Counseling as a Christian
A counselor who is Christian can further a counseling session in a secular world. To choose to practice as a counselor who is Christian does not deny your faith, it follows it. Colossians 4:5-6 reminds us to “Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt so that you may know how to answer everyone” (New International Version). The professional counselor follows nondiscrimination and must adhere to these ethics for every client. The worldview of the counselor can differ greatly from the client, acknowledging that difference while walking thought the counseling journey is the most effective way to assist the client.
Christian counselors need to be extremely careful as they walk this fine line of implementing Christianity into their counseling session, especially with prayer. Religious addicts can foster unhealthy relationships through compulsive Christian prayer leading to harmful faith, which interferes with counseling progress (Weld & Eriksen, 2007). A Christian client whose worldview is slanted could receive harm when seen by a Christian counselor who is not aware of this issue. A counselor who is Christian does not need to walk into this murky water, but can simply walk beside their client without judgement or creating
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It is best to let your actions as a counselor who is Christian speak for your worldview. Ephesians 4:29 tells us, “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (NIV). When we are only focused on our religion while walking beside a client, we are not focused on what maybe good and helpful to encourage that client, especially if they come from a different
Psychology, Theology and Spirituality in Christian Counseling by Mark R. McMinn (McMinn, 1996) covers a Christian counselor's life in and out of counseling sessions. McMinn's book is dedicated to recognizing and developing the relationship between counseling and Christian faith rather than a dry Theology. This resource work divides the discussion into 8 chapters, each addressing a vital aspect of Christian psychological counseling and each having a section outlining challenges, methods and anticipated outcomes. The first chapter is co-written with James C. Wilhoit and stresses the importance of the counseling/faith relationship while presenting various challenges confronting the counselor and possible approaches to facing those challenges. The second chapter enumerates the Christian faith's major
In 2011 Mark McMinn updates his book on Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling, which discloses three important perspectives of Christian counseling. This recently evolving frontier for Christian counselors is what McMinn calls interdisciplinary integration. The relationship between psychology and theology is not the vital key component, but it’s how Christian faith is practiced in counseling. Bringing religion into the counseling office will bring challenges but with personal spiritual training and professional development it can be accomplished. McMinn shares a theoretical map on the prospective values and dangers of using religious interventions in counseling. In the first two chapters McMinn establishes a framework on the variety of religious interventions like prayer, the use of Scripture, forgiveness, and so on. Theses chapters would be part 1 of a 2 broad part that lays down a foundation for the rest of the book. The chapters that follow would be part 2 that explains the indispensable components in McMinn’s methodology to the integration of psychology, theology, and spiritualty in counseling. Psychology, theology, and spirituality is highlighted in the sessions of Christian counseling by guiding the person who reads an insightful understanding of integrating stages of: prayer, scripture, sin, confession,
The new Christian Counsellor: A fresh Biblical and Transformational Approach is a book that aims to teach people and empower them to take possession of their souls in the contemporary life of a multi-faceted approach design. The authors are seasoned Christian counsellors who have a vast experience in dealing with people’s psycho-spiritual issues from a Christian point of view (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015 p.6). Through their noble ideas, the professors seek to guide their reads through the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives, under the influence of God’s word and in a manner that is supportive of the accountability ideas of the entire community.
McMinn tells how psychology, theology, and spirituality are used and how they should be used in Christian counseling. A Christian counselor has to look at not necessarily psychology and theology in a counseling session but how religion and spiritually is brought into the session. McMinn (2011) states, “Religious interventions require us to understand spiritual formation, place priority on personal spiritual training as well as professional development, challenge prevailing models of mental health, work toward a stronger scientific base, and sensitively recognize ethical issues” (p. 26). Counselors need to work on their own spiritual foundation so they can are able to help clients. This consists of prayer, scripture, redemption, sin, forgiveness, and confession (McMinn, 2011).
