Learning to Listen offers counselors the biblical principles and core skills necessary to become the active, compassionate listeners counselees need.
Counselors have a high calling to love and care for people who are struggling in a fallen world. A wise biblical counselor draws out the deep attitudes of the heart and encourages their counselees toward growth into the image of Christ. Learning about specific problems, sharing Scripture, and sitting with suffering people are all important parts of counseling. While all of these elements are essential to the counseling task, counseling will ultimately fail without the simple yet vital skill of listening well.
In Learning to Listen, biblical counselor Joseph Hussung gives readers a theology of listening and explains the purpose, posture, and practice of this essential counseling skill. If counselors do not truly hear the hearts of their counselees, they won’t understand the nuanced struggles at play nor how to apply biblical principles. Listening well enables counselors to love well and understand with empathy.
Joseph Hussung, MDiv, DMin, is the Director of Recruitment and a Senior Counseling Supervisor at Fieldstone Counseling, where he counsels regularly, supervises the remote counseling team, and directs Fieldstone’s residency program. He previously spent over fifteen years on staff at churches in various discipleship and pastoral roles. He is the author of Learning to Listen and is a regular contributor to the Biblical Counseling Coalition blog. Joe and his wife, Sarah, have three children and live in Hopkinsville, KY.
“Listening seems like such a simple act; most humans live as though everyone has this skill. However, everyone who trains counselors will testify that not listening well is one of the most common pitfalls of new counselors. Listening is vital to caring well, so how do we bridge this gap? Learning to Listen provides an excellent solution. Joe Hussung draws from Scripture, theology, and case studies to provide counselors with a primer on this essential but often overlooked component of loving care.”
Curtis Solomon, Executive Director, the Biblical Counseling Coalition; program coordinator, Biblical Counseling, Boyce College
“Like many, I need stirred up by way of reminder, and that is exactly what this brief but powerful book provided. Listening well—often relegated as a skill for beginning counselors and caregivers—is elevated in Dr. Hussung’s book as an essential component of the counseling process by which both beginners and longtime practitioners will be sharpened. I trust that his book will become a staple for training a new generation of biblically wise and faithful counselors.”
Jonathan D. Holmes, Executive Director, Fieldstone Counseling
“Listening well in counseling is not as straightforward as it might seem. This book offers an extended reflection on listening that is both welcomed and needed. Hussung provides theological grounding for our listening and then offers practical skills to help counselors fulfill their intentions to love people well in ways that reflect the heart of Christ.”
Lauren Whitman, Counselor and faculty member, Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF)
“Joe helps us to better understand why listening well is a key component to loving people well. Not only does he offer a biblical framework for the purpose, posture, and practice of listening, but he also shows how embracing such a framework can impact our counseling conversations. If you care for souls in any capacity, you will benefit from reading this resource!”
Christine Chappell, Certified Biblical Counselor; author of Midnight Mercies and Postpartum Depression; Hope + Help Podcast host, Institute for Biblical Counseling & Discipleship
“In our modern biblical counseling world, we have many wonderful books on the theory and theology of counseling. Increasingly we have many excellent books on how to counsel for specific issues. However, our movement is still somewhat thin on practical, biblical skill-based training. Enter Joe Hussung and Learning to Listen. Listening is a relational competency necessary for every counselor with every counselee with every counseling issue. Learning to Listen adroitly directs us first to the God who hears and sees us, then walks us through the purpose, posture, and practice of Christlike, compassionate, skillful listening.”
Robert W. Kellemen, Author of Gospel Conversations: How to Care Like Christ
“Effective counselors are masters of understanding their clients, seamlessly weaving together active listening and asking skillful questions. But how do you develop these skills? In Learning to Listen, Joe Hussung has written a helpful guide to the why and the how of listening. Read it, follow it, and watch your counseling conversations flourish.”
