PACO 507 CP Adams TS
Comparison Paper: Adams: Nouthetic Counseling
Tammy T. Smith
Liberty University
PACO 507
SUMMARY David Powlison’s book, “The Biblical Counseling Movement: History and Context” (Powlison, 2010) highlights the historical context and impact of Jay Adams’s Positive System theory of Biblical Counseling. Adams makes three striking claims in his anti-psychiatry movement in support of counseling being a pastoral call versus a psychological practice. First, he claims that modern psychological theories perpetuate bad theology and misinterpret life’s problems. Secondly, he claims that psychotherapeutic professions are a false pastorate embarking upon tasks that rightfully belong to pastors. Thirdly, Adams claims that the Bible teaches a pastor all that is necessary to competently counsel hurting people. Adams asserts that a good seminary education rather than medical school or a degree in clinical psychology is the most fitting background for a counselor (Powlison, 2010, p. 1). His model is a counseling approach to ensure pastors that they are thoroughly equipped, through the Bible, to meet the counseling needs of parishioners despite culturally imposed qualifications.
Primary Goal Adams’s primary goal is to promote the Nouthetic approach to biblical counseling, which argues that counseling should derive solely from the Bible; and identifies sin as the underlying cause of human issues. Adams believes that change is the basis of all counseling therapy and the means by which progress is marked in the lives of people. He reminds us that people seek counseling because they are hurting and stuck in life. This movement necessitates that counselors make assessments based upon Biblical standards. It is the job of the counselor to help individuals figure out where they are and where they need to be according to God’s plan. It is also important to ascertain the client’s desire for change and the limitations that may affect the direction of change (Liberty University,
Tammy T. Smith
Liberty University
PACO 507
SUMMARY David Powlison’s book, “The Biblical Counseling Movement: History and Context” (Powlison, 2010) highlights the historical context and impact of Jay Adams’s Positive System theory of Biblical Counseling. Adams makes three striking claims in his anti-psychiatry movement in support of counseling being a pastoral call versus a psychological practice. First, he claims that modern psychological theories perpetuate bad theology and misinterpret life’s problems. Secondly, he claims that psychotherapeutic professions are a false pastorate embarking upon tasks that rightfully belong to pastors. Thirdly, Adams claims that the Bible teaches a pastor all that is necessary to competently counsel hurting people. Adams asserts that a good seminary education rather than medical school or a degree in clinical psychology is the most fitting background for a counselor (Powlison, 2010, p. 1). His model is a counseling approach to ensure pastors that they are thoroughly equipped, through the Bible, to meet the counseling needs of parishioners despite culturally imposed qualifications.
Primary Goal Adams’s primary goal is to promote the Nouthetic approach to biblical counseling, which argues that counseling should derive solely from the Bible; and identifies sin as the underlying cause of human issues. Adams believes that change is the basis of all counseling therapy and the means by which progress is marked in the lives of people. He reminds us that people seek counseling because they are hurting and stuck in life. This movement necessitates that counselors make assessments based upon Biblical standards. It is the job of the counselor to help individuals figure out where they are and where they need to be according to God’s plan. It is also important to ascertain the client’s desire for change and the limitations that may affect the direction of change (Liberty University,
References: Baker, J. (2015). Nouthetic counseling. Liberty University, PACO 507 lecture slides. Retrieved on January 26, 2015. Kollar, C. (2011). Solution-focused pastoral counseling: and effective short-term approach for getting people back on track Powlison, D. (2010). The biblical counseling movement: history and context. Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press The King James Version of the Bible, Retrieved on January 28, 2015 from 2 Corinthians 5: 16- 17 and 2 Timothy 3: 15-17.