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personal counseling orientation and christian views
reflection on biblical principles in counseling
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Biblical Applications in Counseling
One of the most difficult aspects of counseling is accepting when boundaries can be crossed for the betterment of a client and knowing when those boundaries should be respected no matter the outcome. Incorporating religion and spirituality into counseling can often be problematic in the sense that not everyone has the same views on the matter. In fact, not all therapists in the field of counseling agree that blending therapy and religion is effective or appropriate. However, for Christians who seek assistance, gaining knowledge on their situation, learning new coping mechanisms, and still incorporating the Bible as a reference tools serves a an excellent therapeutic method.
Summary
The journal article reflected on different ideas that arise in counseling, such as combining the Bible in therapy. For the most part, scripture based therapy serves as another avenue for clients to heal and find healthy coping mechanisms that will help them in their daily lives. However, this practice is only effective if there is confirmation that the client is comfortable incorporating scripture as a form of therapy intervention. Some but not all counselors believe that including scripture or religion for that matter should not be permitted; it could lead to problems in the therapist-client relationships if any disagreements may arise. Counselors do not have knowledge about every religion or spiritual practice; although it is recommended that they take the time to learn not only about different religions or beliefs but also about other cultures. Only by doing so are counselors able to become well rounded in assisting clients from all backgrounds and not limit or discriminate clients for being uninformed.
Scriptu...
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...elped the client in the article use a favorite scripture to repeat to help him relax before bed (Garzon, 2005), scripture intervention is accommodating throughout other troublesome areas of a person’s life and can be beneficial to a client’s well-being. It is important for Christian counselors to be well educated on the Word of God prior to implementing it into therapy. Just like any form of therapy, the opinions of one may be regarded differently by someone else. When counseling someone who is a Christian counselors have to be certain that what they are saying is truth.
Works Cited
Garzon, F. (2005). Interventions that apply scripture in psychotherapy. Journal of Psychology & Theology, 33(2), 113-121. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=f6d52ba6-4547-4e3b-bc37-892b5a25f5a9%40sessionmgr114&vid=2&hid=125
In essence, McMinn’s intradisciplinary integrated approach to Christian counseling is more than a “toolbox of set strategies for change” instead it is a “deep, abiding, formative work of God’s Spirit,” within the counselors lives (p 31-32). McMinn (2007) explains his theoretical map is cognitive therapy along with developing a strong therapeutic relationship and trust with our clients is not only essential to the effectiveness of counseling, but also is vital to applying his approach of the integration of psychology, theology, and spirituality into counseling. By McMinn using his theoretical cognitive therapy map he can build upon it to integrate the concerns of the spiritual growth wellbeing of our clients as well as their wellbeing of mental
As a Christian counselor, we have the power of the Word on our sides, but so many of us do not understand how to properly apply scripture into the counseling relationship in an effective manner. In Interventions that Apply Scripture in Psychotherapy, Garzon (2005) attempts to accomplish the following; educate individuals on the various techniques one can use to apply scripture, and to encourage and stimulate God ordained creativity in the hopes to create new techniques and methods for applying God’s Word in the counseling relationship.
... By having them journal their prayers to God daily and encouraging them to read these entries frequently to refresh the memories of those prayers and seek for those that are answered allows for each client to find their way to a spiritual understanding that is not necessarily demonstrated by my impact, but that of God Himself. I am available to answer questions that pertain to the bible, but allow clients to interpret the teaching to their lives and recovery. These approaches allow clients to not rely on my experiences, but on their own encounters and knowledge. Gently guiding them to hear and see how God works in a client’s life is a rewarding and satisfying experience.
Some counseling strategies we can draw from scripture such as cognitive therapy (McMinn, 2011). Also, it can lead to a direction for dealing with any guilt or resentment. Second, scripture can support certain principles in counseling such as religious imagery (McMinn, 2011). Other examples would include support for dream analysis, retreats, or small groups (McMinn,
In Tan’s article, “The Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy” published by the Journal of Psychology and Theology in 2007, he discusses integrating prayer and scripture with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Tan uses examples of integration from real-life counseling sessions that he has been involved in, as a counselor. Tan’s article first discusses the usefulness of CBT and other behavioral techniques in counseling (Tan, 2007). Tan discusses very early in his article that CBT is as effective as antidepressant medications and is more effective that cognitive therapy alone according to a recent placebo study (Tan, 2007).
