In this modern world, there are many new terms coined every day and as soon as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) issues their latest version it seems like they have new information to add to it.
I’ve got my teammates, Kari Gross and Ben Holman, joining me for this controversial conversation. We are having a discussion all about the book, The Book of Woe: The DSM and the Unmaking of Psychiatry. The author, Gary Greenberg, gives an account of the history behind the DSM and his behind-the-scenes reporting of the deeply flawed process by which the DSM-5 has been revised. The DSM frequently turns suffering into a commodity, and the APA into its biggest beneficiary.
In this discussion, we want to take a deep dive into how we as Christians and pastors should respond when someone we love informs us that they are pursuing a path to the therapist down the street. Should we engage them as a pastor or as a friend and try to show them there’s a better way? What do you do?
Listen in!
Resources:
- (BOOK) The Book of Woe: The DSM and the Unmaking of Psychiatry
- (VIDEO) Priests in the Garden, Zombies in the Wilderness, and Prophets on the Wall
- (BOOK) The Christian’s Guide to Psychological Terms
- Learn more about our 5-Project Biblical Counseling Blueprint Model™
- Explore the rest of our website – bcmnational.org
Key Takeaways
- Where do you turn to understand suffering? What we are seeking to understand at the core is our suffering. Is there an underlying cause? Can I be healed? Will life get better? It isn’t wrong to ask these questions, but we need to be sure we are turning to the right source. We can turn to the DSM or the Living Word (the Bible). Depending on what source you choose will determine how you understand and “treat” your suffering.
- Beware of diagnoses that are void of personal responsibility. There is a diagnosis for any and everything in the DSM, which is why it’s turned into an encyclopedia of behaviors, disorders, and symptoms. We need to exercise caution when turning to diagnoses that relieve us of any personal responsibility. Oftentimes, the very thing we are receiving a diagnosis for is something God has already given us a reason for.
- Treat the true issue with the true solutions. As pastors, it is important to understand the language people are using today to be able to point them back to Scripture. We encourage you to at least be familiar with the DSM-5 to better understand what your flock is being told. People knowingly or unknowingly turn to a diagnosis to explain their behavior and how they are powerless to change it. It is our job to help them find the true solution to their problems—Christ.
Meet Kari
Kari Gross has been an executive assistant for Biblical Counseling Ministries since March 2022. She has an MA in Biblical Counseling from Trinity Theological Seminary and holds a certification from the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). Kari and her husband, Brett, have four children and live in Bloomington, Illinois where they attend Immanuel Baptist Church.
Meet Ben
Ben Holman is a Physician Assistant in Orthopedic Surgery, the Supervising and Lead Counselor at Biblical Counseling Ministries, and the Director of Biblical Counseling at New Castle Bible Church. Ben holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling and ACBC certification. He attends New Castle Bible Church in Mackinaw, Illinois with his wife, Ailey, and their six children.
