Confronting Sin In Counseling Essay

According to McMinn (2011), “confrontation should be a valid option for most Christian counselors under many circumstances” (p. 167). He goes on to say there are “four approaches to appropriately confronting sin: silence, pondering, questioning, and direct censure” (McMinn, 2011, p. 167). In confronting sin in a client’s life, counselors must proceed with caution. Each client is different, so it is important for counselors to choose an approach “with regard to the particular client, the situation, and the nature of the therapeutic relationship” (McMinn, 2011, p. 167). Counselors must discern when it is appropriate to confront sin in their client’s life. They will not automatically and quickly confront sin in the client’s life because it is all about timing. The counselor must build a trusting relationship with the client before addressing sin in their life. The sensitive counselor will “start smaller, with

less intimidating types of confrontation before trying to confront a cherished belief or behavior” to see how the client will respond to confrontation (McMinn, 2011, p. 177). The sensitive Christian counselor will also confront sin in his or her own lives before confronting sin in another person’s life.
Of all the cautions mentioned in the class sources, I believe counselors overlook “doing no harm” (Peters, n.d., Week Seven Powerpoint Lecture Two).

Sometimes, counselors will confront sin in their client’s life when they shouldn’t and it causes more harm than good. The client will feel even more hurt because the counselor “jumped the gun” in confronting them about their sin. As a result, it is important for counselors to wait until the client is ready to confront their sin or to wait until the timing is right. Another caution mentioned in the class sources that counselors often overlook is “counselor self-awareness” (Peters, n.d., Week Seven Powerpoint Lecture Two). Counselors must be aware of their own emotions and attitudes when it comes to confronting sin in a client’s life so they do not become angry with their client because of sin in their life, or even judgmental towards them (Peters, n.d., Week Seven Powerpoint Lecture Two). Counselors need to have an awareness of their own attitudes and emotions before seeking to confront sin in their client’s

life.
I believe the two best forms of confrontation for Jean’s case are pondering and questioning. Pondering is one of the best forms of confrontation for Jean because it is “sometimes a helpful way to confront clients indirectly and causes them to think more intently about their choices” (McMinn, 2011, p. 168). Pondering would definitely help Jean think more about her decision to secretly have an abortion as a teenager. It would also help her think more about the reasons behind her recent suicide attempt. Questioning is the other form of confrontation that would work best in Jean’s case because “by asking specific questions, counselors are sometimes able to access client’s values of right and wrong” (McMinn, 2011, p. 169). Asking questions about Jean’s past would potentially help her articulate why she chose to get an abortion, to run away from home, and to attempt suicide. It is important for counselors to ask questions that help the client articulate their feelings and reasons behind their actions. Pondering and questioning are two forms of confrontation that would work best in Jean’s case, considering all she’s been through. Jean is broken and experiencing guilt and shame, so it is important for counselors to proceed with care in confronting sin in her life.
Before confronting Jean’s sin, I would build a relationship with her. I would get to know her and let her know she can trust me. I would also ask the Lord to give me wisdom to know when to confront or not. At this point in time, I would not confront her because of where is emotionally, physically, and mentally. It is never easy being diagnosed with an illness, such as schizophrenia. Jean’s state of mind is delicate and to confront her right away would cause more harm than good. Jean is feeling guilt and shame for aborting her child, so it is important to work through those issues before confronting her sin. When the time came to confront Jean about her sin, I would use both the pondering and questioning forms of confrontation because they would help Jean articulate her feelings and the reasons behind her actions. In addition to confronting Jean about her sin, it is important that we help her come to a place where she is able to seek God’s forgiveness for the sin in her life as well as to forgive herself and others.
References
McMinn, M.R. (2011). Psychology, theology, and spirituality in Christian counseling. (Rev. ed., pp. 167-177). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers
Peters, C. (n.d.). COUN 506 Week Seven, Lecture Two: Sin, confession and redemption in counseling [PowerPoint]. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Online.