The term "biblical counseling" means different things to different people. If by that question someone is asking whether my counseling approach embodies the truth that Scripture is the ultimate and inerrant revelation of God, his creation, and his will for his creation, then I would say "yes". My counsel and interventions will always support the reality that the Lord's sovereign rule and reign of his people requires them to submit to his Word.

If by that question someone is referring to a specific model of counseling taught by one of several established biblical counseling organizations/ministries, then I would say "no". My formal training was not through a current "biblical counseling" organization, yet the model of counseling I was taught compels me to honor the sufficiency of scripture throughout the counseling process.

I recognize Scripture as God's written revelation to humanity. It serves as the authority for how we view God, ourselves, and the world around us. The Lord demands that His people submit to His word in every area of life. As such, my aim is to always defer to Scripture in my judgments, direct counsel, and any interventions used in the helping process.

It's also important to say what Scripture is not. Scripture is not a handbook that counselors can use to pick through and apply verses at random. Scripture is not a band aid for a problem. Scripture must be read and applied faithfully, based on how it is presented. Scripture is one, grand story of the Lord's salvation plan that he is accomplishing for his people. When applicable, I will reference and commend scripture passages that are consistent with a client's current situation. However, many truths that orthodox believers hold are conclusions that have been drawn from putting all of Scripture together and not from one or two verses alone. While those beliefs may be referenced in a session and are assumed in my counsel, I do not use the counseling session as an avenue to teach broader theological doctrines. I defer to a client's local church for direct discipleship.

While Scripture is the overarching, due-north guide to my counsel and interventions, I do reference other resources for training. I follow the belief that God in his "common grace" work on this earth allows unbelievers to observe and communicate true things that his people can benefit from. These are not truths that lead to salvation, but they are truths related to the created world and how it works. Such common grace resources may include medical observations and proven strategies for health issues, or reports from secular counselors who have observed a particular population of people over time. It is my belief that when a counselor is grounded in orthodox doctrine, they have the needed guardrails to glean from accurate observations by secular sources without adopting unbiblical conclusions that may accompany those observations.

I am not a physician, and I am not licensed to prescribe medication or provide medical advice. However, based on my understanding of humans as holistic beings and my years of observation in the counseling context, I believe that numerous medical conditions can contribute to and result from suffering. I do respect a client's decision to utilize medication and will always take that into account in the counseling process. I will also consider recommending medical care if I observe this may contribute to the presenting problems.

Counseling is a joint venture between the counselor and client. In large part, the outcome of a counseling engagement depends largely on the client’s willingness to engage in the process in a meaningful way. Beginning the counseling process can, at times, bring emotional discomfort, including, but not limited to strong feelings of anger, depression, or anxiety. Counseling is a journey of hard work which very often results in needed and hopeful change in the a person's life. However, specific results are not guaranteed. I cannot promise that you or your circumstances will change. I can promise to support you and to bring my specific training, experience, and skill set into the counseling relationship to help you reach your goals.