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About the Episode
In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, host Christine Chappell interviews Jenn Chen about her book, Biblical Counseling and Mental Disorder Diagnosis. Some of the questions addressed in this interview are:
• What is the difference between the terms “mental disorder” and “mental illness?”
• In what ways might a disorder diagnosis impact a sufferer’s perception of themselves and their world?
• How does identity in Christ offer hope to those who have been diagnosed with a mental disorder?
• How can we think about our “goal” and “role” as biblical counselors (or disciplers) when it comes to walking with someone who’s been diagnosed with a mental disorder?
• How does considering a person’s fallenness, finitude, fragility, and faltering empower caregivers to minister God’s Word to a sufferer’s experience in a meaningful, relevant way?
About the Guest
Dr. Jenn Chen is ACBC certified and has taught biblical counseling at seminaries and universities. With a Psy.D in Clinical Psychology and an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy, Jenn was formally trained in psychotherapeutic evidence-based practices and held a faculty appointment as a clinical instructor at UCLA. After a life-changing encounter with biblical counseling, she returned to school for her MABC and now practices biblical counseling.
About the Book
Dr. Jenn Chen, a veteran psychologist turned biblical counselor, addresses the very relevant topic of mental disorder diagnosis and how to think about it biblically. She will help you to understand the DSM (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), what some have incorrectly labeled “the bible” of mental health. Jenn demonstrates how the DSM is not as scientific as it is purported to be, nor is the process of diagnosing. While some in the biblical counseling world are seemingly moving toward the DSM, Jenn has removed herself from it and has accepted the Bible as her standard.
