PsychoBabble: The Failure of Modern Psychology and the Biblical Alternative

by Richard L. Ganz

Why is it many evangelical preachers shout from the pulpit about God’s power, but then shuffle their emotionally troubled members off to the closest therapist? Both church leaders and laypersons seem to believe that the psychological “experts” have the answers for the wounded hearts and souls of God’s people. And when churches do offer counseling, it often is tinged with the secular psychology and psychotherapy that have infiltrated the church.

Psychobabble explains the dichotomy between secular and Biblical counseling and shows the danger of incorporating secular techniques into a Christian approach. This book will arm believers looking for Scriptural answers to the hurts of a broken world. As anti-Christian bias becomes increasingly pervasive in secular psychology, the church must look to the true source of all healing. This book will point the way.

Genres: Counselling

140 pages, Paperback

Published May 10, 2022

Reviews

[Pablo Villa Vazquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ganz’ testimony as a heretical psychoanalyst gives a first person view of the modern failures of psychology as it calls Christians to embrace the sufficiency of Scripture through biblical nouthetic counseling. He points out the philosophy, which is supposed to serve as the study of the soul, has removed God from the equation and therefore removed the soul. Because of this psychoanalysis becomes a pseudo-science filled with shaman figures that neither help nor heal. It is time for the church to stand firm in the sufficiency of Scripture in accordance with 2 Timothy 3:16. This is not a practical book on biblical counseling. There are great truths and explanations of biblical counseling but if what you’re looking for is a “how-to” guide, this is not it. Nevertheless, this book might be worth reading before learning how to counsel biblically, in order to know why we must counsel biblically.

[Will Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic (but perhaps too short) introduction to the nature of modern psychology and the nature of Biblical counsel, and how the two are foundationally at odds. Perhaps even more helpful is that Ganz does not stop short at just giving foundational, theological differences, but gives much practical insight into what being counseled through Scripture looks like.

[Steven H · Rating 3 out of 5]

A FORMER PSYCHOLOGIST REJECTS IT IN FAVOR OF BIBLICAL/NOUTHETIC COUNSELING

Author (and former clinical psychologist, before his conversion) Richard Ganz said in the first chapter of this 1993 book, "My goal in this book is to help readers understand that the counseling concepts woven into psychoanalysis ... are inherently opposed to the Word of God. My approach will be to reveal the direct conflict between secular philosophies and Biblical principles and to strip back to its ugly roots the psychotherapy that the church has baptized and embraced. My hope is that the church will stop shuffling her hurting and broken members to the 'experts' who lack the power and perspective of the Word of God, that pastors will instead seize the opportunities to teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness a people fit for service to King Jesus." (Pg. 27)

He was profoundly influenced by Dr. Jay Adams (author of Competent to Counsel, Christian Counselor's Manual, The, etc.), who told him, "'I don't care how many degrees you have; no one counsels here unless they know the Word of God!' At that moment I knew I was going to Westminster [Theological Seminary]. I finally understood that I needed to be the learner, not the teacher. Instead of coming to a lucrative job, I found myself coming to Westminster Seminary as a first year student. I was starting all over." (Pg. 25)

He states, "slowly I realized that the pastorate is the heart of truly Christian counseling, which is the ministry of God's Holy Word." (Pg. 26) He later adds, "By looking to the secular realm of psychology, God's people are forgetting what they look like. It is for this reason that Christendom must see the absolute necessity of both seeking and providing for its members BIBLICAL principles of counsel at all times." (Pg. 60)

He clarifies, "The key to biblical change is often confrontation; yet many Christian counselors are ambivalent about its use. They depict the 'nouthetic' or Biblical counselor as an unfeeling, uncaring, insensitive Bible-thumper who uses a lead-plated Bible on the skulls of impenitent sinners. Nouthetic counseling is confrontational, but it is not insensitive and uncaring." (Pg. 73) He observes, "The Bible teaches the necessity of change. It also teaches the possibility of change. The Bible urges believers to replace their sinful behavior with righteousness." (Pg. 81)

He also notes, "Not all hurt and pain can be eradicated in the Lord's Day preaching. Church members need to be sensitive to the needs of others, seek ways to comfort the hurting, acknowledge their own sins, and be willing to confront and be confronted. When that happens, a church is built up. Wherever church members are part of a Biblical counseling ministry, they are seeing their churches revitalized as individuals live out Biblical truths." (Pg. 108)

This book will be of keen interest to Christians looking for critical perspectives on psychology.

[Jennifer Spiegel]

Book #12 in My Project! I A Faith-oriented book/month. My personal self-help thing. I'm anti-cheese, Bono-esque in my beliefs, sometimes terribly old-fashioned, oft-repugnant to my fellow religious folk. Here's book 12/12!

I did it! I read 12 of 12!

