Psychology Theology And Spirituality In Christian Counseling Summary

Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling written by Mark McMinn and published by Tyndale House in 2011 notions towards the idealization that Christian counselors need to be privy in the most recent psychological methods as well as theological theories. “This is a book about counseling processes techniques” (McMinn, 2011, p. 150). McMinn also alluded that Christian counselors benefit from having a spiritual maturity. With having these attributes counselors are better prepared to take note of prayer, Scripture, sin, confession, forgiveness, and redemption. McMinn (2011) model flows in the direction of healing while equating to a more advantageous relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ as well as with other relationships (McMinn, 2011).

McMinn (2011) lets us know that as counselors praying for our clients outside of the counseling sessions lessens the risk of regression especially if a client is not open to prayer. Although, the experience of open prayer can go either way, it can be either helpful or harmful. The advantage of open prayer is that clients who are accepting to prayer have the advantage of growing spiritually while growing and gravitating closer to The Lord (McMinn, 2011).
The negative side effects of prayer within the counseling sessions are those that relate to the clients growing too close to the counselor and possibly depending on the counselor to carry them in prayer as well as ritualism. McMinn (2011) does warn counselors to continue to have their own prayer time so that their faith does not weaken (McMinn, 2011).
Psychologist assist clients in finding truth within and to look to their selves to decipher their issues and concerns. However, the opposite is true of Christian counselors, they are to look to The Lord and in the Scripture for truism. McMinn explains that the counselor is looked upon to determine when Scripture should be utilized. Also, McMinn looks at using Scripture during the counseling session as a tool that can measure counseling strategy risks. Scripture is thought to be beneficial in the facet of meditation, as well as interventional. However, the risks that are associated include shame and power in regards to integration. The concept of sin is discussed using attributional styles, explaining that issues and concerns are related to sin or sickness. Theologically speaking issues and concerns due to any tension that may arise during the counseling session are to include personal and original sin (McMinn, 2011).
Confession is taken on in the realization of its therapeutic power when there is a shameless environment provided. McMinn (1996) highlights that in counseling, “an accurate understanding of sin and confession” leads “to humility and hope” (McMinn, 2011, p. 181).
It is thought that if a counselor understands the psychological world but ignores the theological and spiritual the client’s deep longings for The Lord may never come to pass during the counseling process.

With the three categories “that must be considered simultaneously: psychology, theology, and spirituality” (McMinn, 2011, p.190). From the stance of psychology counselors are thought to be more subjective by placing themselves on the outside in order to properly view the issues or concerns that the client may have. Theology, is thought to spear spirituality. “May God guide each of us to the deep, still waters of Life, where we find hope, courage, humidity compassion and peace” (McMinn, 2011, p.

202).
Concrete Responses
I am reminded of a time in my life while stationed in Nurnberg Germany. My husband and I were newly married and expecting our first child. I can still remember the excitement of my growing mid-section along with my swollen feet. I remember going to the doctor during my third trimester and being told that I had toxemia and that the baby had what was known as a water head. My world came crashing down around me. My husband and I were in Germany alone without family. We were all that each other had, and to receive news that our baby would be born with a possible birth defect was catastrophe . As Christians we reached out for spiritual counseling and found a wonderful Christian counselor at our church who walked us through unbeknown to us what could have easily been McMinn’s methods of healing. He encouraged us to talk about our problem and how it would affect our life. I can still remember his compassion for us which helped to set us at ease. He did so by fostering an environment where it felt safe and relaxing for us to express our fears regardless of the pain, guilt or shame that we felt. I can still remember our daily devotions of praying and meditating, petitioning The Lord to have a healthy baby. The counselor used prayer to leverage the counseling sessions (McMinn, 2011) and we found that prayer worked. Over the following months my guilt of not quitting work, and the shame that I experienced was turned into faith in God. We had a healthy 6 pound boy.
Reflection
According to our text, there are four important therapeutic uses of scripture to be used in counseling.

Some counseling strategies we can draw from scripture such as cognitive therapy (McMinn, 2011). Also, it can lead to a direction for dealing with any guilt or resentment. Second, scripture can support certain principles in counseling such as religious imagery (McMinn, 2011). Other examples would include support for dream analysis, retreats, or small groups (McMinn,

2011).
McMinn also describes that other uses of scripture would be to use it to identify when counseling does not contradict scripture. It is important to know when scripture doubles back certain forms of counseling. McMinn (2011), alludes that using scripture in counseling answers whether it will help establish a healthy sense of self, need, or healing relationship. Pondering questions and looking back, I would ask myself while counseling a suffering client “Am I showing hospitality?” Because care and compassion have an incredible impact on the client and also, have a wonderful healing dynamic. By showing my client sympathy, I can open up my client to the healing process. What would be considered over talking when as a counselor I should be exuding silence and sitting with my client in solidarity. Just being there for another person even in silence can be an extremely healing experience. “Is it the appropriate time to confront faulty thinking?” (McMinn, 2011, p. 171). Truthfulness is a vital element to problem resolution. At the appropriate time and at the intensity that my client can handle, I would confront faulty thinking about suffering, as well as, help my client eliminate needless suffering. Looking back at being proactive or only reactive and knowing that it is important that I seek to promote all areas of my client’s mental health is and that I am not solely focused on preventing suffering. With a complete outlook on mental health, my client will be able to have a great quality-of-life and a better support system for when trouble arises. Though this model is very broad, the pathway of self-sufficiency, brokenness, and ultimately a healing relationship is an incredibly helpful tool for guiding my client to move from suffering to healing (McMinn, 2011).
Action
Using McMinn’s methods I would encourage verbalization of problems without any judgement. I would ensure that the client was aware of my compassion for her and her issues of personal or original sin. I would ensure that I fostered an environment where it felt safe and relaxing for the client to confess their feeling regardless of the pain, guilt or shame that they may have felt in the past. I would encourage the client to read their bible for understanding and use prayer to leverage the counseling sessions (McMinn, 2011). “Erickson believes psychotherapists should introduce a moral dimension in counseling by assisting clients in their desire for restoration: a process of confessing wrong, making amends, and taking responsibility for future actions” (McMinn, 2011, p. 150). I would guide the client to ensure that they knew, “forgiveness is not self-blame. Forgiving another does not require us to accept responsibility for what went wrong” (McMinn, 2011, p.240). I would fashion the stated steps in and effort for the client to be healed from the inside out in order for them to lead a productive life and possibly pay it forward.