building on a solid foundation: the barnabas center model paper
As a Christian counseling center, we are committed to helping people heal, grow, and thrive in their relationships with God, themselves, and others. We believe that counseling is not just about fixing problems, but also about discovering God’s purpose and plan for our lives. We believe that God is the source of all healing, growth, and transformation, and that he invites us to participate in his work of restoring and renewing all things.
But what does this mean in practice? How do we approach counseling from a God-oriented perspective? What are the core principles that undergird our counselors’ work with clients? These are some of the questions that we have been exploring as a staff this year, as we revisit and reflect on our model paper. The model paper is a document that articulates our theological understanding of people and change, based on the Scriptures and informed by research and experience. It is not a set of rules or formulas, but rather a guide and a resource that helps us align our work with God’s truth and grace.
Below are some of the main points from our model paper, along with questions that we ask ourselves and ponder in our work with others.
God First: How do we respect and honor God as the Maker, Keeper, and Restorer of all things, and how do we seek His direction and strength in our process?
Our Worth: How do we confirm and rejoice in the inherent dignity and value of every human being, created in the image of God, and how do we discover and use our abilities and gifts?
Our Sin: How do we acknowledge and face the truth and consequences of sin, both in ourselves and in the world, and how do we move toward repentance and receive the freedom of forgiveness?
God’s Actions: How do we rely on and work with God’s sovereign and loving deeds in our lives, and how do we recognize and respond to God’s calls and actions?
Grace Transforms: How do we experience and show God’s unconditional love and approval through Christ, and how do we accept and live out grace in our relationships and actions?
Suffering Redefined: How do we deal and grow with difficulties and struggles, and how do we find purpose and hope in our suffering?
Encourage: How do we support and motivate each other to follow God’s best for our lives, and how do we maintain a positive and realistic perspective on our problems and possibilities?
Integrity: How do we live honestly and in line with our beliefs and values, and how do we stay connected with our faith and life in a holistic way?
Humility: How do we lower ourselves before God and others, and how do we form a healthy and balanced self-understanding and self-worth?
These are some of the topics that we are exploring, drawing from our model paper and our experiences and insights. By sharing these, we wanted to remind you about our foundational beliefs as we counsel, but also inspire you to consider how these ideas might be helpful to consider for you, your relationship with God and others. We believe that counseling is one way God uses to bring about transformation, not just for our clients, but for all of us.
Thank you for reading and considering these thoughts. Together, we heal, learn, and thrive.
If you are interested in reading the full model paper, you can find it on our website at: https://thebarnabascenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/TBC-Model-Paper.pdf.
You can also learn more about our counselors, services, and resources here: https://thebarnabascenter.org.
John Pierce been counseling and leading groups at The Barnabas Center since 1997. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from William Jennings Bryan College and a master’s degree in Biblical counseling from Colorado Christian University. John is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina (LCMHCS), a Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist (CSAT), and a Certified Multiple Addictions Therapist. He serves as the Clinical Director for the Center and oversees the Honors Program, a multi-faceted group-based course for men seeking sexual health, freedom from addictions, and intimacy growth. John is married to Sandy and they enjoy their three adult children and one grandchild. He loves to learn, collect quotes, and create, particularly when it involves sculpting with clay.
