20 Top Biblical Counseling Books of 2020

A Fruitful Year for Biblical Counseling Resources

If you’re a counselor, pastor, student, educator, one-another minister, small group leader, soul care provider, spiritual friend, spouse, or parent, you want to know the most helpful books about biblical counseling—books that seek to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth.

Because we all want to be aware of solid resources for Christian life and ministry, I’ve collated top biblical counseling books on an annual basis since 2012. See the end of this post for links to the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 lists.

In 2020, I had many highly relevant and significantly helpful biblical counseling books from which to choose (see this link to 52 Biblical Counseling Books of 2020). (Also, for direct links to 920 biblical counseling books see The Annual Guide to Biblical Counseling Resources.) Being 2020, I’ve selected the 20 Top Biblical Counseling Books of 2020. I’ve chosen these books on the basis of their:

Biblical depth
Relevance to Christian living
Practicality for one-another ministry
Faithfulness to the sufficiency of Scripture
Application to progressive sanctification
And by accepting nominations from biblical counseling leaders

I list them below in alphabetical order by author—the top 20 books published in 2020 about biblical counseling, written by a biblical counselor about Christian living, or important to biblical counselors.

Arms, Donn, and Dave Swavely, Editors. Institute for Nouthetic Studies. Whole Counsel: The Public and Private Ministries of the Word

Jay Adams’ landmark book Competent to Counsel was first published 50 years ago, and it was the first of over 100 books that he has written. The editors hope this volume will be used by God to spark a resurgence of interest in Dr. Adams’ teaching, and more importantly, a return to the timeless truths of Scripture on which it is based.

Baker, Amy, Editor. New Growth Press. Caring for the Souls of Children: A Biblical Counselor’s Manual

Caring for the Souls of Children equips counselors, parents, pastors, and other helpers who love children, to boldly trust in the sufficiency of Scripture for counseling. Edited by counselor and author, Amy Baker, this in-depth resource begins with an overview of foundational principles for counseling children and addresses a different counseling topic in each subsequent chapter.

Brooks, Nate, and Anna Mondal. Shepherd Press. Help! Our Sex Live Is Troubled by Past Abuse

A couple’s sexual relationship within the covenant of marriage is not immune to the continuing impact of past sexual abuse of one spouse. This sensitively written mini-book offers understanding of the issues for both spouses, practical steps you can take together toward growth, and above all hope in the God who makes all things new and desires your flourishing and freedom for His glory.

Cheong, Robert. New Growth Press. Restore: Changing How We Live + Love

In Restore, pastor and author Robert K. Cheong shows readers that because they have been united to Christ, they can draw near to God, enjoy His love, and live with new patterns and life rhythms. This thirteen-week study guides participants through creating their own storyboards that will connect them to God’s overarching story and help them to rethink, reframe, and move forward.

Dryburgh, Anne. Pure Water Press. (Un)ashamed: Christ’s Transforming Hope for Rape Victims

(Un)ashamed provides a biblical basis for counselors who are seeking to help female rape victims. It clears up common myths surrounding rape and gives insight into how this trauma impacts all aspects of a victim’s life. Christ’s transforming hope is shown through scriptural teaching about how God defines the victim and brings life out of evil.

Deuel, Dave, and Nancy Duel. Shepherd Press. Help! My Child Has a Disability

Accepting that God has chosen you to have a child with a disability can be hard. Dave and Nancy Deuel tell their story and share the practical wisdom they have learned, highlighting the importance of supportive relationships with family, friends, and church, as well as the spiritual joys and blessings of this journey.

Kellemen, Bob. Baker Books. Gospel-Centered Family Counseling: An Equipping Guide for Pastors and Counselors

Gospel-Centered Family Counseling walks readers through a step-by-step training manual for developing their skills and competences in biblical family counseling. Chapter-by-chapter, skill-by-skill, participants use the questions, exercises, role play directions, sample dialogues, and much more to develop their competency and increase their confidence in biblical family counseling.

Kellemen, Bob. Baker Books. Gospel-Centered Marriage Counseling: An Equipping Guide for Pastors and Counselors

Counseling individuals is complex enough. What do you listen for? How do you compassionately speak truth in love? Marriage counseling is even more complex. Gospel-Centered Marriage Counseling walks readers through a step-by-step training manual for developing their skills and competences in biblical marriage counseling. Gospel-Centered Marriage Counseling is designed to be used either individually or in a small group setting.

Lowe, Julie. New Growth Press. Building Bridges: Biblical Counseling Activities for Children and Teens

Knowing how to approach children and teens in counseling can be a challenge. Learning to enter into their world and draw them out can sometimes feel impossible. But with Julie Lowe’s Building Bridges—a practical workbook of expressive activities to do with kids and teens in counseling—readers will find the biblical tools they are looking for.

