Traditionally, counseling has focused primarily on the individual--overlooking the interaction between the community and the individual. Wilson has created a biblically-based counseling model that anchors the individual within the community. The result is a perspective that encompasses all aspects of a person's life, where the community becomes a helper in the counseling process. The thesis of this book is tied to the assumption that we need a counseling approach that is community-oriented rather than exclusively focused on the individual. When this is the case, we will be able to appreciate the biblical emphasis on the people of God. While he prizes a relationship with individuals, God's heart is with a body, a fellowship, a community. Both pastors and private counselors need to reaffirm the priority of community and its power in the healing process.
Counseling and Community : Using Church Relationships to Reinforce Counseling