Counseling can mean many different things to many different people... and many different counselors.

I practice professional counseling as Pastoral Counselor. What that means is simply and profoundly that I counsel all clients from a solid Judeo-Christian foundation. I believe that absolute truth lies in the Words of a loving Creator God who demonstrated that love to us through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus.

I also believe that regardless of where you as a client in your own faith walk, I can help you. I have had the privilege of working with people from all over the faith map. My role as a therapist is not to preach at you; my job is to be a conduit of healing for you.

I have previously taught Integration of the Theory and Practice of Christian Counseling in the graduate counseling department of a major University. In short, this graduate level class explores the integration of the worlds of theology (the study of the nature of God and spiritual beliefs) and psychology (the study of the human mind and behaviors). Within this study, there are four predominant views or methods, if you will, of integrating these two important disciplines. One of them, which was originally called the nouthetic view (which primarily means to confront, admonish, or instruct), has now adopted the name "Biblical Counseling" to describe their methodologies.

On the surface this appears to be a good thing. However, at issue with many who espouse the Biblical Counseling model is their ultimately negative view of psychology. The belief of many in this view is that all answers to all struggles can be found in Scripture and therefore any study or application of the principles of psychology are flawed.
This brief article is not the place to debate this issue in depth. I used to tell my students frequently that there are people who are a lot smarter than me that defend and support each of the four predominant views. What I do want to state clearly here is my view which is simply this: I believe, as I've already mentioned, that ultimate truth lies with God and in God's Word, the Bible, and that ultimate hope is found in a regenerative relationship with Jesus Christ. I also believe that there are certain truths that do not contradict God's truths that can be gained from the study and application of psychology.

As such, I have a bachelors degree in sociology, a masters degree in counseling (psychology), and a doctorate degree in ministry (theology).

I try to avoid getting into a war of words with anybody on this subject because, as I've mentioned, there are some very intelligent people who all love God on all sides of the debate. What I will make a case for is this: I am a professional counselor who believes in God and I am humbled and honored to be able to say that I have been used by God to help many, many people from a huge spectrum of faith and life experiences find hope and healing.

I know I can help you as well.

Dr. Tim Gardner
 

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