ACBC Counseling Exam - Question #14
14. (Case Study) What means would you use to find out more information about Sarah’s current problem? What information would you seek?
Background:
Sarah is a 34-year-old married mother of three who comes to you for help with depression. She says that she has been feeling “terribly sad” for the last six months and has had a lot of trouble “keeping up with life.” She came to you seeking the opinion of a biblical counselor on what she should do. Sarah has several friends who received anti-depressants from their family doctor. The medicine seemed to help for a while, but they also experienced some unpleasant side-effects that she is concerned about. She asks you explicitly, “Do you think I should see my doctor about taking an anti-depressant?”
Suggested Reading:
-Jay Adams, The Christian Counselor's Manual, 257-293.
-Wayne Mack, "Taking Counselee Inventory: Collecting Data" in John MacArthur, ed., Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically, 131-146.
-Robert Smith, The Christian Counselor's Medical Desk Reference, 71.
-Paul Tripp, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands, Chapter 10 & Appendices 1-3.
Additional Resources:
-Cubby Westerberg, Key Elements: Gathering & Evaluating Data Biblically, a lecture delivered at Cross Pointe Church: 2021 Biblical Counseling Conference. Youtube Video