Speak The Truth

Two-Book Series InformationOn September 15, 2020, Baker Books released Dr. Bob Kellemen’s 19th and 20th books—a two-book series on marriage and family counseling:  Gospel-Centered Marriage Counseling: An Equipping Guide for Pastors and CounselorsGospel-Centered Family Counseling: An Equipping Guide for Pastors and Counselors To learn more about the books, including free resources and sample chapters, people can visit Bob’s RPM Ministries website: www.rpmministries.org. Also, RPM Ministries has it's own secure, user-friendly RPM Ministries Book Store (https://rpmministries.org/store/) where people can order either book individually for 35% off, or they can purchase the two books together for 40% off. About Bob Kellemen: Bob Kellemen, Th.M., Ph.D.: Dr. Kellemen is Academic Dean, Dean of Students, and Professor of Biblical Counseling at Faith Bible Seminary in Lafayette, Indiana. Bob is also the Founder and CEO of RPM Ministries through which he speaks, writes, and consults on biblical counseling and Christian living. Dr. Kellemen served as the founding Executive Director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition. For seventeen years, Bob was the founding Chairman of and Professor in the MA in Christian Counseling and Discipleship department at Capital Bible Seminary in Lanham, MD. Bob has pastored four churches and equipped biblical counselors in each church. Bob and his wife, Shirley, have been married for thirty-nine years; they have two adult children, Josh and Marie, and three granddaughters. Dr. Kellemen is the author of twenty books including Gospel-Centered Marriage Counseling and Gospel-Centered Family Counseling. 

Biblical Concepualization of OCD 300.3Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both:Obsessions are conceptualized by the following:Fallen World—There is empirical evidence that obsessions are strongly influenced by factors associated with living in a fallen world (i.e., brain structure, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse at a young age).   Fear—Obsessions within this diagnosis are typically associated with perceived and potentially dreadful outcomes.  For example, becoming contaminated by germs or unbiblical ideas about being condemned by God.Deception—Obsessions are products of a deceptive heart (Jeremiah 17:9), and are not rooted in actual, objective reality.  Self-Focus—Since obsessions create significant distress and anxiety, they will often contribute to an excessive and extreme form of self-focus wherein the vast amount of a person’s cognitive activity and life is centered on his/her subjective reality.Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both:Compulsions are conceptualized by the following:Control—Unlike obsessions (which are involuntary), compulsions are learned behaviors that are an attempt to control one’s sense of anxiety or distress as well as perceived threats or dreadful outcomes.Deception—Compulsions “feel” uncontrollable, but this is simply another agonizing deception of the heart that is associated with this particular diagnosis.  Additionally, compulsions ultimately do not effectively treat the haunting obsessions that create distress in people.Folly—Defined as a lack of normal prudence and foresight (especially in reference to God). When an individual follows his/her own folly it turns his/her world upside down(Proverbs 19:3).  Counsel may increase fear/anger/distress:When being counseled or treated, counselees are confronted with new ways of seeing and experiencing, and this may manifest increased fear and anger.    

DSM 5 Criteria for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 300.3Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both:Obsessions are defined by (1) and (2)Recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and unwanted, and that in most individuals cause marked anxiety or distress. The individual attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, urges, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action (i.e., by performing a compulsion).2. Compulsions are defined by (1) and (2)Repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.  The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing anxiety or distress, or preventing some dreaded event or situation…clearly excessive.B. Presence of obsessions, compulsions, or both:Compulsions are defined by (1) and (2)Repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly.  The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing anxiety or distress, or preventing some dreaded event or situation…clearly excessive.

This was a podcast we did earlier this year to begin the conversation regarding the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder with an important disclaimer. In order to re-engage the conversation of counseling people who have been highly psychologized, we wanted to review this episode to set up our episode next week regarding (OCD | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).Here are the notes from earlier this year on this episode. Stay tuned next week as we continue in our "unpacking diagnoses" mini series: unpacking OCD.The disclaimer is to help pastors, biblical counselors, and lay leaders to engage the culture with this material.– Understanding the DSM and its terms– Not feeling intimidated by labels– Diagnostic damnation - the label becomes the person’s identity– Everyone has a worldview, a lense, a conceptual lens in which they view everything– Secular psychology pushes, what does my theory say - so our theory informs our methodology– The DSM is the bible of Psychiatry– when we encounter these labels, we’re not counseling them, we're counseling the heart - according to scripture

