How often has someone told you they have a chemical imbalance or that they have received a mental illness disorder diagnosis? As a pastor and a counselor have you felt equipped to advise that person?
What many people don’t realize is that these diagnoses are often a prerequisite to receiving treatment. They are treating the brain, but they are not taking the time to counsel the mind.
My guest today is my previous professor of biblical counseling at The Master’s University, Greg Gifford. He is also the author of Lies My Therapist Told Me: Why Christians Should Aim for More Than Just Treating Symptoms. Greg holds a PhD in biblical counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is an Elder as well as an Associate Pastor of Counseling & Life Groups at Faith Community Church in Santa Clarita, California.
In this episode, we discuss the difference between treating the brain versus caring for the mind, why pastors can still counsel with confidence, some common lies members of your congregation may have heard from therapists, and more.
Resources:
- Connect with Greg on his website, Facebook, or Instagram
- (BOOK) Lies My Therapist Told Me
- Learn more about our 5-Project Biblical Counseling Blueprint Model™
- Explore the rest of our website – bcmnational.org
Key Takeaways
- You are uniquely equipped to treat the mind. Scripture teaches us that we are responsible for renewing the mind and yet, we can often feel intimidated when someone has received a diagnosis. God has equipped you with His word to shepherd and treat the mind in regard to all topics.
- Enlist the support of others. You are human and cannot do everything from cleaning the church building to preparing sermons, visiting the sick, and counseling others. You need to have your hands over all those, but that doesn’t mean you should do them alone. Invest in building a robust counseling team to help offer SoulCare.
- A person is not defined by a diagnosis. Many diagnoses are driven by incentives meaning that you cannot get access to addition resources or help without being told you have a disorder. What we need to remind them is that their personhood and their minds are not defined by a diagnosis. It is defined by our relationship with Christ.
Meet Greg
Greg Gifford is a professor at The Master’s University and an Elder and Associate Pastor of Counseling & Life Groups at Faith Community Church in Santa Clarita, California. He earned his PhD in Biblical Counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Greg’s research interests are the influencing role of habits to desires and also Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. He is the author of several books including Heart and Habits and Lies My Therapist Told Me. Greg is a certified fellow and counselor with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).
