Table of Contents
To properly incorporate scripture in a counseling session is difficult to achieve especially if one does not fully understand the subject. In order to assist counseling professionals in such areas as “Psychology, theology, and spirituality in Christian counseling” (McMinn, 2011) was published to “effectively add in Scripture, prayer, and forgiveness” into normal counseling practices (McMinn, 2011). it is noteworthy to comprehend the overall objective of the book rather than focusing on the title alone.
The main point of the book is not to review theology and spirituality but to join psychology, theology, and spirituality together so that Christian counselors may have the opportunity to utilize these techniques so that they may work together. The book is comprised of eight chapters which allows the reader to get a glimpse of what the practice of counseling is like behind the scenes and how counselors may handle in their own spiritual life.
Chapter 1 entitled “Religion in the Counseling Office”, is about a women named Jill who is dealing with the symptoms of depression, insomnia, guilt, and low self-confidence issues (McMinn, 2011, p.3) while Chapter 2 titled “Toward Psychological and Spiritual Health” outlines the healing pattern. These examples of the healing pattern defined and “can be seen all around us” (McMinn, 2011, p. 42). In the first chapter, Jill choose to seek out a counselor to assist her with solving the issues she was dealing with.
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However, Jill was concerned that she would not pick the correct counselor to help her with her emotional and spiritual health. There were three counselors all of them had different perspectives. They were all introduced to Jill by their advertisements in the yellow pages. After Jill spoke to each of them, she recognized that each counselor had a different opinion of what her dilemma. The first counselor believed that Jill was blocked from taking pleasure in her life because of her religious faith. In addition, the first counselor believed that she would become well once she learned to let go of her ideas and logic of her faith. The next counselor thought that it would be better to simply “actively listen” to Jill without giving her any answers.
The second counselor understood what Jill’s religious values were and didn’t want to stray from her faith. In addition, the second counselor believed that Jill’s religious values were important to her and believed that she was in need of a supportive friend to assist her. The final counselor, thought that Jill’s “personal sin” was the cause of why she was having these specific feelings and believed if she were to confess her sins, she will be healed. In the end Jill located a counselor named Dr. N.T. Gration who was a professional at integrating Christianity with psychology (McMinn, 2011, p. 7).
Even though Dr. Gration had experience in integration, she is riddled with personal questions pertaining to Jill’s case and looks for ways to find the best answer to her questions. The main message in this chapter is the six different challenges that Christian counselors face in integration and understanding that the area of proficiency moves from two areas to three. One of which include spirituality which is difficult for many professionals to incorporate because “spirituality does not lend itself to credentials” (McMinn, 2011, p.11). Unlike psychology and theology, the integration of spirituality or faith can only be developed by experience or in private.
The third chapter talked about the power of Prayer and focused on responding to those who are pondering if prayer should be used in Christian counseling. Because there are two different scenarios, both women displayed examples of how incorporating prayer could be beneficial but at the same time be harmful to their healing process while in therapy. For example, Ms. Henry may have found that prayer was a way to continue to deny of her life situations. On the other hand, Ms. Thomas felt that playing with her therapist may be an effective way to fill her void of feeling lonely since the death of her mother (McMinn, 2011, p. 78).
With that said, the effects and use of prayer in counseling are two groups that the topic can be split into. Additional chapters reguarding Scripture, Sin, Confession, Forgiveness, and Redemption are full of examples, concepts, questions, and challenges that would assist counselors in the Christian faith incorporate aspects of psychology, theology, and Scripture (McMinn, 2011). It is important for counselors and especially Christian based therapists to achieve trust and develop a solid rapport with their clients. In doing so, Christian counselors must strive to actively and carefully listen to the implications of confessional aspects in a counseling session (McMinn, 2011).I contend that the most significant theories in McMinn’s foundation recognizes the process and techniques required for
Christian counselors to implement while in their office (McMinn, 2011, p. 6). While at the same time including Scripture, scientific studies, and theoretical models (McMinn, 2011). In the text, it is mentioned that there are several instances when clients ay be confused about which therapist would be best for them, counselors are also confused (McMinn, 2011, p. 4). However, this book published in order to help “evaluate how you can effectively integrate all of the chapters into your own life and your counseling practice” (McMinn, 2011).