In this episode, host, Mike Van Dyke sits down with Pastor and Biblical Counselor, Lee Lewis to discuss establishing mutual soul care in the local church - bringing soul care into the life and culture of the local church. They discuss the process of evaluating the culture in a church - it's care culture and discipleship culture. And asking questions that may reveal being a Sunday heavy church. Is it time to change the model of our churches? Is the current model producing disciples that are equipped to love as Christ called us to in order to show the world that we are His disciples? Episode Resources: www.soulcareconsulting.com Material: Level 1 - Transforming Mutual Care. Level 2 - Transforming Small Group Leadership

Episode Notes:Trauma-Induced AnxietyThe effects of sinIdentifying gospel gaps in the anxious heartConcern and trouble are sinful, it's when it goes beyond that to worry and anxietyWhat we do with worry either leads to trust or anxiety. And depending on where that trust is, depends on when something turns into full-blown anxiety.Conditioned Anxiety - when one blows right past care and concern into anxiety.Then anxious heart always puts God on trial and questions His character.Episode Resouces:www.bethmariebroom.com 

Episode Notes:what are the psalmshow would you use it in the counseling sessionAfter the session for homeworkThe Psalms naturally model for us a Godwardness to our prayers, thinking, suffering, and pain.What life is about the bible is about, and what the bible is about is what life most needs to be about.Resources: Counseling Through The Psalms - ABCRes

Episode Notes:In this episode, the hosts, Mike, Shauna, and Jeremy are joined with Author, Elyse Fitzpatrick to discuss her Home: How Heaven and the New Earth Satisfy Our Deepest Longings. And then they discuss her newest book, Worthy: Celebrating the Value of Women.Episode ResourcesWorthyHomeSheep Among WolvesElyse's Podcast - Worthy 

Episode Notes:ABC's aim through the certification pathway to help equip the local church - a pastor in helping shepherd the local church - but also the professional to help better apply the bible in their practice.Our pathway provides a foundational process in which to grow while allowing one to practically apply the truth as one learns; so our methodology creates the ability to cultivate a biblical counseling paradigm in the local church.The certification parameter creates a culture of accountability and provides a pathway to becoming equipped in how to apply the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyday life.Level 1 Certification Objectives Develop a biblical philosophy of the Christian life that includes active involvement in a community of believers.Develop a biblical philosophy of counseling that emphasizes the call of all believers to take part in the work of counseling and discipleship.Understand the basic meaning of biblical counseling.Acquire a basic understanding of the general and specific methods of biblical counseling.Cover various counseling-related issues that include depression, anger, anxiety, addiction, and sexuality.Level 2 Certification Objectives Develop basic practical skills in the personal ministry of God’s word with people. These basic skills include careful listening, helping people open up, conveying compassion, grace, and mercy, and guiding constructive ministry conversations.Develop more advanced skills in the personal ministry of God’s word with people. These more advanced skills include responding patiently to difficult ministry conversations, discerning counseling problems from within a biblical worldview, helping people understand and apply the gospel of Jesus Christ in daily life, and more.Grow in Christian maturity as a minister of the gospel. That is, learn to be humble, repentant, and dependent upon the Holy Spirit in heart and life while ministering to others.Broaden your general knowledge of Scripture as it relates to life and struggles while also broadening the strategic and careful application of the Scripture to specific people and their situations.Learn how to depend on the Holy Spirit during the process of change.Develop a genuine love for others, and active, daily prayer life.Level 3 Certification Objectives Specialized trainingEpisode Resources:shauna@christiancounseling.com for more information about ways to connect with training centers

Exercise - excerpt from the monthly (August) EquipU piece: Exercise has wonderful potential to positively impact one’s mental state in various ways. It is also important to note that while not emphasized in Western culture, exercise at root, is a spiritual activity. It is a spiritual activity because one’s motives for doing anything, including exercise, are ultimately anchored in what an individual is worshipping.1 Cor. 10:31 - "Whatever you do" "do all" "to the glory of God"Creating a purpose statement - placing God at the center of why you do a particular activity/exercise, etc.Gal. 5:16-17 - competing desiresMatt. 6:21 - what does the person valueEph. 4:22-24 - deceitful desires and what they can produceThe physical and emotional benefits of exercising Endorphin release - improving sleep quality, mood and cognitive functionNeurotropic release - learning abilityAdrenal functioning - improving mod, and ability to cope with stressHabituation