No one comes to counselling when everything is okay, when life is on cruise control, and everything is going according to plan. People seek a biblical counsellor when life is crashing; when suffering meets them at the door; when trials seem to choke them by the throat; and when they’re tired of sin after trying and failing to change. They feel stuck. That is when someone seeks biblical counselling. At that particular point, when someone comes in for counselling, many emotions are stirring in their heart. Most of the time, they’re desperate, hopeless, angry, frustrated, exhausted, filled with shame, languishing in failure and guilt, among other emotions. The bottom line is that they are seeking help.
When someone comes in, many emotions are stirring in their heart.
In seeking biblical counselling, there is a huge temptation for counselees to view the biblical counsellor as a fixer, one who will eradicate their suffering and vanish their struggle with sin, basically a Saviour to their situation—and that is what this article will address.
The Role of Biblical Counselling
First, let me encourage and commend biblical counselling for anyone who feels stuck and needs help with the issues they are facing. The scriptures are sufficient to address the challenges of life (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Biblical counselling exists to lovingly and wisely guide people, pointing them to Christ and praying that they are conformed to his image as God, through the Holy Spirit, ministers to their specific needs (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The scriptures are sufficient to address the challenges of life.
But given the weight of the situations that bring people into biblical counselling, it is easy for a counselee to see the biblical counsellor as a fixer—someone who will solve their problems or alleviate their suffering through counselling. It is also easy to spiritualise counselling and elevate the counsellor as the one who holds the antidote to their struggles. But there are dangers in having this mindset.
Four Dangers
1. Idolatry
When a counselee views a counselor as a fixer, they set themselves up for deep disappointment. This mindset, in itself, places the biblical counsellor in the place of a Saviour, because it replaces God with the biblical counsellor, thus breaking God’s command (Exodus 20:3-5) and causes the heart of the counselee to idolise the counsellor. This shows up when the counselor becomes excessively dependent upon the counselor.
2. Disappointment
When the counselor is viewed with a Saviour mentality by the counselee, disappointment is inevitable, and counselling will be stunted and produce no growth. The truth is that a counsellor has no ability in themselves to fix the problems brought into counselling. They rely solely on the Holy Spirit to help the counselee define their struggles biblically and guide them toward biblical solutions. It is important to understand that biblical counselors are merely facilitators in God’s hands for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13). This truth refutes any distorted view that elevates the counsellor above their role, as both the counselee and the counsellor are in equal need of God’s grace.
3. Laziness
Another danger of this mindset is that it can fuel laziness on the part of the counselee (Proverbs 13:4). The biblical counsellor does not possess a magical solution that instantly resolves every issue. Instead, they help the counselee see how scripture applies to their situation. Therefore, change happens as the counselee folds their sleeves and engages prayerfully with the homework that the counsellor gives.
4. People-Pleasing
On the other hand, some counselees might zealously complete their assigned homework—not out of a desire for genuine change, but to please the counsellor. This too is a dangerous trap, as it fosters people-pleasing and a fear of man rather than a sincere pursuit of biblical transformation (Proverbs 29:25). The counselee needs to hold biblical counselling homework in the proper perspective because ultimately it is aimed at pointing them to Christ and producing biblical change.
We Need a Better Perspective
To illustrate that biblical counsellors aren’t fixers more clearly, think of a biblical counsellor as someone who provides tools for the counselee to use in addressing their struggles. True biblical change happens when the counselee diligently applies those tools and relies on the Holy Spirit to bring about transformation. Successful biblical counselling occurs when the counsellor and counselee walk side by side (Galatians 6:2), depending on Christ—the only true Fixer—to bring healing and change. Additionally, biblical counsellors themselves must guard their hearts against the temptation to take on the role of fixer. It is not in their power to change anyone.
Jesus: The Ultimate Fixer
It is understandable for a counselee to be desperate for help. They carry heavy burdens. They long for relief. And Jesus Christ invites them to bring those burdens to him. “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
A biblical counsellor takes the counselee by hand and leads them to Christ.
The biblical counsellor does not take away or fix the burden. They can’t. Instead, the biblical counsellor takes the counselee by the hand and leads them to Christ, who meets them exactly where they are. This truth brings great relief to the counselee, allowing them to rest in God’s promises (Isaiah 41:10, 13), and it also frees the biblical counsellor from the pressure of trying to take God’s place—because doing so would be an exhausting and frustrating endeavour.
Biblical counselling is a valuable and necessary means of pointing people to Christ during their struggles. However, both counselees and counsellors must remember that true change and healing come only through Christ. The counselor is a guide or facilitator, but Christ alone is the Fixer. By keeping this perspective, both parties can approach counseling with the right heart posture, relying on God’s grace for true and lasting change.
