Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide

This book has everything a Christian Counselor would want to know and need to learn in counseling clients with a blend of biblical principles and psychological training. It is an outstanding book, incorporating years of experiences and practical studies with methodology that has been proven by both the American Psychological Association and the American Association of Christian Counselors to benefit the client and counselor. I highly recommend Christian Counseling - 3rd Edition to anyone who is considering becoming a counselor as part of a church lay counseling ministry or a professional clinician working with those who deal with Christian/spiritual issues. It is a must read! Well worth the time and investment.

Collins has written an excellent and comprehensive book concerning a wide variety of everyday issues. The book is organized into 7 main issue areas:1. Personal (anxiety, loneliness, depression, anger, guilt).2. Developmental (child rearing, adolescence through the later years).3. Interpersonal (sex, homosexuality, violence and abuse, relationships).4. Identity (inferiority, self-esteem, physical illness, grief, singleness, choosing a marriage partner).5. Family (premarital counseling, marital problems, pregnancy, divorce and remarriage).6. Other Issues (mental disorders, alcoholism, addictions, financial counseling, vocational counseling).7. Concluding Issues (spiritual issues, counseling the counselor).Periodically over the years I have referred to the book and the content seems to be solid and biblical.Whether a pastor, church staff person, professional counselor, or layperson, you will benefit from the wise counsel from an author with extensive counseling experience and a solid biblical background.Read, enjoy, be encouraged, and use what you learn to encourage others!

Collins has written an excellent that is useful for both the professional (pastor, counselor, church staff, etc.) or layperson. The author discusses counseling in 6 major areas:1. Personal - anxiety, loneliness, depression, anger, guilt.2. Developmental - child rearing, development from adolescence to the later years.3. Interpersonal - sex, homosexuality, violence and abuse.4. Identity - inferiority, self-esteem, grief, singleness, choosing a spouse.5. Family - premarital counseling, marital problems, pregnancy, divorce, remarriage.6. Other - vocational, mental disorders, alcoholism, addictions, spiritual issues.Collins addresses these areas based on his extensive Bible knowledge and counseling experience. Periodically I have referred to the book and have benefitted from its insights.Read, be encouraged, and encourage others with what you learn from reading this title!Highly recommended!

My edition is from 1980, but what Collins says in these pages is timeless. He deals with so many different kinds of issues, from personal issues to single/marriage issues and even sex. I certainly don't claim to be a psychologist or counselor, but this book has been a helpful tool to use for reference on a number of issues as I have lived my life and for friends who have been going through a variety of issues. I recommend this for the average Christian layperson.

This is a book I had problems putting down. I enjoyed the examples of case references, and the lessons it shows in the way christian counseling benefits people.For those of you not being help by mainstream counseling do yourself a favor and pick this one up.