So, I'll be brief. I did, as a kid, meet this guy at, um, a church conference -- 1984, Minnesota --or, more precisely, my parents met this guy. A good old New Yorker shrink who morphed into a pastor in Canada. I gotta say that he's a good guy. And he's probably a good OLD guy, as I'm now in my fifties and my dad has passed away and my mom ain't that young anymore . . .

That all said, this book will rub many people the wrong way. I'm not going to take a position! I just can't! (I actually do choose my battles, believe it or not, and stay out of some. I choose racism and international affairs. The End.)

He's pretty opposed to contemporary psychotherapy, insisting that its presuppositions are opposed to those belonging to Christianity. Biblical counseling is the only way to go.

The book is from the nineties. As I read it, I admit that he made sone great points. Some things have changed. Some haven't. I'm really no stranger to this world, so I could appreciate his perspective. I'd actually recommend it to others interested in Christianity and psychiatry.

If there are newer books on this precise topic, I'd love recommendations.

[Noah Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was going to give this book 4 stars, simply because I am smooth-brained and couldn’t focus for some of the chapters (I am aware that is an issue on my end and not the book, but I digress).

That being said, chapter 14 is by far… BY FAR the best thing I have ever read when it comes to entrenched sin (addiction, if you so choose to call it that). As someone who has dealt with multiple habitual and entrenched sins in my life, I was absolutely pierced to the bone by his description of such sins.

“These concepts — willing and doing — are not separate, but are one idea joined together for emphasis. What a person wills he does; what a person does he wills.”

Then later in the same chapter, talking about a woman names Rhonda, “Rhonda liked the idea of sobriety, but she loved drunkenness more.”

And then again in the same chapter, “ we determine whether our action will bring good or bad consequences. These consequences may be difficult to assess. They may be so far in the future that the decision-maker feels safe, ignoring them altogether. Thus, a drunk, confronted by a bottle of liquor is more prone to drink because the thought of its immediate pleasure is stronger than the thought of guilt afterwards.”

Dang. Thats real. And only a biblical counselor can really provide hope and real change for someone in the midst of such entrenched sins.

THIS IS A MUST READ.

[Anna Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exploded my mind in the best way 🙌🏼.

“The Church of our Lord Jesus Christ will be able to rejoice in its identity, for its members will know that they are washed, cleansed, renewed, restored, and mended in every way. The Church will exult, for believers will see beyond the twentieth-century perception of themselves as a motley band of walking wounded who should be grateful for the attention and assistance of godless soul-menders. People of God, denounce that vision! The Church of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is His glorious bride. He will not have His precious possession limping into the wedding feast with mud clinging to the wedding clothes, but instead will present us pure and radiant. Therefore, throughout eternity, beginning now, let the glorious body of Christ exult, for we are more than survivors” (P. 125).

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Christian friend or non-Christian friend who is curious,

This book will be a lifeline for you as it takes modern thought about the nature of the human psyche and analyzes deeply many of the assumptions made. Yes, the assumptions are based on scientific observation, but the interpretation of these observations are aside from divine truth and therefore become erroneous very quickly.

Observation without revelation can only get you so far.

Please pick up a copy of Ganz' book and look to the Scriptures.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17, LSB)

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard tells his story from becoming a psychologist trained in "traditional" ways, then after his conversion he begins to use the gospel with his clients and runs up against major interference from colleagues. Eventually he trains under Jay Adams in nouthetic counseling and becomes a biblical counselor. As he tells his story he details the problems with modern psychology and psychiatry, the sufficiency of Scripture, and gives much practical advice.

[Joshua Reichard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short helpful guide to distinguish phycology and biblical counseling. He only had two chapters that I thought specifically addressed the tension between the two methods and the rest of the book was examples of Biblical Counseling helping people find hope in the mess of life. So all in all a good entry level book into the messy world of psychology vs biblical counseling.

[Allison Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I was not excited to read it due to the name initially, Ganz was very helpful in explaining the importance of Biblical Counseling, as well as the shortcomings of modern psychology. A great follow up to “Competent to Counsel” by Jay Adams.

[Lauren Baumgart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great introduction to biblical counseling. I love how it highlighted the authority and sufficiency of scripture and getting to the root issue of sin/brokenness. I look forward to studying more about this topic! ☺️

[Joel Opificius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction and defense of biblical counseling practice. It is short and to the point, and it critically evaluates secular models. Easily accessible to anyone.

[Charis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for Fundamentals of BC

[Jon · Rating 2 out of 5]

A psychologist tells of his story and how Christianity can empower psychology with the power of God. Unfortunately, not a lot of practical procedures are laid out.

[Lindsay Crouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book answered many questions I have on secular counseling, Christian counseling, and biblical counseling and how they differ. Thankful for the insight and understanding this brought me!

[Chloe Shearer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good and helpful!

[David Jamison · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this book was great - the second half was forgettably mediocre.