“How should a Christian view Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?”……Answer: According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts termed “obsessions,” and/or repetitive behaviors, termed “compulsions.” Repetitive behaviors such as hand-washing, counting, checking or cleaning are often performed with the hope of […]
“Does the Bible mention schizophrenia?”……Answer: Schizophrenia, a severe form of mental illness, is nowhere explicitly mentioned in the Bible. However, some people in the Bible exhibited characteristics of schizophrenic behavior. People suffering from schizophrenia have a strong tendency to withdraw themselves from the real world and display irrational or inappropriate reactions to normal, everyday situations. […]
“Should a Christian see a psychologist / psychiatrist?”……Answer: Many Christians struggle with the decision to see a psychologist or psychiatrist as the key to overcoming mental illness. Christian psychologists, psychiatrists, and counselors are numerous, and Christians are seeking their advice regularly, most often for depression and anxiety. Part of the difficulty is that there are […]
“What is theophostic counseling, and is it biblical?”……Answer: The word "theophostic" comes from two Greek words which mean "God" and "light." Theophostic counseling is essentially "God bringing to light the truth." Theophostic counseling was originally developed by Dr. Ed Smith. The primary theory behind theophostic counseling is that many issues that require counseling, such as […]
“What is the value of pastoral counseling?”……Answer: The value of counseling by a pastor is many faceted. Pastoral counseling can be defined as counseling by a church pastor directed to an individual or couple in his own flock. There are instances where church pastors counsel those outside his congregation, but generally speaking, the benefits of […]
“What does the Bible say about being bipolar / manic depression?”……The terms "bipolar" or "manic depression" refer to a condition described as "a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function." Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are […]
“What is psychotheology?”……Answer: The term "psychotheology" is an adaptation of a theory from Sigmund Freud called "psychopathology" in which he suggests that our unconscious mind can influence our daily life by manifesting itself in dreams, forgetfulness, slips of the tongue, or various other behaviors. In psychopathology, the psychological creates the pathology. Similarly, psychotheology claims that […]