Project – Biblical Principles in Counselling Troubled Teenagers. A Study of Five Selected Schools in District IV, Lagos

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Teenage years represent a very sensitive and critical stage in human development. Adolescence is a period marked by emotional, psychological, social, moral, and spiritual changes. During this stage, teenagers often face various challenges such as peer pressure, identity crisis, academic stress, family problems, low self-esteem, drug abuse, immoral behavior, depression, anxiety, and other emotional struggles (Erikson, 1968). These challenges can negatively affect their behavior, academic performance, relationships, and spiritual lives if not properly addressed.

In recent years, the number of troubled teenagers in schools and society has continued to increase. Many teenagers engage in violent behavior, cultism, substance abuse, examination malpractice, sexual immorality, disrespect for authority, truancy, internet fraud, and other social vices (Onwuasoanya, 2019). Some teenagers also experience emotional trauma caused by broken homes, poverty, abuse, neglect, poor parenting, and societal pressure. These issues have become major concerns for parents, teachers, counsellors, religious leaders, and society at large.

Counselling is an important method used in helping teenagers overcome emotional, behavioral, social, and spiritual problems. Counselling provides guidance, encouragement, emotional support, and practical solutions to troubled individuals (Akinade, 2016). In schools, counselling services are designed to help students adjust positively to life challenges, make wise decisions, and develop morally and academically.

Biblical counselling, also known as Christian counselling, is a form of counselling that uses biblical teachings and Christian principles to guide individuals toward emotional healing, moral uprightness, spiritual growth, and responsible living (Crabb, 2013). Biblical counselling is based on the belief that the Word of God provides wisdom, direction, hope, correction, and solutions to human problems. It seeks to transform individuals through scriptural teachings, prayer, repentance, faith, love, forgiveness, and godly character development.

The Bible contains several principles that can help troubled teenagers overcome their problems and become responsible individuals in society. Biblical principles such as obedience, self-control, honesty, love, patience, humility, respect, forgiveness, and fear of God can positively influence the attitudes and behaviors of teenagers. Proverbs 22:6 teaches that children should be trained in the way they should go, while 2 Timothy 3:16 explains that the Scriptures are useful for teaching, correction, and training in righteousness.

In many schools today, guidance counsellors and religious leaders attempt to use biblical principles in counselling students with emotional and behavioral problems. Through prayer, scriptural advice, moral instruction, and spiritual guidance, biblical counselling aims to help teenagers develop self-discipline, moral values, emotional stability, and positive attitudes toward life (Harper, 2018).

However, despite the efforts of schools, parents, churches, and counsellors, many teenagers continue to experience serious emotional and behavioral problems. Some students refuse counselling, while others are negatively influenced by peer groups, social media, and societal corruption. In some schools, counselling services are inadequate due to lack of trained counsellors, insufficient spiritual support, or poor implementation of counselling programs (Oladele, 2015).

Furthermore, many schools focus mainly on academic achievement while neglecting the moral and spiritual development of students. This situation has contributed to increasing cases of indiscipline, emotional instability, and social misconduct among teenagers. As a result, there is a growing need to examine how effective biblical principles are in counselling troubled teenagers.

Therefore, this study seeks to examine the biblical principles used in counselling troubled teenagers with special reference to five selected schools in District IV, Lagos State. The study will also investigate the effectiveness of biblical counselling in addressing teenage behavioral and emotional problems.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The increasing rate of emotional, behavioral, social, and moral problems among teenagers has become a major concern in schools and society today. Many teenagers are involved in various negative behaviors such as drug abuse, examination malpractice, cultism, violence, truancy, disrespect for authority, sexual immorality, and internet fraud (Onwuasoanya, 2019). In addition, some teenagers suffer from depression, loneliness, anxiety, low self-esteem, frustration, and emotional trauma resulting from family and societal problems.

Despite the availability of counselling services in some schools, many teenagers continue to display negative attitudes and troubling behaviors. Some school counselling programs focus mainly on academic guidance without giving adequate attention to the moral and spiritual development of students (Akinade, 2016). As a result, many troubled teenagers do not receive the emotional and spiritual support needed to overcome their challenges.

Another major problem is that some schools lack qualified counsellors who can effectively combine biblical principles with professional counselling methods. In some cases, biblical counselling is neglected because of modernization, secular educational practices, and overdependence on psychological approaches without spiritual guidance (Crabb, 2013). Consequently, many teenagers lack proper moral direction and spiritual values that could help them make responsible decisions.

Furthermore, peer pressure, social media influence, broken homes, poverty, poor parental upbringing, and societal corruption continue to negatively affect teenagers despite counselling efforts. Many students are easily influenced into immoral behaviors because they lack strong spiritual foundations and moral discipline.

There is also inadequate research on the effectiveness of biblical principles in counselling troubled teenagers in secondary schools within District IV, Lagos State. Therefore, this study seeks to examine the biblical principles used in counselling troubled teenagers and determine how effective these principles are in addressing emotional and behavioral problems among students in five selected schools in District IV, Lagos.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to examine biblical principles in counselling troubled teenagers in five selected schools in District IV, Lagos State.

The specific objectives of the study are to:

1. identify the common problems facing troubled teenagers in secondary schools;
2. examine the biblical principles used in counselling troubled teenagers;
3. determine the effectiveness of biblical counselling in addressing teenage behavioral and emotional problems;
4. examine the role of school counsellors and religious leaders in counselling troubled teenagers;
5. identify the challenges affecting the use of biblical counselling in schools.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions will guide the study:

1. What are the common problems facing troubled teenagers in secondary schools?
2. What biblical principles are used in counselling troubled teenagers?
3. How effective is biblical counselling in addressing teenage behavioral and emotional problems?
4. What roles do school counsellors and religious leaders play in counselling troubled teenagers?
5. What challenges affect the use of biblical counselling in schools?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

H₀: Biblical counselling is not significantly effective in addressing the problems of troubled teenagers in secondary schools.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study will be beneficial to students, teachers, school counsellors, parents, churches, and future researchers. The study will help teenagers understand the importance of biblical principles in developing good character, emotional stability, and responsible behavior. It will also encourage students to seek counselling when facing emotional or behavioral challenges.

School counsellors and teachers will benefit from this study by gaining better understanding of how biblical principles can be integrated into counselling services to improve students’ moral and emotional development.

Parents will benefit from the study because it will provide useful knowledge on the importance of spiritual and moral upbringing in raising responsible teenagers.

Churches and religious organizations will also benefit from the findings of this study by understanding their role in guiding and supporting troubled teenagers through biblical teachings and counselling.

Finally, this study will contribute to academic knowledge and serve as reference material for future researchers in the fields of Christian counselling, education, psychology, and adolescent development.

Project – Biblical Principles in Counselling Troubled Teenagers. A Study of Five Selected Schools in District IV, Lagos