Counselor's Guide to the Brain and Its Disorders: Knowing the Difference Between Disease and Sin

by Edward T. Welch

An excellent resource.

Genres: Counselling

336 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 1991

About the author

Edward T. Welch, M.Div., Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He has counseled for thirty years and is the best-selling author of many books including When People Are Big and God Is Small; Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave; Blame It on the Brain?; Depression: A Stubborn Darkness; Crossroads: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Addiction; Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest; and When I Am Afraid: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Fear and Anxiety. He and his wife Sheri have two daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren.

Reviews

[Jose Aponte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genial.

Me ha gustado la forma como ha mostrado la complejidad del corazón y nuestro cuerpos. Y la esperanza que ha reafirmando del glorioso día cuando Cristo venga y no habrá más dolor ni enfermedades.

[Trent Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to review this one because I had to read as a book for class on short notice when it seems like Welch meant it more for reference. I gave it 4 stars because it’s an incredible resource to possess, however it’s less enjoyable to read cover to cover. Curious why Zondervan no longer publishes it

[JT Goodart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of helpful medical information that I am thankful to have, I just wish it had spent a little more time bridging the medicine and counseling. I feel like I don’t fully know what to do with all this information now.

[Elizabeth Aucoin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Might be helpful later in life...

[Hildi]

Creo que todo consejero debe tener este libro y releerlo constantemente como un manual

[Amílcar Rodríguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8 Un libro muy técnico y médico más que ministerial y pastoral considerando el perfil del consejero al que está enfocado.

[gabi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for referencing. Hard to actually just read.

[John Brackbill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here is why I am glad I read the book:
1. It had a good discussion on how the material and immaterial part of human beings interrelate. This was the best part of the book (chapters 1-5 were certainly the most helpful in sorting through this difficult topic).
2. It was very helpful for me to read through specific diseases and realize the tricky symptoms they can produce.

Here is why I would caution you regarding this book:
1. It is old and therefore out of date on some of the discussions I am sure.
2. It is out of print and therefore expensive (It was given to me).
3. The biblical model that he carefully works through in chapters 1-5 seems to go by the wayside at times throughout the specific detailing of "conditions." There is a good and healthy warning against the medical model, but then repeatedly he will mention that specific symptoms almost assuredly are not reflective of an organic issue and yet he leaves the door open and even commends the use of drugs in some of those cases (see for example p. 215, 216, 218, 237, 242, 257, 281).
4. This is a picky thing, but the headings are terribly laid out. I am a highlighter and if you change your format within each chapter for headings you are confusing me and I am not inclined to like your formatting!

[Nikkira]

Very informative. I'd like to read his more current book, though.