Customer Reviews

The Christian Counselor's Manual

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Adams always is a delight to read. While Adams is not perfect he is passionate about the right things and hits the nail on the head on almost every issue. He blazed the trail for modern noutetic counseling. Those who have expressed problems with this book do not have the high view of Scripture that Adams holds and do not understand the depravity of man as the Bible teaches. They also do not understand how the presuppostions of psychology are anti-Christian and they do not bring glory to God. This is a very practical book that is a good read for all Christians who seek to restore their bretheren (Gal. 6)

It is an excellent addition to an Christian counseling library. It has unquie advise for a pastoral counseling that is a little difficult to locate. Each section is covered with gentleness and care for both the client and respect for the conselor. It covers prayer in a way that is foreright and frankly not covered by many textbooks. It is comprehensive in its scope covering the client, the attitudes of the counselor as well as a full range of topics. It is a first line of defense help book.I appreciate the scripture references as well as the honor of giving pratical homework. The book does not shy away from difficut subjects like sin, fears,and the importance of giving hope. I appreciate the concretness of the books presentation.

This venerable volume from Jay Adams, who for decades has been one of the undisputed leaders in the field of nouthetic counseling, is just as relevant today as it was when it was originally published in 1973. Now thirty five years later, biblical counselors all across the country, and indeed around the world, turn to Adams' wisdom and experience as encapsulated in this text. No true biblical counselor's library is complete without it.

Adams spends some of the early chapters of this book explaining the foundational theory behind biblical counseling, counterposing it to inherently flawed secular methodologies like psychoanalysis/psychotherapy (Freud), behaviorism (Skinner) and non-directive counseling (Rogers), to name the main ones. Much of this material echoes what Adams said in "Competent to Counsel".

From there he moves on to elaborate on key themes like the indispensibility of hope, reconciliation, biblical change, and the need to identify and treat sin for what it is. Practical explanations abound for essential techniques of data gathering, assigning effective homework, and dealing with a wide range of specific problems, such as fear, anger, sexual problems, communication breakdowns, schizophrenia, etc.

Admittedly, this volume does not tell the nouthetic counselor everything he or she needs to know to counsel effectively. There is a large and growing body of other related resources from Adams and many other competent authors to assist the counselor in more specific ways. However, this book offers the fundamental framework for counseling practice that is common to all issues. It would be very difficult to practice true nouthetic counseling without applying the principles in this book.

Anyone who has heard of the author already has an opinion of the work; however, in spite of these assumptions, if one really reads Adams for what he is saying, the reader should walk away with the following concepts: (1) Adams believes that the Bible hold the answers for all of life's problems. (2) All problems in life are either physical (the realm of the doctor) or spiritual (the realm of the pastor). (3) Adams believes that every believer should be able to assist others in applying the Bible to life's spiritual challenges. To these ends, the now-aging work is directed. In a very clear and straight-forward manner, the writer lays out methods of dealing with all sorts of challenges. This manual serves as a substantial guide to the pastor, Christian counselor, or even a layman who wishes to be of assistance to those who need help to overcome a vast number of problems.

Theory Critique: The Work of Dr. Backus, M. Chapian & Dr. Adams
Leslie Krahn
Liberty University
Counseling 507-B01

