Nouthetic counseling is a type of Christian counseling that emphasizes the use of biblical principles and direct confrontation to help people with their problems. The term “nouthetic” comes from the Greek word “noutheteo,” which means “to admonish” or “to warn.”
The approach was developed in the 1970s by Jay E. Adams, a Christian counselor and author, who believed that traditional psychotherapy relied too heavily on secular and humanistic theories, and that biblical principles could provide a more effective approach to counseling.
Nouthetic counselors typically use the Bible as their primary source of guidance and focus on helping people to understand and apply biblical principles to their lives. They often take a confrontational approach, challenging clients to take responsibility for their actions and holding them accountable for their behavior.
Critics of nouthetic counseling argue that it can be overly simplistic and dismissive of the value of other forms of therapy, and that the confrontational approach can be harmful if not done with sensitivity and care. Supporters, however, argue that it can be a powerful tool for helping people to address deep-seated spiritual and emotional issues, and that it provides a unique perspective that is not found in other forms of therapy.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 