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The term “theophostic” originates from two Greek words meaning “God” and “light.” Theophostic counseling essentially involves “God revealing the truth.” Dr. Ed Smith initially developed theophostic counseling. The main concept behind theophostic counseling is that many issues requiring counseling, such as depression and anger, stem from false beliefs that individuals hold due to comments from others, incorrect teachings, or negative life experiences.
The objective of theophostic counseling is to guide individuals to Jesus for healing and allow Him to illuminate the truth to them. For instance, a young man who blames himself for his parents’ divorce or a woman burdened by constant shame from a past sexual act may benefit from theophostic counseling. This form of counseling aims to uncover the falsehoods and replace them with the truth that we are not accountable for the sins of others and that God can and will forgive and cleanse us of all our sins.
Is theophostic counseling aligned with biblical principles? As mentioned earlier, there is validity in the principles of theophostic counseling. Many individuals harbor misconceptions about traumatic events in their lives, leading to pain, depression, and distorted beliefs about God, forgiveness, and salvation. By exposing these falsehoods to the truth found in God’s Word and the love and grace of Jesus, spiritual and emotional healing can occur. Therefore, certain aspects of theophostic counseling are indeed rooted in biblical teachings.
However, when seeking any form of counseling, it is crucial to exercise wisdom and discernment “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”, (James 1:5). While some practitioners of theophostic counseling may be devout Christian individuals withA genuine love for the Lord and His Word is not universal among all who claim to practice theophostic counseling. Not every emotional issue stems from a falsehood, and not every traumatic experience must be addressed for someone to feel God’s love and the joy of His presence. Some theophostic counselors delve too deeply into unbiblical psychology, like repressed memory therapy. Just as with any “Christian counseling,” there is a significant distinction between counseling based on biblical principles and counseling that incorporates ungodly psychology with sporadic Scripture references. For a more in-depth explanation, please read the following article: Psychology and Biblical counseling.
In every aspect of life, Christians must exercise wisdom and discernment when seeking guidance. We should not unquestioningly accept a counselor’s advice without comparing it to Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and praying over it (Philippians 4:6-8). Certain elements of theophostic counseling can lead to spiritual restoration if applied in accordance with the Bible. However, theophostic counseling can be harmful if it lacks a solid biblical foundation. Before considering theophostic counseling, we strongly advise conducting thorough research on the subject and carefully evaluating the counselor’s use of the Bible in their methods.
