In “Effective Biblical Counseling,” Dr. Larry Crabb attempts to provide a concrete biblically based view of counseling and how it can best be applied. Dr. Crabb gives his interpretation on the different styles of integration in regards to Christianity and psychology. He also discussed his goal of biblical counseling which “is to promote Christian maturity to help people enter into a richer experience of worship and a more effective life of service.” (1977) he attempts…
It is important for Christian counselor to have some form of training of theology and psychology so that they will be able to effective in their sessions. The importance of training whether it is formal or informal would allow the counselor to cover all issues that the client may present. If a counselor lacks knowledge and understanding in theology or psychology this could hinder the process of being able to integrate theology and psychology within the session. McMinn suggested that there is an important element that must be presented when one is seeking to be Christian counselor (McMinn, 2011). That element consists of understanding spirituality and the formation of spirituality (McMinn, 2011). If a Christian counselor lacks the knowledge of spirituality and the formation of spiritualty they would not be able to perform and handle the client’s needs when it comes to spiritual needs. ‘…
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.…
In his book Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling, Mark McMinn (2011) provides his readers with a book “to investigate the frontier of intra-disciplinary integration” (p. 9). McMinn (2011) provides his readers with the appropriate actions and interventions Christian counselors should taken with their client when faced with the religious challenges in counseling. Throughout his book McMinn (2011) expresses that one’s spiritual discipline is as important to how well effective intra-disciplinary integration is accomplished as biblical and theological foundations are.…
The book, Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity, written by David Entwistle (2010), provides a basis to integrate the psychology discipline with Christian beliefs. Entwistle’s (2010) opinion is that both psychology and Christianity were both created by God and that the two can merge with one another to provide a well rounded structure for counseling the whole person. According to Entwistle (2010, p.3), “As systems of thought, both psychology and Christian theology provide useful perspectives through which we can study and understand human behavior, and together they can give us a more complete and accurate picture of human nature and functioning than either perspective can provide alone.” This is the basis of the text in that integrating both disciplines can provide the best practice.…
In his book, Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity, Dr. David N. Entwistle (2010) provides his readers with a great tool and look into Christian Counseling. He opens the book by challenging the reader by introducing the tension between psychology and Christianity. Entwistle then mentions the idea that the two, psychology and Christianity, may be unable to exist together in the same profession. To support this idea Entwistle (2010) mentions that it may be impossible…
Clinton, T. , & Ohlschlager, G. (2002). Competent Christian Counseling, Volume One. New York, NY: Crown Publishing Group.…
Many professions have their own either written or understood code of ethics. This holds true for the profession of counseling, including the Christian sector of counseling. The American Counseling Association along with the American Association of Christian counselors both published codes of ethics for the licensed professionals in this particular field. Their specific ethics provide counselors with a guideline of how to correctly and ethically serve their clients. Some of the ethics described in these documents are: confidentiality, informed consent, and discrimination, healthy relationships with clients, laws and regulations, along with other specific duties to the clients and to the profession itself. These detailed standards are set in place to uphold the integrity of the counseling profession and ensure that clients are cared for in the most appropriate manner. This paper compares the two codes of ethics, pointing out specifically the similarities and differences the following topics: competence, fees, and personal problems of counselors.…
Christian counselors attempt to understand such complexities and apply them towards spiritual and professional development. McMinn (1996) suggests that “when counselors respond in caring, nonjudgmental ways, clients feel relief” (p. 165). The client may then receive scriptural and spiritual guidance to overcome struggle and develop a healthy sense of self. Supplying detailed perspectives of such growth, enables each client to acknowledge and attain personal responsibility for each aspect of the client’s life. This may be difficult to present when questions of spirituality continuously linger. Therefore, scriptural use takes the back-burner in counseling practices more than it should. McMinn (1996) indicates the prominence of closing this hole by demonstrating the positive impact that Scripture has in counseling. The goal is to promote healthy, spiritual growth by example and through supportive autonomy of the client’s intake and effort concerning God’s…
Thesis: A social issue that plagues our world today are eating disorders, but these can be helped by Christian counselors, who fix the problem by letting patients struggling with eating disorders know that they are important to God, God values their body, and that God cherishes when we recognize our weaknesses and give our burdens to him.…
Students critically examine the implications of a Christian worldview for counseling and marriage and family practice. Ethical issues relevant to the use of spiritual and religious interventions with individuals, couples, & families are considered, along with current research related to spirituality and counseling.…
At first I must admit that attending a Christian University was a little overwhelming to me because my Christian walk is still new. I was concerned that the way I looked at situations would not lineup with those of my professors and peers, however, I am pleased to say that after watching Dr. Hawkins presentation, my own beliefs are very similar to those of Liberty University's. A person and the needs of that person and their desire to function in a ministry of grace is what dominates the conversation and interactions with another person (Hawkins, 2017). This statement sums up the reason I decided to change careers and switch from teaching to counseling. Helping people realize that no matter what their circumstances are they have the free and…
The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the Jewish religion, Judaism, by attending a religious service and talking with the members of the Jewish faith in order to get to know their values, traditions, and demeanor. I will visit the Hebrew congregation synagogue in Reston, Virginia in order to attend a religious service and converse with members of the Jewish faith. This analysis will also incorporate any misconceptions that were found after learning more about the religion through interacting with members of the Jewish faith and spending time at their place of worship. This paper will aim to test my assumptions and preconceptions of Judaism through my research and interaction with people of its faith during my attendance at the religious service.…
Assess the views that secularisation has been a feature only of Modern European societies (33 marks).…