Marriage Counseling Is Not Just Individual Counseling with an Audience

A Word from Bob: One month from now on September 15, 2020, Baker Books will release my new two-book series:

Gospel-Centered Marriage Counseling: An Equipping Guide for Pastors and Counselors  Gospel-Centered Family Counseling: An Equipping Guide for Pastors and Counselors 

Today’s blog post focuses on a central theme of Gospel-Centered Marriage Counseling:

Marriage counseling is not just individual counseling with an audience.

Our Typical Training in Marriage Counseling 

Here’s how most of us are trained as marriage counselors:

We learn a biblical theology of a mature marriage. We learn a biblical methodology of individual biblical counseling. Our Typical Practice of Marriage Counseling 

So what do we then typically do when a couple sits in front of us?

We teach them a biblical theology of a mature marriage. While the wife listens, we counsel the husband to get his act together. While the husband listens, we counsel the wife to get her act together.

Now, is a biblical theology of a mature marriage essential? Of course.

Is individual counseling with the husband and then with the wife helpful. Sure.

But is that biblical marriage counseling?

And, is

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