Biblically Informed Counseling

Counselor Elaine Barron uses biblical principles to enhance her other counseling strategies  in Alpharetta & surrounding areas of Milton, Roswell, Johns Creek, Cumming, & East Cobb

 I would be remiss to not let you know how my relationship counseling has been influenced as a follower of Christ.  There are certain biblical principles that I seek to live by—not that I live by them perfectly, but I depend on God’s grace to make up for my weakness.   I believe these principles to be foundational for relational health.  
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       ​                                            GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1. I am not the center of the universe.  God is.  (Acts 17: 24, 25, 28; Romans 11:36; Revelation 4:11)
2. God created me as a unique individual with a purpose in mind.  (Psalm 139: 13-18;  Ephesians 2: 10; Colossians 1: 10)
3. My life on earth is short but valuable.  (Hebrews 11: 13-16; Ephesians 5: 15-17; James 4: 14-15; Psalm 39: 4; I Corinthians 13: 12)
4. God provided moral absolutes and guidelines for our benefit.  (Exodus 20: 3-17;  2 Timothy 3: 16; John 15:10)
5. What we feed our mind has influence on our behavior.  (2 Corinthians 10: 5; Romans 12: 2; Philippians 4: 8; Colossians 3: 2; Matthew 15: 19)
6. The goal of every believer is to become more like Christ.  (Philippians 2: 5; 2 Corinthians 3: 18;  Romans 8: 29)
7. Jesus was the embodiment of grace and truth. (John 1: 14)
8. God works in the midst of our struggles.  (Romans 8: 28; I Corinthians 12: 9-10;  Romans 5: 3-5; 2 Corinthians 4: 8-9, 16-18; Psalm 34: 17-18; James 1: 2-14; 2 Corinthians 1: 3-6)

 

                                                RELATIONAL PRINCIPLES
​             (These apply to marriage relationships as a subset of all relationships)

1. People are meant to be in relationship.  (Genesis 2: 18; Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12; Hebrews 10: 24-25; Romans 12: 4-5)
2. Love is a verb. (John 13: 34-35; I Corinthians 13: 4-7; James 1: 22-25)
3. When we operating under the control of the Holy Spirit, we will exhibit his fruit:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-contol (Galatians 5: 22-23)

     There is an extensive Biblical list of how we are to treat one another. The following are a few of them:   
     a.  “Encourage one another and build each other up” (I Thessalonians 5: 9-11, Hebrews 3: 13)                                                                                                                      
     b. “Confess your faults to one another & pray for one another” (James 5: 16)
     c.  “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”  (Ephesians 4: 32)
     For more comprehensive list click on this link: www.smallgroupchurches.com/the-59-one-anothers-of-the-bible/
 

                                     CONFLICT IN RELATIONSHIP PRINCIPLES

1. Admit and work on what I’m doing wrong before I speak to another about their wrong (Matthew 7: 4-5)
2. When approaching a person about their wrong, use a spirit of gentleness and humility  with the goal toward the other person’s good (Galatians 6: 1)
3. When there is a problem between me and another person, it is my job to seek reconciliation, whether it was their sin or mine (Matthew 5: 23-24; Matthew 18: 15)
4. Sometimes it becomes necessary to take others along with you if speaking privately is not effective (Matthew 18: 16)
5. Forgiveness does not necessitate reconciliation.  Repentance from the injurer is necessary for reconciliation and healing of a relationship.  (Matthew 7: 16; Matthew 3: 8, Ephesians 5: 6-7)

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