Should Every Church be a Counseling Center?

In the book “Presuppositions of Biblical Counseling,” author Lou Priolo asserts that every church should be a biblical counseling center. What would this look like in today’s world and how could it become a reality? It may be easier than you think.

According to Jay Adams, recognized by many as the founder of the modern Biblical Counseling movement, Christians can rely on the Bible as a complete and comprehensive text on establishing lasting change in human behavior. The Bible offers all the truth that is needed for a sound foundation in biblical counseling. For more information, see his book, "Competent to Counsel."

Despite what you may have heard, one does not need a Master's Degree in Counseling or in Theology to be an effective biblical counselor. In many cases, simply being a good listener, having a solid knowledge of the Bible, or even having more life experience is all that is needed.

Sometimes all a hurting Christian needs is someone who will actively listen and empathize with them. We often find that our friends and family members are quick to jump in with suggestions on how we could fix the problem. But being able to tell our story free from interruptions, judgmental remarks, or unwarranted advice is often a major part of the healing process.

Being able to let someone know that you hear them and feel their pain is a helpful step in counseling someone. And the good news is that you don't need to know anything about psychology theories to be a good listener! Furthermore, if you feel that your knowledge of the scriptures is limited or insufficient, listening is a skill you can feel confident about.

Part of counseling involves being able to identify people's false beliefs and point them toward the truth. False beliefs can be about themselves, God, other people and the world in general. A Christian who regularly studies the Bible will have a solid understanding of God's truths and will therefore be capable of recognizing any false beliefs as they emerge.

Another important aspect of counseling is helping people find answers to the questions they have about their circumstances. But simply giving them the answers is not always the best method. Reading the scriptures together and asking them how those passages relate to their lives allows counselees to answer their own questions by allowing God's word to speak to them.

Having walked through similar experiences can enable a person not only to be able to better empathize with someone, but also to share the choices they made - whether good or bad. A person does not have to have lived a perfect life in order to qualify to counsel someone else. The beauty of this concept is that no one except Christ Jesus has lived a perfect life. That's why we must constantly point others towards Him as we counsel them.

If you have made poor life choices and can summon the courage to share them, it can be a good example to others of how living outside of God's will ultimately cause pain and suffering. On the other hand, you may also be able to share how God can use any circumstance to bring glory to His name.

Sharing the good choices you have made is also encouraging to others, as making the right choice is often a more difficult path initially. 

In her article, "The Wholistic Paradigm Challenge We Face," Kathleen Mills points out that wholistic care (encompassing body, mind and spirit) used to be the norm prior to 1915. Since then, says Mills, treatment methods that are non-scientific and unable to be turned into a patented pill, and are therefore not profitable, are discounted. In short, greed has turned healthcare from seeking to cure patients, and has replaced it with a long-term pain-management model.

Unfortunately, this model fails to address the spiritual component of healthcare, as it is something that cannot be measured, scientifically proven, or turned into patentable, money-making products. 

Another unfortunate result of the evolution of the modern healthcare system is that care practitioners must now be licensed by a state-governed authority in order to be recognized as having the proper credentials. This means that faith-based practitioners cannot qualify for licensure. Why? Because practitioners who truly base their practice off of biblical values cannot also adhere to many of the modern-day guidelines presented as truth. Some prime examples are the differences in beliefs concerning homosexuality and abortion.

Because insurance companies will only provide payments for state-licensed medical practitioners, those seeking biblical counseling to address their mental and spiritual well-being must pay the counselor out of pocket if they have no access to a church-funded counseling program. 

The idea that a Christian would seek mental health answers from a secular psychologist is a ludicrous, and possibly dangerous, invention of the modern healthcare system. And, while biblical counselors vary on the degree of present-day psychology concepts they will incorporate into their practice, they will not disagree that our primary guiding principles must come from the Bible itself. What values does a degree in psychology give a person? How can an unbelieving doctor effectively counsel a Christian who’s identity is found in Christ?

I recently heard a story about a family member who visited a psychologist while going through a difficult divorce. She was told that one of the best ways to get over her ex-husband might be to sleep with some other men. It disturbs me to hear stories like these and to know that many Christians are seeking mental-health help from unbelievers simply because it is all they can afford. 

Imagine how much healthier we would be as a body of Christ if we were each able to obtain quality care for our souls? This is one of the primary goals of Christ-Centered Solutions - to make biblical counseling accessible to all by training and establishing counselors in every church and by having churches set aside funds that are dedicated to maintaining a counseling program. Biblical counseling is a ministry that not only serves individuals who are already active members of the church, but can also reach out to those believers who have separated themselves from the church, and even to unbelievers. 

So, to answer your question - yes, every church can and should have a counseling component. Not every church is fortunate enough to have someone with a Master's Degree in Biblical Counseling, but this does not mean that we cannot still learn a few skills and apply our knowledge of God's word and our life experiences to help others.

If you are interested in establishing a counseling ministry in your church, please reach out to us so we can help you get started. There are excellent online certification programs we could point you towards, and we provide conferences on biblical soul care training and mentoring that could be a blessing to you and your church.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Please reach out to us if you or anyone you know is in need of biblical soul care. All of our counselors have completed formal training in biblical counseling and are dedicated to continually learning how we can more effectively serve you. If you have enjoyed this article, you can support us by sharing or liking it on social media or making a purchase through one of our affiliate links. Thank you! 

Adams, Jay. (1986). Competent to Counsel: Introduction to Nouthetic Counseling. Zondervan.

Mills, Kathleen. (2025, Winter). The Wholistic Paradigm Challenge We Face. Christian Counseling Today, 27(4), 50-52.

Priolo, Lou. (2023). Presuppositions of Biblical Counseling: What Historical Biblical Counselors Really Believe. Grace & Truth Books.