A counselor’s job is to journey along with their client and to provide insight and support to those who are at risk and those who are hurting and searching for comfort and acceptance. If the counselor is a Christian they will also want to share our Heavenly Father’s love with the counselee and help guide them on a path that will lead them to Christ. There are several different techniques that can be used to break through the walls of some people in order to help them recognize the basis for their feelings whether it is such things as sin or faulty
The authors in this research address the importance competency in preparing counselors-in-training. Young, Cashwell, Wiggins-Frame, and Belaire (2002) suggest that counselor’s educators are much unprepared to incorporate spirituality competencies to counselors-in-training. The article also supports counselor educators are unprepared in applying spirituality in their curriculum. They lack the requirement set by CACREP standards, as well as their colleagues are even less prepared (Young et al.,
This paper is the development of my personal theory on Christian Counseling. I use many scriptural references to support my beliefs and stress the importance of gaining wisdom and knowledge from the bible. It incorporates all of the presentations, readings, and critiques I did at Liberty University’s Theology and Spirituality in counseling course. I talk about how I integrate Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality into my Christian counseling and believe that they all have a lot to offer the Christian counselor. The role of integration and multitasking is necessary to be an effective Christian counselor under the guidelines of the American Association of Christian
No matter what reason a person choses to attend counseling, the main objective is to help people become whole and ultimately making them become better individuals. Everyone desires to live life of peaceful and serenity and desires to get rid of whatever, internal conflict they have preventing them from becoming whole. In the book Caring for People God’s Way, the book talks about caring for people but with Christ. How can a Christian counselor help a person who may or may not have strong beliefs in God? The way that a person does this is by reading scriptures, being secular to Christian, and keeping the person in checks and balances. In essence, a person need to Trust the Lord with all our heart and believing in his will. Everything that God
As a Christian counseling, I realize that I am an adjunct, specializing in a practice that is appropriately attached to and derived from the core practice, as it is legally defined (Clinton and Ohlschlager, p133). I also realize that I am more than a counselor; however, I have become a soul-care artisan, a disciple, a mentor, a spiritual director, and a guide into the deeper way of Christ (p132). Therefore, every Christian counseling session, I have encountered, has started with a prayer, to welcome God into the midst, as the Holy Spirit take the lead and guides what is said by me, as the counselor. As a Christian counselor, it is my hope that my knowledge of Spiritual formation reshapes the inner man, by being formed spiritually from the inside out, transforming from a selfish and carnal existence to a holy and joyful one; by one’s faith, as well as, the client’s faith, in God (Clinton and Ohlschlager, p130)
The new Christian counselors can help clients by permitting the power of the Spirit to be a guide, utilizing the authority of the Word, and consenting a supportive community in order to maintain a Christ-like attitude so that they may be like Christ.
Religion and culture will always form strong, in depth belief systems in individuals and I can see that there could be clashes of interest if the counsellor and client have different religious beliefs. There are so many emotive topics involved in religion, but one that springs to mind is the sanctity of marriage, a counsellor couldn't condone a person staying in an abusive relationship but they could make them aware of another choice and recognise, openly how difficult the situation is for the client. It could be that once the client is able to think this through then they can move
There are many different methods that exist for using the Bible in counseling. One should determine, with the discernment of the Holy Spirit, which methods to use in each situation. However, in order to be
Hello Professor, when it comes to your question about I found two article that talk about how that as a student and a professional counselor we should be diverse when it comes to others religious and spiritual beliefs. It is up to the teachers to show the students that when it comes to diversity that we should know how to handle different situations and understand that when we come to having a profession in counseling we should continue to educate ourselves so diversity is not an issues when it comes to our clients. Even though there are differences we should never push away a client because of own believes. I do feel that since this is a calling for most of us that we should learn and find ways to fulfil this calling to the best of our abilities.
This book provides insight on how counselors should guide people and how the scripture is able to influence change when ministered correctly. My personal experience with God confirms that biblical principles are sufficient to bring about emotional and spiritual change. I learned through the working of the Holy Spirit in my life that God alone is able to supply all my needs and provide the security and significance that I sought for so diligently in the world. The author expresses his firm belief that theology has no need for Psychology in promoting change in people and that the Word of God, alone, is able to bring about change in God’s people. I support this approach to counseling.
The counselor may impose their religious views onto the client. The counselor has to proceed with caution when integrating the client’s beliefs. Counselors should also have the proper training, in order to integrate religion and counseling. “There are also barriers for counselors at the individual-level. Counselors may be fearful about bringing up beliefs, particularly if they hold differing views from the client and believe they cannot relate” (Thayne, 1997, p.1) When counseling a child with depression, the counselor has to be aware of the child’s feelings and reassure that the client will not feel condemn for his/her