Personally, I would refer the family to a specialist trained in techniques (techniques that I would also suggest are not at all at odds w/Scripture) that have been shown helpful for the one who is struggling. I may very well have a role to play in helping families in such cases, but the techniques for specific issues related to autism and developmental delays simply aren’t my lane and I’m fine with that.

(I’m also thinking of occupational therapy, which my own son required when he was very young. In his case, we trusted in the sovereignty of God over all of his life, and thanked Him for the physical help he received. As his motor skill delays were improved, the emotions/frustrations of his heart were relieved. I don’t think that any of that, in any way, undermined what I believe to be true when I hear the phrase “sufficiency of Scripture.”)

I agree with your view of the sufficiency of Scripture, especially the way you apply it differently depending on the issue, but I think that puts both of us at odds with Heath’s presentation of that doctrine, at least in parts of the book, where he speaks of Scripture being equally sufficient for doctrine and for life challenges like those above (p. 42), and also some of his statements in earlier parts of the book (eg. http://headhearthand.org/blog/2016/04/04/a-theology-of-biblical-counseling-some-questions/).

Once again, thanks for the input, Joshua, and God bless your counseling ministry.

While counseling of any type may be very helpful, I cannot imagine any present-day biblical counselor suggesting that counseling alone would be a sufficient course of action in these types of cases–helpful and perhaps as believers we might suggest necessary for the care and encouragement of the soul–but not sufficient in and of itself. In fact, I would suggest that the need for medical treatment in these types of cases flows out of a well-formed biblical worldview that understands the needs of both body and soul–and here, in these scenarios–we see the sufficiency of Scripture to gladly (responsibly) refer the person/family to a medical doctor and to gladly work with and assist in their care for those components which are non-physical.

This is commensurate with my training and education as an ACBC counselor and has been my practice of soul-care. I feel no tension or “competition” as it were between shepherding a person’s heart (which the BPD sufferer surely needs as much as anyone), and seeing to it that they receive the bodily care which may be required from those professionals whose job it is to do just that.