What is Biblical Care/Counseling?

Glad you asked!

Biblical care/counseling at Wholehearted is Christ-centered guidance that integrates scriptural wisdom with insights from clinical research, all within the context of authentic relationship. Unlike professional therapy, we provide pastoral care that addresses spiritual, emotional, and relational challenges through the lens of biblical truth. Our approach recognizes the whole person—head, heart and body. While we complement rather than replace professional mental health services, we create a sacred space where your story is heard, your struggles are honored, and your journey toward wholeness in Christ is passionately supported.

Values

  • We are committed to Christian orthodoxy and the centrality of the gospel. Our goal is spiritual formation by the Spirit of Christ, through the gospel of Christ, into the image of Christ. We openly use and commend the disciplines of prayer, Christian meditation, contemplation, silence/solitude etc.

  • We give the Scriptures primacy. They set the agenda, are the ultimate norm for Christian belief and practice, and are a primary means of formation. Therefore, the Scriptures have a central role in our method of care.

  • We seek to honor the complexity of the human person as an embodied soul. From a psychological perspective, our goal is the integrated life. We are trauma-informed, utilizing insights and certain evidence based practices from psychology and science.

  • We believe that we cannot live fully apart from loving connection with God and others. Christian theology and brain science have taught us that humans are relational beings. Our model of care flows from this core reality, honoring story and the impact of family of origin.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

  • We provide biblical counseling rather than licensed professional therapy. As such, we do not:

    • Offer professional clinical counseling services in the state of Florida

    • Diagnose mental health disorders

    • Provide professional treatment for mental health conditions

    • Prescribe medications

    We deeply value the work of licensed professionals and actively refer to and collaborate with gospel-centered Christian therapists and psychiatrists when it would benefit those we serve.

    It's helpful to understand the distinction: Licensed professional Christian therapy is clinically based and biblically informed, while our biblical care/counseling is biblically based and clinically informed.

    In essence, we offer pastoral support and guidance designed to facilitate your wholistic formation in Christ.

  • Our biblical counseling approach offers pastoral guidance for challenges including:

    • Spiritual formation and discernment

    • Soul care for ministry leaders experiencing burnout or vocational questions

    • Strengthening your identity in Christ

    • Story work

    • Navigating seasons of transition or crisis

    • Developing healthy spiritual rhythms and practices

    • Improving relational dynamics and communication

    • Breaking free from unhealthy patterns and spiritual stagnation

    • Addressing issues of guilt, shame, and fear

    • Establishing biblical boundaries and self-care

    • Marriage enrichment and premarital preparation

    • Finding gospel-centered perspectives on life challenges

    • Integrating faith with everyday decisions and struggles

    • Navigating feelings of anxiety and depression (while referring to professionals for clinical needs)

    We provide compassionate support for these concerns through a biblical lens, while recognizing when professional mental health services are needed and making appropriate referrals.

  • Biblical care is an art that centers on our transformed and transforming presence in Christ. We create a space where you feel seen, soothed, safe, and secure—allowing you to engage your reality with curiosity and compassion. Scripture naturally weaves through our conversations, offering timely wisdom.

    Our approach follows four questions modeled after God's interaction with Adam and Eve:

    Where are you? We listen to your current struggles and help name what you're experiencing.

    Who told you? We explore your story and relational patterns, including how God uniquely designed you.

    Where have you taken your hunger? We help you connect with your body and emotions, becoming curious about protective strategies and unhealthy patterns.

    What will you do now? We imagine a biblical way forward through repentance, forgiveness, new rhythms of life, spiritual disciplines, and community engagement.

    Adapted from Soul Care Institute, Crosspoint Ministry