Journal Article Focused on Scripture Interventions
As a Christian counselor, we have the power of the Word on our sides, but so many of us do not understand how to properly apply scripture into the counseling relationship in an effective manner. In Interventions that Apply Scripture in Psychotherapy, Garzon (2005) attempts to accomplish the following; educate individuals on the various techniques one can use to apply scripture, and to encourage and stimulate God ordained creativity in the hopes to create new techniques and methods for applying God’s Word in the counseling relationship.
Summary of Readings
The start of this article focuses on a Christian client named George who is plagued with feelings of worthlessness, depression, low self-esteem, and suicide. His mother had also battled depression, and his father had an abusive relationship with alcohol, which caused his father to have verbally and physically abusive altercations with George and his mother. The abusive experiences that George was exposed to as a child paved the way for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as an adult (Garzon, 2005). With all of these factors present in this client’s life, a treatment plan was created that involved scripture interventions. The author made sure to touch on the fact that every client is unique in the hopes that counselors would be aware that one type of scripture intervention might work for one client and not work for another. The article highlights three guiding values when considering these types of interventions; “respect for the client’s autonomy/freedom, sensitivity to and empathy for the client’s religious and spiritual beliefs, and flexibility and responsiveness to the client’s religious and spiritual beliefs.”(Garzon, 2005). ...
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...every bone in my body; you know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.” (The Message) What an amazing word that shows that our great big God took the time to form each one of us. This should be a testament to the worth that God believes we have, and that if God can see us as having worth then we should be able to see ourselves as having more worth than society teaches us we possess.
This has been a very impactful article that will hopefully spur on spiritual growth in my life. God has been using several situations like this to speak to my heart, and encourage me to come closer to Him. It is time for me to step up, so that God can step in.
A difficulty that has occurred commonly is that a definition of spirituality cannot be agreed on. In a broad explanation of both religion as well as spirituality, religion constitutes the organization of faith, implementing prayer, ministry and theology. Spirituality could be viewed as a more individualized experience with a higher being, creator or idea (Walker et al., 2004, p. 70). These expressions allow a vision of client diversity that is found in all counseling classifications. While defining religion and spirituality properly seems trivial, when training counselors to properly apply the use of such variables in their therapies, a concrete explanation is imperative.
Clinton, T. & Ohlschlager, G. (2002). Competent Christian counseling: Foundations and practice of compassionate soul care. Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook Press.
Psychobabble: The Failure of Modern Psychology and the Biblical Alternative by Dr. Richard Gantz is an excellent book for anyone interested in pursuing a ministry in biblical counseling. It is indispensable for understanding the conflict between Biblical counseling and the theories of man. Dr. Gantz’s book can be a very important tool to returning to God’s view of man in counseling and rejecting man’s self-aggrandizing coddling views.
Children and adults that are familiar with God and that have been taught that God is love, often associated their traumatic experiences in a negative way to their spirituality. Children and adults may relate their trauma experienced to a retribution by a punitive God and it can disrupt their spiritual belief and connection with God or a divine being (Bryant-Davis, et al., 2012). Individuals’ that have experienced trauma at times develop a negative and unsafe view of the world. The world is no longer a safe place for them. This negative connotation of the world could lead to many adverse effects throughout the development stages of a person. It could lead to mental health as well as a complete rejection of one’s faith, and mistrust that can lead to the inhibition of formatting healthy relationships with others or with God. Although, children and adults could develop a negative view against their God due to the negative experience, spirituality can also be a source of strength and a mechanism that can lead to recovery. Many times victims of a traumatic event use their spirituality as a form of coping skill that leads to a better understanding and acceptance of their past or present circumstances. This positive view of spirituality can later be restored through means of different styles of
Worthington, E. L. Jr., Hook, J. N., Davis, D. E., & McDaniel, M. A. (2011). Religion and spirituality. In J. C. Norcross (Ed.), Psychotherapy relationships that work (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press
I believe that the Bible is the holy word which was revealed for the purpose that man can know God and His will. Man is spiritual dead and cannot know anything, God has to revealed himself through His word to man (1 Cor. 2:7-11; 2 Peter 1:20-21). The revelation came by supernatural ways which are dreams (Gen. 37:5-9), visions (Gen. 15; Amos 7-9), and direct communication (1 Sam. 3:3-14). The Bible is written revelation, or God’s communication of divine truth to man. The revelation occurs in two forms: general and special. The general revelation is the truths that can be known about God through nature (Ps. 8; 19:1-6). The general revelation cannot bring salvation to man because it only demonstrates the existence of God, but it does not show man way he can be saved (Rom. 2:14-16). Man is without excuse as he suppresses the general revelation of God in his heart, man bears God's wrath and judgment (Rom. 1:18-20). The special revelation is the specific truths that can be known about God through the supernatural way
Dr. Wright educates his readers how to develop skills for working with victims of crisis and trauma through biblical principles. It is important that we learn these skills because counselees need their counselor's “encouragement and faith to help move along. Some need their sense of faith and hope in the Lord— and in the future— to carry them until their own faith and hope build and they can rely upon their own inner strength.”
