by Anna Mondal
As a fledgling counselor, I put a lot of time, toil, tears, and sweat into session preparation. I devoured every Scripture and supplemental resource on an endless list of topics. I wanted to be prepared for anything. Are you deathly phobic of mayonnaise? I’ve read all about that, I’ve got eighteen biblical steps to help you cling to God, kick this fear, and eat chicken salad at bridal showers.
Session prep is good. But clinging to a definitive master plan can also be restrictive, mechanical, and impersonal. How might an over-dependence on planning distract us from the contours of a real person? How might it tempt us to rely more on our preparedness than on the life-giving power of God (2 Cor. 1:9-11)?
Empty your extrabiblical expectations
It’s helpful to observe experienced counselors and integrate good ideas. But sometimes good ideas can become a straitjacket. You’re constrained by how you should respond, how you should assign homework, how you should graduate counselees after X number of sessions. In the flurry of extrabiblical “shoulds,” you may stop listening to the person you’re counseling, and you may stop listening to the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit promises to guide us
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