Forum 2: Discussion Board Post Primer
(Dr. Brian Campbell)

1. How can/should I counsel suffering people?
2. Is the point of counseling to remove all suffering? Why or why not?

Students:

Once again, I want to emphasize that the purpose of this discussion board post is to get students to “think about” and apply the information from your readings and presentations to real life problems and scenarios.

As you consider the problem of suffering people, one of the first things you might want to do is to see what the Bible has to say about suffering. I have written a chapter on this topic in one of my book, “Godly Counsel.” Please read this chapter before tackling the GDB questions: Suffering I always find that it is important to be “armed with God’s Word,” when I consider any counseling issue.

Use the information from Godly Counsel to help clarify the “problem” of suffering. Let me tell you a little secret. I suffer from a disorder called “peripheral neuropathy.” It is extremely painful, and it makes it difficult for me to walk or sit. I even have to take a wheelchair when I take my grandchildren to Disney.

At times, I get a little depressed when I let my mind drift into the future and think about all the things I will not be able to do because of my pain and suffering. When this happens, I try to “step back” and look at the “big picture” of my life. I have received tremendous blessings! I have three grown-up children and five beautiful grandchildren. I have enough to eat, and I live in the greatest country in the world. I am blessed.

In fact, my pain and suffering has been significant blessing in my professional counseling. Interestingly, there are many other people out there in the world who live their lives in physical pain and suffering. It is difficult to help clients who are suffering unless you can “speak their language.” I know pain, and I know how it affects me mentally, and the influence it can have on my wife and family. God has uniquely equipped me to help others who are suffering from physical pain.

Back to perspective… I am going to write book called “Perspective” before God calls me home. As you get older, you will start to understand the importance of perspective. My mother, who is 94-years-young, frequently helps me by giving me the perspective that comes from being born in 1919. When I am having problems, she will typically put things in perspective for me with a simple statement like, “It’ll be ok, Brian.”

That is all she has to say to me—“It’ll be ok.” In my mind, I then “step back” and put things in perspective. My mother knows, through her decades of accumulated knowledge and wisdom, that things are not always as bad as they seem, and that you can “get over” virtually all of life’s problems. I forget this at times, and I am so blessed to have my mother to remind me. She is a great Christian counselor.

Speaking of perspective, I want you all to listen to the incredible story of pastor Nick Vujicic. He was born with no arms or legs.

Watch Video

bcampbell63

Duration: (10:01)
User: officialnuman - Added: 4/30/11

YOU MUST WATCH THIS VIDEO.

Nick recently visited our church. I was completely moved by his testimony. The next morning I got up to go to the bathroom, and my feet were very sore, and I briefly started feeling sorry for myself. Then I thought of Nick... I smiled, thanked God, and thanked Nick.

You will find that helping people keep things in perspective is a powerful clinical tool.

Dr. Campbell