Two-Question Method of Counseling

Sometimes you will be called upon to help people in times of crisis. At other times, you will be asked to counsel people in the midst of all kinds of problems. Listen is a skill that can help in both cases.

Years ago, I had the privilege of attending a Billy Graham School of Evangelism. One of the speakers was Dr. Charles Allen. He spoke on the topic of counseling. He had what I later came to call the "two-question method of counseling."

He said a person or a couple would come to him for counseling. They would be seated before him at his desk. The he said that he would put his hands together, and ask, "Now, what is the problem?" Then he would be quiet and just listen.

After a while they would clarify the problem. Sometimes that is all that is necessary, he said. When the problem is clarified, that might be all they need.

After they stated the problem, he woud fold his hands together and say, "Now, what do you think you should do about it?" Then he would listen.

Finally, he would say, "That sounds like a good idea. Why don't you try that?"

He said he had a lot of success with that type of "counseling."

Obviously, if what they thought they should do was clearly against Scripture, his experiement would not work. However, in a lot of cases, what they came up with was pretty good.

Listening is a skill that is very useful in many areas of life. True listening between husbands and wives can help them work through many, many things.

People in crisis sometimes just need someone to listen to them.

May the Lord help us all to become better listeners.