Much success has come from religion in therapy. Success has occurred when used to cope with psychological disorders, preventing unhealthy
In order for Biblical counseling to be effective, a counselor must be completely prepared to work in the ministry of helping others. Beyond the worldly challenges, a Christian counselor also faces humanistic therapeutic false views of secular therapy. Christian counselors maintain a focal point in guiding people to living a life that is full of spiritual richness and maturity. Yet, secular therapist focuses on self-gratification and self-actualization. As Christian ministry helpers, you must be living by the truth and exemplify a Christ-centered life. Crabb (1977) developed a counseling model that teaches us how to develop individualized life maps that will guide people to spiritual growth, maturity, and a long-lived Christ-centered life. It is essential as Christian counselor’s we are able to bring people to understand that the elucidation to their problems God has the answer prearranged scripturally. Furthermore, enlighten the client that their inclusive security is in Christ Jesus that our negative life events have no precedence, as HE will accept us no matter the circumstances. Scripture offer direction to lay helpers “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26).
Sometimes, counselors will confront sin in their client’s life when they shouldn’t and it causes more harm than good. The client will feel even more hurt because the counselor “jumped the gun” in confronting them about their sin. As a result, it is important for counselors to wait until the client is ready to confront their sin or to wait until the timing is right. Another caution mentioned in the class sources that counselors often overlook is “counselor self-awareness” (Peters, n.d., Week Seven Powerpoint Lecture Two). Counselors must be aware of their own emotions and attitudes when it comes to confronting sin in a client’s life so they do not become angry with their client because of sin in their life, or even judgmental towards them (Peters, n.d., Week Seven Powerpoint Lecture Two). Counselors need to have an awareness of their own attitudes and emotions before seeking to confront sin in their client’s
Worthington, E. L. Jr., Hook, J. N., Davis, D. E., & McDaniel, M. A. (2011). Religion and spirituality. In J. C. Norcross (Ed.), Psychotherapy relationships that work (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press
However, it does not matter how strong a person’s faith is or how weak a person faith is, everyone in Christian counseling starts off the same. It is a process how a person develops overtime. This is similar to a child learning how to tie his or her shoes. At first they do not get it but overtime, it becomes of habit and the person get better. According to Clinton, Hart and Ohlschlager (2005),” they believe that Christian counselling has to do with and learning applying the principles of the kingdom on living to the chronically sins, fears, failures, and dark areas of our life (p.21). When people are at their lowest point he or she turn to Christ to get the throughout tough times. Furthermore, in chapter two a person learns about the trust and fined our truth. In chapter two it discusses becoming a trust worthy counselor. In Chapter two, I realized that is all about gaining the clients trust. If the client, does not trust the counselor then no typ of relationship can be bonded. The client is in a venerable state and the counselor has to make sure that the can feel free to be
Confidentiality. Confidentiality is just as important in Christian counseling as it is in secular counseling. According to the American Association of Christian Counselors (2014), “confidentiality recognizes that every client has a fundamental, moral and legal right to privacy and to have a wide range of personal thoughts, opinions, beliefs, and behaviors that are protected from public knowledge” (p. 22). It is crucial for counselors to maintain client confidentiality unless what a client discloses brings harm to themselves or other people. Confidentiality should be kept at all
Clinton, T. & Ohlschlager, G. (2002). Competent Christian counseling: Foundations and practice of compassionate soul care. Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook Press.
On the down side there are a limited number of educational programs that adequately deal with the issue of incorporating religion and spirituality in therapeutic/counseling settings. This can be attributed to the fact that counseling is based in psychology, a scientific field, which has traditionally neglected issues of a spiritual nature (Nelson, Kirk, Ane, & Serres, 2011) as well as the practice used within the United States to separate education and religion (Cashwell and Young, 2011). This then results in a significant portion of therapist and counselors who are not prepared to address the issue of spirituality and religion with their clients. One would think that with the value many Americans place on the topic of religion and spirituality that there would come a time when a client would want to address this topic during his or her session.
Newman, Willis C. Bible Teaching about Christian Counseling: Theory and Practice Tacoma: Newman International LLC 2006) 32.
Biblical Counseling is making a strong impact in today's churches and community. Counseling is seen as one of the most productive ways of helping a