Do you tie the bible or biblical references into your counseling process? And if so how?
In a secular environment confronting sin as a Christian counselor may be thought-provoking. Ethical standards for practice is essential for the Christian counselor that’s stated week eights presentation. Christian counselor should consider the worst possible case scenario, not be negative, but aware. The scripture used in the ethical standard of practice was “be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Ethical standards, n.d.). McMinn also shared that Christian counselors find themselves caught in the middle of the secular and Christian worldviews and each prefers a different attributional style (McMinn, 161).
Biblical Counseling is making a strong impact in today's churches and community. Counseling is seen as one of the most productive ways of helping a
On the down side there are a limited number of educational programs that adequately deal with the issue of incorporating religion and spirituality in therapeutic/counseling settings. This can be attributed to the fact that counseling is based in psychology, a scientific field, which has traditionally neglected issues of a spiritual nature (Nelson, Kirk, Ane, & Serres, 2011) as well as the practice used within the United States to separate education and religion (Cashwell and Young, 2011). This then results in a significant portion of therapist and counselors who are not prepared to address the issue of spirituality and religion with their clients. One would think that with the value many Americans place on the topic of religion and spirituality that there would come a time when a client would want to address this topic during his or her session.
Conclusions: Evangelical student organizations can provide substantial emotional support for student members. Participants in these organizations conceptualize depression using multiple etiological narratives, often prefer counselors who share their faith, and may be ambivalent about using
In this paper, I will emphasize on the Ministry of the Holy Spirit. I aim to demonstrate the Power of the Holy Spirit and how the Believer can be transformed by the working ministry of the Holy Spirit. Many believers do not understand the Ministry of the Holy Spirit, therefore, tend to believe that they are motivated, and operate within their own power. The Trinity plays a dynamic role in understanding this unique ministry. Therefore, I will communicate the importance of understanding and having the knowledge of the Trinity roles. In the Book of Acts of the New Testament, it is written how the Power of the Holy Spirit comes upon the people of God and lives were changed. This paper will challenge that the Power of the Holy Spirit will regenerate
Acts 20:35 states, “By this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Pastoral, or Christian, Counseling is a form of giving. It is the giving up of one’s time, compassion, and wisdom to benefit the individual, or individuals, sitting in front of them who have brought their trust upfront, believing they can strengthen their quality of life and more than that, their walk of faith, through professional guidance. By pursuing this career, a follower is ultimately taking his heavenly father’s values to heart and acting upon them. A better understanding of what that looks like, in this sense, can be found by examining the traits that are important
My previous experience in counseling encompassed three different aspects. The first is Decision Counseling which involves leading individuals in giving their lives to Christ. Next, Commissioned Lay Counseling assists in leading individuals to view life issues from a Christ-centered perspective. Lastly, Coaching consists of leading individuals to have a different view on past negative life experiences. Functioning in all three capacities has shown me the need others have for understanding and coping with difficult issues and has also shaped my desire to further my education and better equip myself with the knowledge needed to help the hurting and the lost. Having first-hand experience with some wanting to get to know and experience Christ