Hawkins And Clinton Summary
Hawkins & Clinton Book Review
Summary
Hawkins and Clinton book was by far one of the most interesting books I have read in a long time. There were numerous important concepts that were spoken about throughout this book that I honestly believe were explained in great depth and had an impact on my life. The authors of did a fantastic job with showing how the integration of Christian counseling, psychotherapy, and mental health care work together with the use of psychology and spirituality.
A major concept that stood out to me during my reading was the definition of what Christian counseling is. Sometimes when people hear Christian counseling they automatically assume that Christian counseling is when a counselor is trying to convert their religion …show more content…
to Christianity by talking about the Bible and Christianity during their counseling sessions. That is a false assumption and has been proven to be otherwise. A counselor will never try to force their religion or any other religious beliefs onto their client because that is against practice and they could potentially lose their license if these accusations are proven to be true.
A second major concept that was important was dealing with the atmosphere around you. The atmosphere someone lives in or is a part of plays a major part in how someone lives their life. The atmosphere that one lives in can also cause changes to their identity. My third concept that was important was how an individual’s surroundings impact their identity. Stewart (2012) stated that an individual’s identity changes over time do to their surroundings and the experiences that occur throughout their life. Hawkins and Clinton (2005) stated that a client may have a difficult time adjusting to their surroundings or atmosphere because they may have been in a hurtful place, unsafe place, and they may be coming from a place of brokenness and failure. Someone surroundings could cause them to do things that they normally would never do. For example, one could become an addict of some form because of the environment that they live in; meaning that everyone around them is doing something and they believe it is the right thing to do. A fourth concept that was important was the concept of moving forward. This concept focused on letting the counselors know that they should be up with the times and use the elements of present day along with the elements of the past to keep their clients seeing progression and to stay up to date of the treatment methods used around the world within different cultures. Hawkins and Clinton (2005) states that a counselor should know the techniques to use and not to use during the sessions. They also state that a counselor should know that not all techniques will be useful for every client. The fifth concept is action. In this book, Hawkins and Clinton (2005) states that the client must act if they want to change their current situation. God places the outlets in from of you but it is up to you to take them and use them. As a counselor, I can only give the client the resources to change their situation, I cannot make them take them or use them.
The sixth concept is how a counselor responds with non-verbal and verbal language.
During a counseling session, a counselor must listen to the client, listen and watch their body language when talking about different topics, and most important they have the make sure that the client is comfortable with all the information and techniques that will be used during the sessions and consent. In Chapter 9, Hawkins and Clinton states that not only should a counselor pay close attention to actions and reactions from their client but they should match the plans set out for their client with their actions. Another concept that is important is noticing when a client is resistant to change. Per Hawkins and Clinton (2005), a client can be resistant to change because they are not receiving the outcomes they want in a time frame they think they should. A counselor should inform the client that change takes time and it does not happen quickly but if they put in the effort they will see a change. The last concept that was important was making sure that the client has faith in both the process and God. In Chapter 4, Hawkins and Clinton both state that if one does not have faith in the process and God they will not see how the counseling is helping them achieve their goals. “But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews
11:6)”.
Analysis
In Chapter 5, Hawkins and Clinton talk about how sin can be an addiction and as they talk about the different types of addictions, they say that God knows that humans will live against his word at times but he is a forgiving God so he forgives everyone. The model of integration that I believe Hawkins and Clinton approach was is Christ above culture. I say this because within the book, the authors made the connections between the world and god. Christ above culture says that people are not against God but they take an instrumental view of God. Those individuals believe that you can be neutral when dealing with God.
The authors identified psychological issues as all the same because from every issue you can have a spiritual way to solve them. When you have a psychological issue, it stims from the spiritual connection that the individual has. Everyone has a connection with the creator in their own way and the connection that they have can help them solve their psychological issues because the creator is a healer. Psychological theory and research was important to the authors of this book. The research was important because they needed examples of psychological issues to show how the connections between the two are present.
Application
Applying multiple concepts from Hawkins and Clinton’s book would help me in counseling anyone. One of the concepts mentioned by Hawkins and Clinton (2015) that I would use during my counseling session is to let the client know that they are capable of great good because of their heritage as image bearers and their conscience. People deal with situations differently and within different time frames but at the end of the day there is greatness in everyone. Individuals should have hope knowing that they can get through any situation they are in because they have God on their side and a support system. Being a counselor, I must listen and talk to my clients and let them know that they have support and can trust me. Clients need to feel like they have someone in their corner other than themselves and God. Hawkins and Clinton (2005) stated in Chapter 4 that not only do a counselor need to establish a connection with the client but a counselor must let the client know they want to help them succeed in their recovery. Hawkins and Clinton (2015) also states that the client and the counselor both have to take accountability for their actions and that is exactly what I would tell my client. This is especially important for the client because when the client can hold themselves accountable for the mistakes/lessons learned in their life they can start to see a progress.
During my counseling sessions, I would let my client know that having love not only for other people is important but most importantly having love for yourself is even more important. People tend to think that if they love other people and forgive other people they will be ok in life but that is not the truth. You must love yourself first before you can love anyone else. In Chapter 4, Hawkins and Clinton talks about relationship and having love for yourself and others. The authors go further into the topic and state that during recovery, you must first love yourself and forgive yourself completely before you can make any progress. As a counselor, I must remind clients that they have to love themselves first before they can ever love anyone else. Loving oneself is important to living a healthy life and becoming the individual that God has designed you to be. Seeking spiritual help does not mean go to church every Sunday, go to bible study, join a church, or even give your life over to Christ it simply means just talking to the creator about your problems. Having that connection with the creator can make a huge difference and impact on your life. As a counselor, I encourage my clients to go and sit down and have a talk with the creator because he already knows your problems all you have to do is talk to him and he will make a way.