Nate Brooks, Associate Professor of Counseling, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; director, Courage Christian Counseling
“Learning to Listen is a helpful resource for biblical counselors. Joseph Hussung wisely brings together theology and practical skills, showing how truly listening to counselees unlocks deeper understanding and Christ-centered transformation. If you want to become a more compassionate, effective counselor, this book will elevate your approach to caring for others.”
Eliza Huie, Director of Counseling, McLean Bible Church; author of Trauma Aware and I’m Stressed
“Counseling skills books abound, but none quite like Learning to Listen. In this book, Joe expertly interweaves love for neighbor through listening with practical, tangible skills that every counselor needs to know. Just as God listens to his people and attends to their needs, so too must Christian counselors attend well to their counselees. This book is deeply theological yet immensely practical. I'm excited to use this as I train new counselors!”
Kristin L. Kellen, Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
“Biblical wisdom is reflected in the humble practice of careful listening, which is something we as counselors don't always do well. In this book, Joe Hussung provides more than admonition—he gives practical counsel and examples to help us grow in this essential skill.”
Paul Tautges, Pastor; author of Remade: Embracing Your Complete Identity in Christ and A Small Book for the Hurting Heart
“Learning to Listen reminds us of an essential skill for gaining clarity in the stories of those we love. As we seek to care like Jesus, let us all ask the Spirit to help us become careful, compassionate listeners to rightly apply the gospel and stir affections to Christ within every conversation.”
Shauna Van Dyke, Care and Leadership Development Minister, The Mount Church; strategic advisor, The Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC); founder and biblical counselor, Truth Renewed
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This book emphasizes the powerful role of listening in building meaningful relationships. It argues that to love others well, we must first learn to listen well. As human beings, we are made to be seen and known by both God and each other, yet many of us struggle with being truly understood. Through a biblical perspective, the book highlights how God, who listens to us with care and attention, serves as our ultimate model for listening. It offers practical steps for cultivating this skill, encouraging us to not only listen attentively but to engage in communication that reflects Christ's love. In today's fast-paced culture, where people often speak without truly listening, the art of understanding others has been lost. To communicate with love, we must listen deeply enough to understand the other person before offering our words. Listening is a discipline that requires intentionality, but this book shows that with practice, it can transform our relationships. By truly hearing others, we can make them feel seen and valued, creating opportunities to speak life and encouragement into their lives. This book is a timely and important guide to restoring the art of listening in a world that desperately needs it.
This is a very helpful book for counselors, but anyone who wants to love and listen like Jesus needs to read this book! Dr. Joseph Hussung laid a biblically strong foundation for why we need to listen well, how sin has affected our listening, and how to grow our listening skills. Although the chapters are short (helpful!), they are full of biblical truths, practical advice, and examples to help us apply the concepts. As a counselor who has been counseling for many years, I found this book to be a good refresher with the sections on reflection and confrontation especially helpful.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Must-Read on the Art of Listening "Learning to Listen" by Joseph Hussung is a deeply insightful book that challenges the way we approach conversations in counseling. Rather than merely hearing words, Hussung teaches the true art of listening—beginning with a rich theology of God as a listener and then exploring the heart of Christ as the ultimate model of a compassionate listener. What stood out most to me was how practical this book is. The case studies and real-life examples from Hussung’s own counseling experiences were both relatable and thought-provoking. They prompted me to reflect on my own counseling, making it easy to apply the truths from this book to real-life conversations. As someone who trains biblical counselors, this book will now be a key part of my training list. And as someone who has counseled for years, I was personally challenged and convicted to listen more and talk less. This book would be especially valuable for anyone in ministry, counseling, or leadership, but truly, it’s for anyone who wants to deepen their ability to listen and, in doing so, draw people closer to Christ. If you’ve ever felt unheard—or realized you struggle to truly listen—this book is a must-read. Highly recommend!
I loved this book; it made me not only love my Savior more but want to listen like he did and put what I read into practice. It's well-written, fresh and encouraging; Dr. Hussung not only helps us think about listening and gives us practical illustrations, he also reminds us that underneath it all is what matters most--the posture of our hearts.
