Nouthetic counseling is a Bible-based, Christ-centered approach to counseling, focused on applying Scripture to life’s problems. Rooted in the Greek word noutheteo (admonish), it emphasizes biblical instruction, the power of the Holy Spirit, and spiritual growth through obedience to God’s Word.
The word nouthetic is from the Greek word for "admonish" and is found in Romans 15:14 as the phrase "instruct one another": "I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another." Christians have used this method to help, counsel, and correct one another for centuries before modern counseling grew out of secular psychology about 100 years ago. In the 1960s, some pastors, led by Dr. Jay Adams, identified the danger of Christians (and others) trusting in ungodly wisdom in secular counseling and began to develop, or return to, biblical counseling in pastoral ministry. Nouthetic counseling is Bible-based, Christ-centered, and church-oriented locally. Practitioners believe the Bible is God's Word (2 Timothy 3:16–17) and provides what is needed in all situations (2 Peter 1:3–4). The Bible teaches that believers are to counsel and admonish one another using God’s Word (Romans 15:14; 2 Timothy 3:16–17). Scripture provides wisdom for addressing life’s challenges and equips Christians to live in a way that glorifies God (2 Peter 1:3–4). Nouthetic counseling builds on these principles, rejecting secular wisdom and relying on the transformative power of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to bring about change in the heart and behavior of those seeking help (Romans 8:28–29).
Nouthetic counseling emphasizes the sufficiency of Scripture and the need for believers to rely on God’s Word, rather than secular psychology, for guidance and change. This approach encourages spiritual growth through obedience to biblical principles and the power of the Holy Spirit. As it continues to gain traction in seminaries and churches, nouthetic counseling challenges Christians to reject worldly wisdom in favor of God’s eternal truth. By staying rooted in Scripture, believers can offer effective counsel that addresses the heart and promotes lasting transformation.