Summary
Hawkins and Clinton book was by far one of the most interesting books I have read in a long time. There were numerous important concepts that were spoken about throughout this book that I honestly believe were explained in great depth and had an impact on my life. The authors of did a fantastic job with showing how the integration of Christian counseling, psychotherapy, and mental health care work together with the use of psychology and spirituality.
A major concept that stood out to me during my reading was the definition of what Christian counseling is. Sometimes when people hear Christian counseling they automatically assume that Christian counseling is when a counselor is trying to convert their religion …show more content…
to Christianity by talking about the Bible and Christianity during their counseling sessions. That is a false assumption and has been proven to be otherwise. A counselor will never try to force their religion or any other religious beliefs onto their client because that is against practice and they could potentially lose their license if these accusations are proven to be true.
A second major concept that was important was dealing with the atmosphere around you. The atmosphere someone lives in or is a part of plays a major part in how someone lives their life. The atmosphere that one lives in can also cause changes to their identity. My third concept that was important was how an individual’s surroundings impact their identity. Stewart (2012) stated that an individual’s identity changes over time do to their surroundings and the experiences that occur throughout their life. Hawkins and Clinton (2005) stated that a client may have a difficult time adjusting to their surroundings or atmosphere because they may have been in a hurtful place, unsafe place, and they may be coming from a place of brokenness and failure. Someone surroundings could cause them to do things that they normally would never do. For example, one could become an addict of some form because of the environment that they live in; meaning that everyone around them is doing something and they believe it is the right thing to do. A fourth concept that was important was the concept of moving forward. This concept focused on letting the counselors know that they should be up with the times and use the elements of present day along with the elements of the past to keep their clients seeing progression and to stay up to date of the treatment methods used around the world within different cultures. Hawkins and Clinton (2005) states that a counselor should know the techniques to use and not to use during the sessions. They also state that a counselor should know that not all techniques will be useful for every client. The fifth concept is action. In this book, Hawkins and Clinton (2005) states that the client must act if they want to change their current situation. God places the outlets in from of you but it is up to you to take them and use them. As a counselor, I can only give the client the resources to change their situation, I cannot make them take them or use them.
The sixth concept is how a counselor responds with non-verbal and verbal language.
During a counseling session, a counselor must listen to the client, listen and watch their body language when talking about different topics, and most important they have the make sure that the client is comfortable with all the information and techniques that will be used during the sessions and consent. In Chapter 9, Hawkins and Clinton states that not only should a counselor pay close attention to actions and reactions from their client but they should match the plans set out for their client with their actions. Another concept that is important is noticing when a client is resistant to change. Per Hawkins and Clinton (2005), a client can be resistant to change because they are not receiving the outcomes they want in a time frame they think they should. A counselor should inform the client that change takes time and it does not happen quickly but if they put in the effort they will see a change. The last concept that was important was making sure that the client has faith in both the process and God. In Chapter 4, Hawkins and Clinton both state that if one does not have faith in the process and God they will not see how the counseling is helping them achieve their goals. “But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews
11:6)”.
Analysis
In Chapter 5, Hawkins and Clinton talk about how sin can be an addiction and as they talk about the different types of addictions, they say that God knows that humans will live against his word at times but he is a forgiving God so he forgives everyone. The model of integration that I believe Hawkins and Clinton approach was is Christ above culture. I say this because within the book, the authors made the connections between the world and god. Christ above culture says that people are not against God but they take an instrumental view of God. Those individuals believe that you can be neutral when dealing with God.
The authors identified psychological issues as all the same because from every issue you can have a spiritual way to solve them. When you have a psychological issue, it stims from the spiritual connection that the individual has. Everyone has a connection with the creator in their own way and the connection that they have can help them solve their psychological issues because the creator is a healer. Psychological theory and research was important to the authors of this book. The research was important because they needed examples of psychological issues to show how the connections between the two are present.
Application
Applying multiple concepts from Hawkins and Clinton’s book would help me in counseling anyone. One of the concepts mentioned by Hawkins and Clinton (2015) that I would use during my counseling session is to let the client know that they are capable of great good because of their heritage as image bearers and their conscience. People deal with situations differently and within different time frames but at the end of the day there is greatness in everyone. Individuals should have hope knowing that they can get through any situation they are in because they have God on their side and a support system. Being a counselor, I must listen and talk to my clients and let them know that they have support and can trust me. Clients need to feel like they have someone in their corner other than themselves and God. Hawkins and Clinton (2005) stated in Chapter 4 that not only do a counselor need to establish a connection with the client but a counselor must let the client know they want to help them succeed in their recovery. Hawkins and Clinton (2015) also states that the client and the counselor both have to take accountability for their actions and that is exactly what I would tell my client. This is especially important for the client because when the client can hold themselves accountable for the mistakes/lessons learned in their life they can start to see a progress.
During my counseling sessions, I would let my client know that having love not only for other people is important but most importantly having love for yourself is even more important. People tend to think that if they love other people and forgive other people they will be ok in life but that is not the truth. You must love yourself first before you can love anyone else. In Chapter 4, Hawkins and Clinton talks about relationship and having love for yourself and others. The authors go further into the topic and state that during recovery, you must first love yourself and forgive yourself completely before you can make any progress. As a counselor, I must remind clients that they have to love themselves first before they can ever love anyone else. Loving oneself is important to living a healthy life and becoming the individual that God has designed you to be. Seeking spiritual help does not mean go to church every Sunday, go to bible study, join a church, or even give your life over to Christ it simply means just talking to the creator about your problems. Having that connection with the creator can make a huge difference and impact on your life. As a counselor, I encourage my clients to go and sit down and have a talk with the creator because he already knows your problems all you have to do is talk to him and he will make a way.