Solomon Lecture Series, Lecture 2: Determining a counseling model

The following post contains some highlights from the second lecture in the Solomon Lecture Series, presented by Dr. John Woodward. The entire lecture series is available, here, at Grace Fellowship International.

Dr. Woodward uses this session to discuss the various Christian counseling approaches because he wants us to be able to see where the Grace Fellowship International (GFI) model fits in with the rest of the models that we will be exposed to throughout our ministry. Specifically, he wants us to know the message, methodology, and materials used in each approach. The following is a brief outline of these counseling approaches as described by Dr. Woodward in his lecture.

Keswick Sanctification Model:

This model uses the body, soul, spirit model of man and is used in the Exchanged Life model of counseling. The GFI model focuses on the crucified life emphasis of the Keswick model. This model does not advocate the integration of psychology, except to use it to demonstrate areas of psychological matters that are affecting the individual, like rejection.

Christian Psychology Model:

Gary Collins work, Christian Counseling, fits into this category. This is an integration model. It is a generalized sanctification model that is strong on symptom description. It offers the understanding of the symptoms and follows general principles of counseling. This model is helpful to structure an interview and for skill development. Dr. Tan is a proponent of this model in his book, Lay Counseling. It uses a dichotomist view of man. They are not looking for transformational change, rather they are looking to help people deal with specific problems and are not focusing on sanctification.

Nouthetic Counseling Model:

This model is taught in a number of seminaries. Jay Adams is a proponent of this model. It is a “doing in order to be” approach. Obedience to Scripture is the goal. It is an example of Phase 4 of GFI view of counseling but it focuses on a reformed approach. It is useful after people have appropriated the Exchanged Life. It is based on a reformed sanctification model, that is, it uses the two-part model of man, body and soul. The cross is not experiential rather it is positional. It emphasizes non-integration. Its orientation is pastoral counseling, and not for lay counselors. Again, in this model, our death with Christ is positional only, and has reformed theology as its base. They don’t talk about emotions and feelings, rather, they focus on obeying the Bible. Dr. Woodward believes that apart from the cross, this approach is strengthening the flesh.

Soul Care Model:

Larry Crabb is a proponent of this model. It is Exchanged Life friendly and has a soft Keswick orientation. It is used for training professional counselors and leaders. It stresses the importance of a God-centered life. It likely uses a dichotomist model of man.

Freedom in Christ Process:

Author Neil Anderson is a proponent of this model and is described in his book called “Christ-centered Therapy”. It deals with bitterness and sin problems, looking at Christ as Liberator.  It is useful for GFI Phase III. The model emphasizes spiritual warfare, that is, tearing down strongholds. There is minimal integration. They teach identification and freedom in Christ as a process.

Christ-Centered Counseling:

An author that is a proponent of this model is June Hunt. She personally encountered the exchanged life and teaches the Keswick sanctification model. This model teaches identification in Christ and has a trichotomist view of man. It has a topical symptom-based approach and can be considered “wholistic” biblical counseling. It doesn’t deal with the self-life, which is the source of all symptoms. For example, if anger is a problem, Hunt steps the individual through how to deal with anger. It is useful for GFI Phase 3 and 4, after they have experienced the cross, that is, after they have dealt with the self-life.

Remedial Discipling:

Bob Hoekstra is an author and proponent of this model. Blueletterbible.org and the day-by-day-by grace devotional are sample tools that are used. Identification is taught explicitly. It is a conversational process. The goal is to teach GFI tools through conversation, but how to get there is between the client and the Lord.

Strategic Biblical Counseling

Greg Burts is an author and proponent of this model. An example book would be “Come Up Higher” by Altha Burts. It is a 4-phase model. It teaches the Exchanged Life in a step-by-step process and uses a Keswick model of sanctification. 

Photo courtesy of Grace Fellowship International.