Category: Articles

The Rest of the Story

June 11, 2019

by Ann Maree Goudzwaard

A particularly fruitful exercise in the practice of biblical counseling is data gathering. The Personal Data Inventory helps counselors discover basic information about the counselee and the nature of their problem. Counselors can refer back to the PDI from time to time in order to glean a fuller understanding of their counselee’s problems. However, one of the best data tools available to a counselor in the process of counseling is the circumstance journal. This is not a free-flowing stream of consciousness kind of journal to catalogue feelings. Rather, the circumstance journal is an account of a situation that leads the counselee to further investigate their typical responses. I find that the experiences counselees encounter between our visits provide valuable information. This data can help lead us toward the process of change.

The idea isn’t mine. Plenty of seasoned biblical counselors have a version that works best for them. My process looks something like this:

Instruct the counselee to record a couple of sentences about a circumstance in which they became upset, angry, cried, argued, or became defensive. This is not an all-inclusive list of “upsets” that may occur in their world. However, their responses at these moments can be red flags alerting us to the ways God may be working change in their lives.

In light of the circumstance, ask the counselee to answer this series of questions: [i]

  • What were you thinking?
  • What were you feeling?
  • How did you act?
  • What did you want?

Have the counselee write out the works of the flesh found in Galatians 5:19-21. Ask the counselee to prayerfully consider which works of the flesh were evident in their response to the circumstances.

Ask the counselee to then prayerfully seek the Lord’s forgiveness for their fleshly responses.

Ask the counselee to write out the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22, 23. Have them prayerfully consider an opposite “fruit action” response. For example; if they responded with jealousy, they can consider a specific, loving act such as offering to pray for the other person or serve them with a particular need. If they responded with divisiveness, they can exhibit peace by seeking forgiveness.

We sin in very specific ways. The circumstance journal helps to identify the particular sins in our responses, the precise works of the flesh to put off, how to renew the mind with truth, and the genuine fruit of repentance to put on.

At first, counselees find this practice tedious. My intention is not to teach them to be morbidly introspective. However, in order to grow in Christlikeness, we must all be students of ourselves. I want to help people get in the practice of naturally evaluating how they interpret life and how they respond on the path that God ordains. The circumstance journal encourages this practice.

____________

[i] An earlier version of this journal (“Upsets Journal”) can be found on our website here

Author

  • IBCD
    The Institute for Biblical Counseling & Discipleship exists to strengthen churches in one another care by offering training, counseling resources, events, and free resources that are helpful to anyone interested in learning how to better help others.
Tags:

Related posts

The Gospel Brings Healing

The Gospel Brings Healing

I find that many Christians get uncomfortable when talking about God and healing. To discuss God bringing physical healing raises controversial questions about spiritual gifts. To discuss emotional healing seems to reflect a concept created by modern psychology, and...

What Is the Devil’s Part in Temptation?

What Is the Devil’s Part in Temptation?

God is never the source of temptation to sin. Instead, the cycle begins with strong desires in our hearts. So perhaps you’re wondering if the devil is involved at all. Yes, he is. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in...

Special Preview: Introduction to Midnight Mercies

Special Preview: Introduction to Midnight Mercies

What did you expect when you found yourself expecting?* Years ago, I imagined motherhood would be full of joyous milestones and memorable moments. What I didn’t expect was so much hurt, heartbreak, conflict, and disappointment. I’ve often felt clueless and incapable....