Editor: Charles Hodges

How do certain medical conditions impact counseling needs? Biblical counselors and pastors often have questions when a counselee is struggling with a mixture of physical, emotional, and spiritual difficulties. Dr. Charles Hodges and a team of contributing physicians and medical professionals set out to answer some of those questions and offer solid biblical principles for counseling those with medical issues. While inspired by the original edition, The Christian Counselor’s Medical Desk Reference 2nd_Edition contains all new content, including up-to-date information on the medical conditions highlighted and medications currently used to treat them, helping counselors to look past the labels and give counselees biblical hope and help. 

In the first section, doctors and healthcare professionals with biblical counseling experience offer guidance for the extra challenges inherent with certain medical diagnoses. The second section examines some of the specific challenges associated with a variety of physical and mental conditions such as autoimmune disorders, PTSD, Alzheimer’s, bipolar disorder, clinical depression, and more, helping counselors better understand the specific counseling needs that are often associated with each condition.  

Readers will learn more about the basics of these disorders and conditions and how sufferers need specific reminders of gospel truth as they journey a long road. Counselors will also become better equipped to better encourage caregivers and loved ones also impacted by these diagnoses. 

About the Editor:

Charles Hodges, MD, is a family physician. He is a graduate of Indiana School of Medicine and also received an MA in Counseling and MA in Religion from Liberty University. He is the executive director of Vision of Hope, a counselor and instructor at Faith Biblical Counseling Ministry, and a fellow for the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). He is the author of Good Mood, Bad Mood: Hope for Depression and Bipolar Disorder, a contributing author of Caring for the Souls of Children, and editor of The Christian Counselor’s Medical Desk Reference, 2nd Edition. 

Endorsements:

“Dr. Charles Hodges has performed a marvelous service to biblical counselors by assembling a tremendous team to address key issues that may require medical intervention. I look forward to having a copy of this book on my shelf for reference whenever I am trying to determine whether it would be wise to consult a medical doctor, so my counsel to others is as compassionate and comprehensive as possible.”  ~Steve Viars, Senior Pastor, Faith Church, Lafayette, IN

“This is a book every pastor and Christian counselor needs to own and to which they will often refer. The authors combine the wealth of their extensive medical training and experience with their commitment to and knowledge of God’s Word. The case studies in each chapter effectively help the reader to better understand medical issues that often come up in counseling and the potential approaches to offer help. Difficult issues are dealt with humbly and carefully. I will encourage every one of my students to buy and use this book.”  ~Jim Newheiser, Professor of Counseling and Pastoral Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, NC; executive director, The Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship (IBCD); board member of the Biblical Counseling Coalition (BCC) and the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC)

“This medical reference book is an important resource for biblical counselors, showing the wisdom of caring for both the body and soul. Charles Hodges and the other contributors provide medical and biblical perspectives that are informative and readable. Around twenty years ago, I used the first edition as a biblical counseling student, and I look forward to sharing the second edition with my students.”  ~Lilly Park, Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Since its inception, the modern biblical counseling movement has cared deeply for the physical body and its interaction with the soul. Dr. Hodges and his team provide a fresh reference work for those who counsel and those who train counselors. Their choice of topics, their medical details in lay language, and their counseling implications make this a valuable resource.”  ~Robert D. Jones, Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; author of Pursuing Peace and Uprooting Anger; coauthor of The Gospel for Disordered Lives: An Introduction to Christ-Centered Biblical Counseling

“A biblical understanding of anthropology requires an understanding and knowledge of both the spiritual and physical makeup of man. Both play a vital role in helping the whole person as a counselee for the Christian counselor. Dr. Charles Hodges and other eminently qualified Christian medical professionals have combined together to provide an invaluable resource for counselors. This book should be an excellent resource for every Christian counselor who desires to be wise in making decisions of how best to counsel both body and soul. I highly recommend this wonderful resource.”  ~John D. Street, Chair, Graduate Studies in Biblical Counseling, The Master’s University & Seminary; President of the board, Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC)

“This book helps counselors to think holistically about caring for embodied souls. Each chapter reviews the current medical understanding of common counseling issues and then skillfully applies God’s Word to the disruptive, disheartening, and often perplexing problems people experience. If you provide one-another care—whether formally or informally—reading this resource is well-worth your time.”  ~Christine Chappell, Author of Help! I’ve Been Diagnosed with a Mental Disorder; outreach director and Hope + Help Podcast host, Institute for Biblical Counseling & Discipleship; certified biblical counselor

“Congregants, students, and counselees regularly ask me questions about medical issues, psychology, psychotropic medications, and how all those things connect with respect to God. In the first edition of this book, Dr. Robert Smith wisely provided us help in these areas. In this second edition, a new set of qualified counselors help us wisely serve those striving to honor God through some of life’s toughest pressures. Each chapter carefully connects life’s sufferings with God’s Word while providing practical solutions for living.”  ~Kevin Carson, Pastor, Sonrise Baptist Church, Ozark, MO; professor, Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary, Springfield, MO 

“The Christian Counselor's Medical Desk Reference is a very practical resource for the counselor who desires to serve well but is untrained in medical issues. The chapters address common issues counselors face and give scriptural and medical information which will improve their counseling advice. I will use this book and will highly recommend it to others.”  ~Caroline Newheiser, Assistant Coordinator for Women's Counseling, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, NC