On Creating the Christian DISC®
Tres Adames, MDiv, BCPC
3/8/2023 (Updated 8/23/2026)
3/8/2023 (Updated 8/23/2026)
I have been a pastoral counselor for over 14 years, but one thing I have noticed is a lack of effective (and enjoyable) personality testing tools for use in faith-based counseling. I came across programs like the Arno Profile, published by the National Christian Counselors Association, but found it to be clunky, out of date, and not easily accessible (a person can only take the test through a certified professional). I also discovered Christian versions of the DISC assessment, such as the Biblical DISC. Upon further examination, I realized it was simply a "baptized" version of the mainstream secular DISC used in corporate settings. Many of these DISC programs had some biblical references inserted into the results, but it was more of an afterthought. I wanted to see spiritual insights that were truly baked into the assessment itself. I also saw a need for a version of the DISC assessment that was specific to the needs of pastoral care, counseling, and ministry. I started creating the Christian DISC®, a Christian personality test, in late 2017 with the volunteer help and feedback of my colleagues and friends.
In its early days, we decided to attempt creating our own assessment that we would just use with our own counseling clients. We had the intent of integrating biblical principles and insights, while also preserving the core concepts of the original DISC assessment. We believed that by integrating insights of Christian spirituality into the assessment, people of faith could not only gain a deeper understanding of their own personalities and behavior patterns, but also see how such insights directly connect to their spiritual life. We wanted to implement principles from the field of pastoral counseling and also intersect insights from the emerging field of emotional intelligence. We wanted the assessment to not only include scripture but also be deeply informed by the theology of sanctification.
The assessment went through a few name changes and modes of publication. Our first version was simply a series of PDF documents that could be purchased and downloaded online. Users began to request a more conventional type of assessment that could be taken on our website with customized generated reports. We then moved the assessment to an assessment generator, where it has lived ever since. Originally called "the Biblical Counseling DISC," then the "Christian Counseling DISC," we settled on the "Christian DISC®" due to the fact that the assessment was applicable not just to counselors, but also to Christians in a variety of ministry and work contexts.
We have been selling assessments consistently since then, and the Christian DISC® has been used in churches, counseling centers, and faith-based organizations across the world to help individuals grow in their personal, professional, and spiritual lives. We also developed a sister site called DISC Assess™ that provides secular and affordable DISC assessments to the general public. The United States Patent and Trademark Office granted the trademark for the Christian DISC® in 2019, and we launched a DISC certification program for counselors, pastors, coaches, and leaders the same year.
In its early days, we decided to attempt creating our own assessment that we would just use with our own counseling clients. We had the intent of integrating biblical principles and insights, while also preserving the core concepts of the original DISC assessment. We believed that by integrating insights of Christian spirituality into the assessment, people of faith could not only gain a deeper understanding of their own personalities and behavior patterns, but also see how such insights directly connect to their spiritual life. We wanted to implement principles from the field of pastoral counseling and also intersect insights from the emerging field of emotional intelligence. We wanted the assessment to not only include scripture but also be deeply informed by the theology of sanctification.
The assessment went through a few name changes and modes of publication. Our first version was simply a series of PDF documents that could be purchased and downloaded online. Users began to request a more conventional type of assessment that could be taken on our website with customized generated reports. We then moved the assessment to an assessment generator, where it has lived ever since. Originally called "the Biblical Counseling DISC," then the "Christian Counseling DISC," we settled on the "Christian DISC®" due to the fact that the assessment was applicable not just to counselors, but also to Christians in a variety of ministry and work contexts.
We have been selling assessments consistently since then, and the Christian DISC® has been used in churches, counseling centers, and faith-based organizations across the world to help individuals grow in their personal, professional, and spiritual lives. We also developed a sister site called DISC Assess™ that provides secular and affordable DISC assessments to the general public. The United States Patent and Trademark Office granted the trademark for the Christian DISC® in 2019, and we launched a DISC certification program for counselors, pastors, coaches, and leaders the same year.