Before You Call a Therapist
Written by Warren Sprouse
Think about it. If a person lives in a stressful environment: music, computer games, instant messaging, cell phones, text messaging, fast-paced sights and sounds all around, an energy-filled social dynamic, due in part to both parents working and consequently not having the time to do everything that needs to be done....
Add to that a poor diet, lack of exercise, the inability to connect with their busy parents or succeed at school, or feel like anyone knows who they are or what's really going on in their life...
A broken family, an alternative family and lifestyle, exposure to alcohol, drugs, and pornography – in the home! Hateful words, vulgar words, angry energy all day, every day....
What “therapy” is going to fix that?
Factor in that no Mental Health Professional will ever offer, let alone promise, to fix anything!
All they offer to do is help you cope with what life has presented to you.
All this is like trying to teach birds not to fly. Human beings can't live this way and not have problems.
And history has shown:
- We do better with a stable, two-parent family
- We do better with less cultural stimulation
- We do better with a good diet, regular exercise, and 8 hours of sleep
- We do better with parents who help us succeed: in school, in relationships, in life
- No amount of “counseling” is going to replace this. And, I believe, most of us know it.
This is why Americans have such a negative view of “shrinks” or of the various “therapists.”
And I also believe this is why our Mental Health Professionals tend to be so vague and confusing in their explanations of what they know and what they do.
Biblical Counseling, as a concept, has evolved over the years through several philosophical iterations, not always for the best. It's use here is limited to the words: Biblical, meaning strictly Bible-oriented; Counseling, meaning that specialized form of problem-solving and Christian discipleship unique to The Bible.
The true biblical counselor accepts what God says about the human condition, holds people responsible for their actions and applies the principles found in God's Word, drawing upon the power of the Holy Spirit.
With biblical counseling there is never a FEE because The Word of God Is - Not For Sale -
Alternatives is local church ministry. It exists to instruct and encourage believers, and others, in what has become a very confusing world: the world of counseling. This site offers practical assistance for pastors and others seeking to minister to the suffering saint.
You will find articles, research papers, and current illustrations highlighting the problems with popular approaches to the growing epidemic of mental health issues.



