Integration of Narrative Therapy Hristian Counselling

Length: 2,515 words
The purpose of this essay is to discuss the positive and negative use of integration within Counselling. Much has been said about the integration of therapies and Christian values. The practice of secular psychotherapies has brought much conflict; many Christian counsellors have taken a different stance regarding the integration of psychology and religion. Some have embraced integration wholeheartedly whilst others reject it just as vigorously and many others fall somewhere between the cracks (Johnson & Jones, 2000, p. 9).

Christian psychologists have varied opinions on the topic of integrating psychology and Christianity. Gary Collins states that "few who believe in the integration of faith and learning would absorb and integrate these secular worldviews without weeding out the values, assumptions and methods that are at odds with biblical truth" (Johnson & Jones, 2000, p. 187). This essay will weed out the values, assumptions and methods underlining Narrative Therapy and draw a conclusion as to whether this therapy could be integrated within Christian counselling. The conclusion will be drawn from Narrative Therapy’s philosophy in fusion with a theological framework.

In gaining an insight into the origins of Narrative therapy we need to first explore the earlier works of family systemic therapy or more specifically family systems therapy which is a branch of psychotherapy that works explicitly with families (Corey, 2009, p. 411). Family systems therapy is indebted to its significant pioneers Alfred Adler, Murray Bowen, Virginia Satir, Carl Whitaker, Salvador Minuchin, Jay Haley and Cloe’ Madanes. This approach focuses on the family as the key to changing the individual’s perspective (Corey, 2009, p.10).

This systemic and constructivist approach to family therapy became known as the Milan method, although this model has lost credibility due to the fact that there are so many differentiated models (Sharf, 2011, p.570). The

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