Summary
Telling Yourself The Truth, a book written By, William Backus and Marie Chapian has been circulation around Christian circles for over thirty years. I read it more than ten years ago and gained much knowledge then, and was rewarded with even more wisdom as I reread this book recently. The concept sounds very simple and actually it is. The authors use the Holy Bible as the gold standard of the truth we need to tell ourselves. The authors explain that we all have areas where we telling ourselves misbeliefs. They say we are either telling ourselves the truth or a lie (p.17).
The misbeliefs or lies that we tell ourselves are a major source of emotional chaos, which can lead to damaging actions, maladaptive conduct, along with what is frequently labeled as mental illnesses. Buying into these lies may surface with problems such as overeating, depression, or adultery. The authors frequently apply scripture to validate these truths, such as Proverbs 23:7. "So a man thinketh in his heart, so is he... (KJV).
This is an excellent resource for self-discovery, into the lies we speak into our own lives. This book is also an outstanding guide for use in the counseling profession, as the truth of God's word is used to reveal misbeliefs that clients have spoken into their lives often for years. The end goal is to teach clients to identify the misbelief, then to contend against it, and then exchanging that misbelief for the truth (p.159).
Second Timothy 3:14-17 is the backbone of Jay Adams book, How to Help People Change. It reads as ," But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work"(NIV, 2010).
There are four steps that Dr. Adams uses in this book on Biblical counseling. These four steps are written very clearly and concisely comprise most of this book. These steps are as follows:
1. Teaching clients the truth as based on the Bible. Dr. Adam breaks down teaching into bite size portions to include grasping the importance of teaching, teaching God's standards and principles, teaching in the milieu, and concludes with a step by step guide on how to teach.
2. Conviction is the second step described by Dr. Adams. He begins with the role of conviction in therapy, explores what conviction is and is not, convection and data gathering, using scripture in conviction. He then concludes with supplementary thoughts on conviction.
3. Correction is the third step described in this book. Starting with an analysis of what it is repentance with correction, the importance of confessing sin and forgiveness. He then moves into the role of forsaking sin, and restoration.
4. Disciplined Training in Righteousness is the final step that Dr. Adam directs readers to. He presents his thought on the importance of discipline training; the goal of righteousness, the possibility of righteousness is also explored. Biblical training and the proper use of scripture is the final goal of this step.
Dr. Adams, work done in this book, will direct anyone seeking Biblical counseling that is not interesting in applying any other resources. He believes in the sufficiency of scripture in counseling and is not interested in any worldly advice or techniques suggested by those in the secular fields of counseling. His main goal in his writing is to allow it to become a guide to bring effective biblical change in therapy, using the truth of the Bible.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Both of these books are based on the truth of God's word found in the Holy Bible. Together they lay an effective defense for the sufficiency of scripture in the quest for healing, hope, happiness and spiritual health. The strength in these approaches is found in the strength of the word of God. This takes the judgment, and calls for repentance out of the therapists hands and places it on the righteousness of God.
The weaknesses of these approaches if found in the acceptance of the word of God as being true and infallible. These techniques would be difficult to administer to those clients who do not place their faith in the god of the Bible or his word. The other weakness that I have found especially with Adams work is his total disregard for any secular input. I personally think there is a place in Christian counseling for some well screened secular techniques.

Personal Insight and Application
I must admit I have had to do some soul searching as I read these two books. I keep asking myself what I really believe about the Bible and what its truths are. Do I really believe that all people can be set free from its truth? The problems that I see for myself in using this approach are complex and somewhat selfish. I
1. If I expect my clients to believe unwavering in the truth of scripture, I must also.
2. I must know the word of God inside and out, and there is a lot to learn.
3. I realize that I will offend people with this approach, and may lose clients.
4. I need to really take the time to spend time with God and his word seeking his direction as I establish my style of therapy.
Each of these problems present growth on my part and time to establish myself function as a competent biblical counselor. My goal is to allow God to lead me as I seek understanding and direction.
References
Backus, W. D., & Chapian, M. (1980). Telling yourself the truth. Minneapolis, Minn: Bethany Fellowship.
Adams, J. E. (1985). How to help people change. Grand Rapids, Mi. Zondervan

This book is a wealth of helpful information for counselors to use as an aid in the therapeutic process. Furthermore, the book is arranged in an organized and easy-to-follow manner. A must-have for Christian counselors!

More than any other book, this book provides "how to" guidance with deep Scriptural insight for the Christian Counselor. Step by step The Christian Counselor's Manual provides sound Biblical instruction for counseling Christians including forms, helpful tables, do's and don'ts, and suggested "homework." The author also discusses specific counseling issues that are commonly encountered including, but not limited to, anger, envy, depression, schizophrenia, sex, marriage, fear, and addiction. The Scriptural basis for every aspect of counseling is clearly discussed. If you are a Christian Counselor and can buy only one book,this is the book to buy.

Back in the day when many Christians were practicing counseling with a Sunday School knowledge of Scripture and a Master's level knowledge of secular theory, Jay Adams burst on the scene exhorting believers to believe in the sufficiency of Scripture. Though not every Christian counselor would accede that Nouthetic counseling embraces the totality of Christian counseling, and not every writer would write with the same acerbic spirit, at least Adams was courageous enough and biblical enough to extrapolate from Scripture one aspect of the practice of biblical spiritual direction.

Written as a companion and sequel to Competent to Counsel, Adams outlines in detail how to practice the soul physician's art of confronting sin out of concern for change. He develops the approach of Nouthetic counseling introduced in the earlier volume and applies it to a wide range of issues, topics, and techniques in counseling: Who is qualified to be a counselor? How can counselees change? How does the Holy Spirit work? What role does hope play? What is the function of language? How do we ask the right questions?

One might wish for a focus on comforting the suffering out of compassion for hope and healing, however early prophetic voices like Adams often overly tilt the pendulum in one direction. It is up to their heirs to emphasize neglected areas in an irenic spirit.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care And Spiritual Direction, Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care And Spiritual Direction, and Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction .

Book advertised as new was received in a timely manner and received just as promised. This book will serve as a great reference in my counseling.

The book was in excellent condition, it was purchased at a very fair price. It is an excellent book.