A Biblical Counseling Process
Based on previous entries on the counseling process suggested by Girard Egan and Lawrence Brammer, here is a five-step Biblical counseling process with some clear illustrations from the Bible.
1) Building a relationship between the helper and the helpee (Biblical illustration: John 16:7-13)
2) Exploring the problem, trying to clarify issues and determine what has been done in the past to tackle the problem
3) Deciding on a course of action. Several possible alternative may be tried one at a time. (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13)
4) Stimulating action that both the helper and helpee evaluate together. When, something doesn’t work, try again. (John 16:13; Acts 10:19,20; 16:6)
5) Terminating the counseling relationship and encouraging the helpee to apply what was learned as he launches on his own. (Romans 8:14)
For a better Biblical illustration, see Luke 24, where Jesus met two men on the road to Emmaus and helped them through their crisis and period of discouragement.