Exploration of a Biblical Counseling Program for Depression.

Millions of Americans experience sadness, fatigue, and sleeping difficulty. These symptoms are consistent with a diagnosis of depression, which the American Psychiatric Association (APA) categorizes as a serious medical illness. Treatments include pharmacotherapy and/or counseling, with varying outcomes. Anecdotally, positive outcomes are seen in adults with depressive symptoms seeking Biblical counseling (BC) that uses the Judeo-Christian Bible as its foundation; so, this project explored such a program. The project included a retrospective chart review and a pilot study introducing the use of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R) to identify and track depressive symptoms. Findings support further investigation into BC as a viable option.