Christian counseling has been a part of the work of ministry from the origin of the Church. "Every since apostolic times, counseling has occurred in the Church as a natural function of corporate spiritual life."
St. Paul made it clear that he considered the family of God competent to counsel one another when the need arose. He said, "I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct (counsel) one another" (Romans 15:14 NIV).
Christianity also addressed the problems of grief and sin, although with considerably different counsel on how to deal with these problems.