Lowe, Julie. New Growth Press. Helping Your Anxious Child: What to Do When Worries Get Big

Julie Lowe, a skilled family counselor, guides parents in assessing their child’s anxiety and gives practical ways to encourage and help worried children. She leads parents away from quick fixes that contribute to dependencies and points them to Christ, the One who is always available, loving, and powerful.

Newheiser, Jim. New Growth Press. Financial Crisis: What to Do When the Bottom Drops Out

Jim Newheiser takes readers through the timeless wisdom and comfort of God’s Word to help them face these frightening financial storms. He offers guidance for helpful ways to prepare for financial challenges, as well as direction for approaching a crisis that has already come.

Ortlund, Dane. Crossway. Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers

Gentle and Lowly, by Dane Ortlund, is a book every biblical counselor and every counselee—and every Christian—can greatly benefit from. If it’s true that the most important thing about us is our view of God, then knowing the heart of Christ for sinners and sufferers is vital for everyone, and especially crucial for biblical counselors.

Perron Sean, and Spencer Harmon. P&R Publishing. Letters to a Romantic: First Years of Marriage

In a series of warm, short, practical letters, Sean Perron and Spencer Harmon, along with their wives, Jenny and Taylor, guide spouses through common “firsts”: major choices like deciding when to start a family, the everyday details of establishing holy household habits, and concerns raised by common sexual issues in marriage.

Satrom, Hayley. P&R Publishing. Forgiveness: Reflecting God’s Mercy (A 31-Day Devotional for Life)

This devotional on forgiveness gives the reader a vision for God’s love in his or her own life—as an encouragement amidst the person’s hurts, but even more so as the foundation upon which true forgiveness can be built. With a big vision of God—His love and mercy toward us in spite of our own sins—readers will grow in: 1) A greater trust and delight in God, 2) Humility in remembering their unrighteousness, and 3) An outpouring of grace toward others.

Smith, Esther. P&R Publishing. Chronic Illness: Walking by Faith (A 31-Day Devotional for Life)

Chronic illness changes all aspects of life, leading to unique challenges that are difficult to navigate. Thankfully, God provides His presence, counsel, and eternal perspective to help suffering people. In daily devotional readings, biblical counselor and chronic pain coach, Esther Smith, shows people with illness how to release quilt and shame, ask for help, balance work and rest, and get through difficult days.

Strickland, Darby. P&R Publishing. Is It Abuse? A Biblical Guide to Identifying Domestic Abuse and Helping Victims

For years, biblical counselor Darby Strickland has served women in oppressive marriages. Now she writes to anyone who wants to help, regardless of their level of experience. You will learn how to identify the toxic entitlement that drives abusive behavior and to better understand its impact on victims—including children who are raised in a home with domestic abuse. Ultimately, you will become equipped to provide wise and Christ-centered counsel.

Tautges, Paul. New Growth Press. A Small Book for the Hurting Heart: Meditations on Loss, Grief, and Healing

In this devotional book, men and women will see Jesus Christ, the Man of Sorrows, who is well-acquainted with grief and sadness. Author and pastor, Paul Tautges, directs readers to their comforting High Priest, sharing how the Holy Spirit ministers to their hurting heart through the healing balm of God’s Word graciously applied to life’s wounds.

Tautges, Paul, with Joni Eareckson Tada. Shepherd Press. When Disability Hits Home: How God Magnifies His Grace in Our Weakness and Suffering

In disability, our hearts become tethered to pain, thereby providing an unusual opportunity for God’s grace to be magnified and faith is trained to be dependent upon the Lord. In When Disability Hits Home, written with compassion and sensitivity, Paul Tautges and Joni Eareckson Tada draw upon key biblical principles to nurture faith.

Viars. Steve. Baker Books. Loving Your Community: Proven Practices for Community-Based Outreach Ministry

Drawing on more than 30 years of service to the community surrounding Faith Church, Steve Viars shows how to develop a dynamic, giving relationship with your community—one in which your natural response to needs is “Yes! How can we help?” The approach found in this book will help you improve people’s lives, draw them into productive conversation about hope in Christ, and glorify God.

Welch, Ed. New Growth Press. Helping Children with Shame: Resting in God’s Approval

Counselor and author, Ed Welch, helps counselors and parents see how shame is addressed in Scripture and how the Lord looks on struggling children with compassion and acceptance. He demonstrates how to connect a child’s story of shame to the themes of Scripture so that a child can put words to his or her experience and see that Jesus knows our name, clothes us with dignity, and gives us his reputation.