Counseling Model

What is Faith-Based Therapy™?

There are many counseling models utilized by secular and religious counselors today. These models are theorized according to an understanding of the creation and psychology of man. Psychology is simply the study of behavior. Biblically, the psychology of behavior is summed up with the sentence ‘People are moved by what they believe, but they do what they choose’. Faith-Based Therapy™ is a Biblical model of therapy based on the dynamics of beliefs, choices, and faith. Faith-Based Therapy™ is a Christian counseling model that explains behavior in practical terms. Once understood, change is more easily facilitated.
In simple terms:

You feel what you feel, think what you think, and want what you want because you are moved by what you believe.
You behave the way you do because of your choices.
Someone can help you change what you believe to be based on truth and reality, but only you can make loving and responsible choices.
Yet when challenged to believe the Word of God, you become empowered with life-changing choices.
When you choose to believe the Word of God, faith arises and change occurs by the grace of God.

Beliefs Feelings, Thoughts, Wants Choices and Actions

When you change what you believe, it will change what you feel, what you think and what you want and thus empower you for better choices. When your beliefs are based on the truth of God and you yield to that belief, then faith becomes active. (“For by grace you have been saved through faith: and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,” Ephesians 2:8. (NASB)). Faith not only has the ability to change you in the middle of circumstances, but to change the circumstances as well.

Foundational Concepts

IIFBC bases the foundational concepts taught on the tri-part being of man. (“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,” I Thessalonians 5:23.) Man is a spiritual being, with a soul, living in a physical body. Healing and recovery should occur on all levels.

IIFBC uses Biblical faith-based concepts for spiritual restitution. (“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost,” Romans 15:13.)

The Faith Based Therapy™ model is highly effective for mental and emotional rehabilitation along with natural health methods for physical assistance from chemical imbalances.

How To Use Faith-Based Therapy™ In Counseling Sessions

With the help of the Holy Spirit, Faith-Based Therapy™ is meant to be relatively brief in length, yet eternally life changing in effect. Its focus is on solutions, not problems, on the future and not the past.
Intently listen to and love the client. Let them express their thoughts and feelings. Accept them where they are and relate to them on their level.
Prayerfully and scripturally give hope and comfort that God has solutions for their present situation and for their future. Lead them to Christ.
In love, discuss with the client their God-designed needs, strengths, behavioral patterns, and gift motivations from IIFBC’s proprietary assessment. Help them discover that God has designed them with a purpose for their life.
Explore problem beliefs along with discerning of spiritual, psychological, and physiological areas that would hinder recovery. Address areas when appropriate.
Present belief choices based on reality and scriptural truth. Help them understand that they are a product of their choices based on their beliefs about themselves, others, and God. Help them see that God is able and willing to take a bad situation and make it an opportunity for their good and for the good of others. This allows them opportunity to come out of their wilderness to become disciples ready for God’s intervention.
Allow them to make faith-based choices according to the scriptural purpose of God for their life. Change is monitored through client action and accomplishing of established goals. Their decisions are their choices and not your responsibility.

call 856 213 5845 or email: acquirethelegacy@gmail.com

Dorothy James Wesley,MA.CC
SAP, RAS, Cert.MC, BCCC,PC
Acquire the Legacy Counseling Center
P.O. Box 1150, Vineland, NJ 08362
Ph: 609 233 7652

Acquire the Legacy Counseling Center is committed to helping individuals, ministries and churches live out the commission to enrich lives.