Mark McMinn’s book, Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling, 1996, brings theology, Christian spirituality, and psychology into the counseling responsibility. Faith, true, honest, heartfelt faith is his unceasing, steady, melody. McMinn just doesn’t just focus on using Christian doctrine in therapy sessions with your clients. He spends an equal amount of time coaching and educating on the invaluable importance of spirituality in the counselors life. Christian counseling strengthens three areas of a person’s life: sense of self, an awareness of human need and limitations, and confiding interpersonal relationships with God and others. When we are right with the Lord, when we walk in the Light, we led by example. We led by example at church, in daily living and in our profession.…
Ethical concerns are present within this discussion. Garzon (2005) relates to the reader that one must acknowledge that within these interventions dual relationships occur, boundaries may be violated between church and state, an imposition of values and issues such as informed consent and competency of the counselor do arise. Ways to avoid these ethical pitfalls are to have a inclusive conformed consent, conduct assessments that clearly define the client's spiritual beliefs, and use the scripture interventions only with certain clients (Garzon). The religious background of both counselor and client must be positive to avoid negative outcomes such as guilt.…
Garzon (2005) suggests that before incorporating any Scripture intervention strategies a therapist should first look at the ethical, cultural, and assessment issues of the client. It is especially important to assess the client’s religio-cultural background before integrating any Biblical interventions. A therapist’s values should also be included as part of the assessment.…
k, How to Help People Change, Adams presents a four-step Biblical approach to Christian counseling based on 2 Timothy 3:16 which he believes “contain a clear outline of the process all Christian counselors must follow if they would help people change in ways that please God.” (p. 10) His approach to counseling, within these four steps, include teaching, conviction, correction and disciplined training in righteousness. (p.13) Adams’ holds fast to the view that the Christian counselors need to be aware that change is only good if it is a change that is “directed toward God.” (p. 16)…
James Warren Jones commonly known as Jim Jones was an American cult leader. He was the founder of Peoples Temple which is infamous for mass murder suicide in 1978 November where 918 members of his cult lost their live. It is estimated that nearly 300 innocent children were murdered at Jonestown, almost all of them by cyanide poisoning. He was seen as a very charismatic man by his followers and he attracted people who were feeling isolated for whatever reason. Majority of his followers were African American but there were also some white people, Jew and Mexicans.…
on whether they will be going to heaven or not. Their beliefs are what truly persuade them to listen…
Without understanding, a conversation is one-sided and results in an argument rather than a discussion. Regarding religion and the lifestyle which accompanies it, I often defensively face opposition. Sean McDowell touched on the humbling action of loving our enemies and how this single action can affect entire relationships. If sharing our faith or even discussing it turns into a battle of the lifestyles, the entire point of sharing is lost. Seeing the individual as a human loved by God and trying to figure life out just as we all are is the only solution to self-righteous attitudes. Edifying conversations can begin individuals listen to the opposite belief without planning their next…
The author of this book Mark McMinn explains how psychology, theology, and spirituality can all be integrated into Christian counseling. He discusses the difference between the three overlapping principles. He wrote this book especially for Christian counselors, pastors, as well as students so that they may clearly understand the meaning of the three principles, allowing them to apply it to everyday problems. The main question this book poses to answer is, How does a Christian counselor integrate their faith into a counseling session in a way that can be beneficial to their clients. He discusses the problems that counselors and clients face in a counseling session and ways to improve them. Some of the ways he mentioned to improve counseling sessions were prayer, scripture, the effects of sin confession, forgiveness, and redemption. This book main purpose is to assist the counselor in integrating the three categories. He feels that if a counselor can master this, then they will be able to give their clients the very best services. The most important thing to realize is that this process will not be easy for the counselor or the client but, if done right it can be very rewarding for them both.…
In this paper, I will analyze a section of Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man Is Hard to Find. Nearing the end of the short story, there is a scene between pages 150 and 152 where the Misfit and the Grandmother exchange thoughts on their beliefs and how they questioned them. While the Misfit’s beliefs were based on rigorous examination and re-evaluation, the grandmother’s beliefs stemmed from blind faith, which, in a sense contributed to her demise at the end of the story.…
Many counselors have a hard time addressing their own faith, with their clients. They question whether it is acceptable to talk to their clients about their Christian beliefs. Therefore, many times spirituality will fall by the wayside in the counseling session. McMinn (1996) gives us ways in which the counselor can integrate their spirituality into the counseling sessions and promote Christian guidance, into their clients lives. The goal of the Christian counselor is to promote mental and spiritual growth, so that the client can draw from their faith and look to God for guidance.…
Religion plays an important role in the lives of many people, and in such cases, religious principles and beliefs influence all aspects of their lives. With the increasing interest in spirituality in the community, the intersection of psychological services, religion and spirituality is likely to be a growth area in psychology (Plante, 2007). However, working with clients around religion and spirituality issues does present potential ethical challenges.…
Have you ever rebelled against the house rules dictated by your parents? In the 1600’s, a group of religious citizens discontent with the Anglican Church of England, did exactly that- rebelled. The Puritans contended that King James had created a religion of political struggles and doctrines. Puritans, such as John Calvin and John Winthrop, wrote about the concept of escaping persecution from the Anglican Church and reforming religion, morals, and society. The Puritans fled to start anew and created colonies in North America, including Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay. The driving forces of reform were numerous pieces of literature. The Puritan beliefs consisted mainly of five principles: Total Depravity, the Devil and sins, Predestination, God’s true law, and moral development, resulting in a government and religious-based way of life that has impacted present day America.…
Backus, W. D., & Chapian, M. (2000). Telling yourself the truth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.…
In an article discussing the importance of integrating religion in counseling it was stated that, “Richards and Bergin (1997) also noted a recent growth in interest in spiritual and religious issues in the United States, as evidenced by increased coverage of these topics in leading newspapers, magazines, books, and television specials. Likewise, in the fields of counseling and psychology, there has been a growing awareness about the importance of incorporating spirituality and religion into psychotherapy. For example, in the code of ethics, the American Psychological Association (APA, 1992) recognized religion as a component of human diversity” (Wolf, 2001). Therefore, as the importance of this integration grows, it is increasingly necessary for a therapist, especially one claiming to be a Christian, to develop their own theory of counseling. Therefore, this theory focuses highly on rationality, the ability to control ones thoughts, and the importance…
I have noticed more, and more in the past few years that citizens in America have forgotten some core values of the meaning Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. The unalienable right to live our lives with freedom and the ability to pursue happiness, is something we should appreciate more. There are many countries in the world that do not have these freedoms, these rights. And while America is going through a lot of hardships and struggles right now, it is still the greatest country in the world. America is a diverse country whose acceptance of other people is world known. We have been the most powerful nation for the past several decades, and will continue to hold that title for many more. Americans need to remember where we came…