the following scriptures:

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Prov 15:22

Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Prov 19:20

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. Prov 27:9

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isa 9:6

Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, a man of insight and a scribe. 1 Chr 27:32 (NIV)

Counseling is biblical and has been an integral part of the Judeo-Christian community for thousands of years. God is our counselor, Jesus is the wonderful counselor and the Holy Spirit is our counselor. Mature Christians are exhorted to encourage others, warn the idle and help the weak. (1 Thess. 5:11;14). Most Christians who counsel believe that God is the author of all truth and that the Bible is the authoritative guide in the counseling process. Sound psychology is used to promote change and wholeness in the counseling relationship when it supports scripture, such as holding people responsible for their behavior and helping people change their thinking and behavior to coincide with truth. Christian counseling evaluates and considers the mental, physical and spiritual needs of people using a process in which the Bible is the authoritative guide.

Christian counselors recognize their work as redemptive and restorative in character. The Christian counselor brings the entire counseling enterprise under the lordship of Christ. He or she aims at reconciling the counselee's relationship with God. This helps the counselee find personal significance and meaning in his or her relationship with Jesus Christ and facilitates the restoration of human relationships.

The core issues addressed are:

• exploring personal problems, purpose, significance and longings 
• establishing meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ and with others 
• developing biblical self-worth, thinking, choices and behavior experiencing a wholesome emotional state.