A Blog post on Discipleship Counselling

Discipleship Counseling: A Path to Spiritual Growth

Introduction

Discipleship counseling is a unique blend of spiritual mentorship and counseling, aimed at guiding individuals through their spiritual journey while addressing personal challenges. This approach integrates biblical principles with counseling techniques to foster spiritual growth and personal transformation.

The Role of the Discipler 

In discipleship counseling, the discipler often takes on the role of a counselor. This involves providing guidance, support, and wisdom to help the disciple navigate life’s challenges. The discipler must be prepared to address both corrective and inquisitive counseling needs:

1. Corrective Counseling: This involves addressing issues related to spiritual or moral shortcomings. The goal is to help the disciple realign with biblical teachings and principles.
2. Inquisitive Counseling: Here, the discipler provides direction and answers to the disciple’s questions about faith, life decisions, and spiritual growth¹.

Core Principles of Discipleship Counseling

1. Acceptance: Recognize that, in and of ourselves, we are insufficient to solve others’ problems. Our sufficiency comes from God (2 Corinthians 3:4-5). This principle alleviates the pressure to “fix” the disciple and instead focuses on guiding them towards God’s wisdom.
2. Asking for Wisdom: James 1:5 encourages us to ask God for wisdom. In discipleship counseling, this means seeking divine insight to understand and address the disciple’s issues from a godly perspective.
3. Attentiveness: Listening is as crucial as speaking. Pay close attention to what the disciple is saying and what they might not be saying. This helps in identifying the root problems rather than just addressing symptoms¹.

Supervision as Discipleship

Supervision in biblical counseling can be seen as a form of discipleship. It involves a developmental, life-transforming relationship where the supervisor mentors the counselor, helping them grow in their counseling skills and spiritual maturity. This relational approach ensures that the counseling provided is not only effective but also deeply rooted in biblical principles².

Conclusion

Discipleship counseling is a powerful tool for spiritual growth and personal transformation. By integrating biblical wisdom with counseling techniques, disciplers can effectively guide their disciples through life’s challenges, helping them grow closer to God and stronger in their faith.