On Creating the Christian DISC®
Rev. Tres Adames, MDiv, BCPC
3/8/2023
3/8/2023
I have been a pastoral counselor for over 10 years but one thing I have noticed is a lack of effective (and enjoyable) personality testing tools for use in Christian 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programs like the Arno Profile, published by the National Christian Counselors Association, but found it to be clunky, out of date, and not easily accessible (a person can only take the test through a certified professional).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® 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 relate to their spirituality. 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 be deeply informed around 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 through Gumroad. Users began to request a more conventional type of assessment that could be taken online 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 Christians in a variety of 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. The United States Patent and Trademark Office granted the trademark for the Christian DISC® in 2019 and we launched a 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 relate to their spirituality. 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 be deeply informed around 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 through Gumroad. Users began to request a more conventional type of assessment that could be taken online 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 Christians in a variety of 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. The United States Patent and Trademark Office granted the trademark for the Christian DISC® in 2019 and we launched a certification program for counselors, pastors, coaches, and leaders the same year.