May 4, 2026 · 35 min · 19 segments
In this episode of Counsel the Word Pastor Terry Enns talks with Doug Chrystal on the challenges of counseling internationally in Canada.
As you think about biblical counseling, and you've already alluded to this a little bit, um, w- we always say to, uh, prospective counselors, uh, one, you're gonna learn the skills of caring for others.
But before you care for others, you will find that those skills you're learning are gonna work on your own soul as well.
How are, how, how has biblical counseling helped you? Uh, where, where has Doug changed? Where has Doug grown?
Um, how has, how has it helped you in your marriage? You also got married a little bit later in life.
So, uh, what has been the influence, uh, on biblical counseling in, in those arenas?
I mean, one of my favorite ways of describing, um, you know, who we are as biblical counselors is to quote Paul Tripp's, the subtitle of his book, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands, which says, "People in need of change helping people in need of change."
I, I love that because it, it presents the humbleness of recognizing that we aren't superior.
Um, as, as I studied biblical counseling and I started counseling, what you recognize is, um, you're speaking to yourself as much as you're speaking to the other person.
But, um, I think I've certainly become more compassionate, um, uh, more understanding.
Um, you know, just recognizing that, uh, you know, we are all fallen individuals.
If I'm dealing with, you know, anxiety or anger, um, marriage issues, I mean, you can see some of these, um, some of these examples in, in my own life, and I think we all, we all end up doing that.
Um, I found, again, to be probably if I had to pinpoint one thing, it would be just to be more compassionate with other people, recognizing that, you know, we're, we're fallen people living in a fallen world.
As you think about biblical counseling, and you've already alluded to this a little bit, um, w- we always say to, uh, prospective counselors, uh, one, you're gonna learn the skills of caring for others.
But before you care for others, you will find that those skills you're learning are gonna work on your own soul as well.
How are, how, how has biblical counseling helped you? Uh, where, where has Doug changed? Where has Doug grown?
Um, how has, how has it helped you in your marriage? You also got married a little bit later in life.
So, uh, what has been the influence, uh, on biblical counseling in, in those arenas?
I mean, one of my favorite ways of describing, um, you know, who we are as biblical counselors is to quote Paul Tripp's, the subtitle of his book, Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands, which says, "People in need of change helping people in need of change."
I, I love that because it, it presents the humbleness of recognizing that we aren't superior.
Um, as, as I studied biblical counseling and I started counseling, what you recognize is, um, you're speaking to yourself as much as you're speaking to the other person.
But, um, I think I've certainly become more compassionate, um, uh, more understanding.
Um, you know, just recognizing that, uh, you know, we are all fallen individuals.
If I'm dealing with, you know, anxiety or anger, um, marriage issues, I mean, you can see some of these, um, some of these examples in, in my own life, and I think we all, we all end up doing that.
Um, I found, again, to be probably if I had to pinpoint one thing, it would be just to be more compassionate with other people, recognizing that, you know, we're, we're fallen people living in a fallen world.
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