Although I am not in the same space as Dr. Hussung in terms of professions, I appreciate Learning to Listen. This is an excellent book discussing the importance of listening for the Biblical Counseling process. The truth is, Learning to Listen, provides a theological ground for all counseling as it frames the therapeutic relationship in terms of listening and empathy. Dr. Hussung discusses the (1) way God listens to his people, (2) how his people, especially in Biblical Counseling, should listen first, and (3) discusses important ways to listen that are helpful, supportive, and BIBLICAL. God’s listening to His people is reflected in how His people, especially counselors, listen with empathy. “Empathy is the place from which we utilize the good gifts that God has given us in creation (thinking, feeling, and choosing) for the second greatest purpose for which they were given—loving and listening to people” (18). Dr. Hussung provides very practical steps to listen well with empathy in the remainder of the book. My plan is to use this text in classes I teach that incorporate basic skills of counseling as this text fits that bill with the bonus of a theological grounding of these skills. Tom Frederick, PhD.
After my first read of this, I’m convinced I will be back again. I wish younger me had had this when I first faced a roommate who didn’t see I to eye with me, or in our newlywed days. But I am so thankful for this book now in our season of suffering where I crisscross between my roles as a wife, advocate, counselor. This should be an essential read for every Christian in the church since we are called to bear wfh other’s burdens. Part of bearing burdens is listening. This explanation of a theology of listening was earth-shifting as we see God as the God who hears: “ Such a good explanation of the theology of listening: “ If we move toward the practice or posture of llistening but forget that we were created by a God who listens and loves, then we will never fully grasp the complete scope of God’s vision for the care of his people. We listen to others because God listens to us. We love others because God loves.We need to constantly remind ourselves of God’s love for us and his expression of that love to us in listening as we hear the stories of others.” Just need to post this in every room of my house!
Since reading Joseph’s book, Learning to Listen, I think I have become a little more aware of how I listen. What I mean is that, at times, we all need a good reminder, or maybe even some good insight and tools (like this presents), that help us listen better. As counselors, one of our primary functions is to listen and listen well. I for one can get caught up in speaking/teaching more than I listen. This book was a great reminder of one of the many functions of a counselor and an even better reminder to listen well.
All counseling books outline a "what." Most counseling books propose a "how." A good number of them give a "why." Some of them do all of that, and take hundreds of pages to do so. "Learning to Listen" covers everything required on an essential and often-overlooked skill, and does so in a brief, accessible manner. It's full of heavy spiritual truth, expressed with grace. I not only gained valuable information, but also practical advice. And the clear examples made it easy to apply to my own life and context. I highly recommend it to every counselor, pastor, and Christ-follower!
Joseph Hussung’s Learning to Listen: Essential Skills for Every Counselor is one of those books that feels like a conversation with a trusted mentor. It doesn’t just teach you how to listen—it shows you why listening matters so deeply in reflecting God’s love. Hussung guides you step by step through the purpose, posture, and practical listening skills in a way that is grounded in Scripture and incredibly relatable. His stories and examples make it clear that listening isn’t just a skill for counseling—it’s a way of loving people as Jesus does. Whether you’re a seasoned counselor or just starting, this book will challenge and equip you to care for others with more empathy, wisdom, and grace. Learning to Listen is a must-read if you want to make a real difference in the lives of those you serve.
Joseph Hussung’s Learning to Listen: Essential Skills for Every Counselor is one of those books that feels like a conversation with a trusted mentor. It doesn’t just teach you how to listen—it shows you why listening matters so deeply in reflecting God’s love. Hussung guides you step by step through the purpose, posture, and practical listening skills in a way that is grounded in Scripture and incredibly relatable. His stories and examples make it clear that listening isn’t just a skill for counseling—it’s a way of loving people as Jesus does. Whether you’re a seasoned counselor or just starting, this book will challenge and equip you to care for others with more empathy, wisdom, and grace. Learning to Listen is a must-read if you want to make a real difference in the lives of those you serve.