Personal Reflection
Before reading this book, I have never heard of concept of the “redemption funnel” (McMinn, 2011, p. 296). This concept refers to scripture of how God redeemed us from several different hardships and sin beginning in the Old Testament. The overall acts of redemption begin with God curing us from diseases and forgives us for our sins (McMinn, 2011, p. 297). Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins was the ultimate act of God redeeming us for our sins. The ability to understand the redemption in spiritual discipline and humility allows us to see the influence it will create when introducing it to clients.
Having the ability to name all of the techniques that God has used followers of the Christian faith as ambassadors to spread his word and for redemption is easy. Therefore being followers, we have the ability to see the different ways God has sustained us and showered us with his salvation. There are several challenges that life brings with it. Some examples of these situations involve poverty, depression, and sin just to name a few.
When I was growing up. I recall questioning if I would be forgiven or redeemed for my situations that I was dealing with. I was reassured that I was redeemed daily just by being awakened with the right mind and health was God redeeming me from poverty, sin, and depression. Furthermore, being Christian, I understand that that God operates through me is also inspirational and brings me peace. In my experience, I undergo the greatest feeling of satisfaction when I have the chance to give back to others. I believe that the saying “it is better to give than to receive” is an absolutely true statement. Not to say that to receive things from others is bad, but another level of gratification and happiness occurs when you give something to someone else who is in need and you want nothing in return. I truly believe this form of happiness that occurs is the “holy spirit” being activated within us.
Therefore, I understand that God’s grace and mercy has worked through me allowing me to think of others before myself. The ability to remain humble and down to earth is one of the greatest parts to redemption in my opinion. Having the ability to remain humble in order to ask for forgiveness, direction and guidance in overcoming our situation in life is the main path to God’s redemption. In addition, Christian counseling gives us the ability to be representatives for God in a society that needs his love and wisdom more than ever. (McMinn, 2011, p. 301).
Analysis
McMinn’s “What if this happened” situational driven questions throughout the book is a truly unique approach into getting the reader to imagine and think about what could happen when faced with the same scenarios. The foundations following each scenario was most helpful because it allowed us to see his and other Christian counseling professionals point of view of the scenario. Forgiveness is a concept many people struggle with regardless of their religious preferences. Many people assume that forgiving a person that has wrong them or even forgiving themselves is an admittance to being wrong and “is a form of self-blame” (McMinn, 2011, p. 251). “Forgiveness is sometimes confused with excusing” (McMinn, 2011, p. 250) and is a reason many people refuse to go through with the process.
The scenario McMinn posed was a woman named Ms. Hurt that I identified with because I experienced the same trauma. Many nights of prayer and my faith in God helped me realize that I need to forgive my uncle in order to be delivered from my hurt and pain. The questions that he posed after this scenario and others was extremely unique and was spot on in my opinion because they were the exact same questions that I asked myself as my walk with God became stronger. I appreciate how McMinn stated that Christian counselors must approach “each unique counseling situation differently and evaluate them in a psychologically and spiritually sensitive manner” McMinn, 2011, p.250).
I disagree with the thought that Ms. Hurt sought a counselor that didn’t address forgiveness that she “would be encourages to grasp her anger, grieve her losses, and move ahead with her life” (McMinn, 2011, p.253). I think it would also be difficult to grasp in my own counseling Challenge 5: Establishing a Scientific Bases (McMinn, 2011, p. 276) because I don’t think forgiveness can be measured. I think that forgiveness is like love, unconditional.
I contend that the main issues that are of most importance are that of Sin, Forgiveness, and Redemption. The definition of sin is both a combination of emotional disturbance that stems from psychopathology according to Christian counselors (McMinn, 2011, p. 158) along with a “sickness” (McMinn, 2011, p. 163).
The definition of forgiveness is viewed “as a clinical method and a theological duty” (McMinn, 2011, p. 257). It is “not a natural but supernatural act” (McMinn, 2011, p.257) that places us in a “broken and isolated state” (McMinn, 2011, p.257). Lastly, there is redemption which is received with humility and the admission of our sins. After sin is recognized and we are forgiven through Crist, then redemption is given and have access to a fresh start in life. All of these specific points intertwine with one another and the reader than understands that one cannot be achieved without the other.
Application
With respect to application, if I worked for a company or if I had my own business, I would like to apply these techniques through a practice that is focused on marriage and family counseling. The services provided would include several aspects that would mirror McMinn’s concept of guilt: related to confession (McMinn, 2011, p.209), Scripture (McMinn, 2011, p. 151), Psychological and Spiritual Health (McMinn, 2011, p. 35), Encouraging Honest Self-Exploration (McMinn, 2011, p. 226), and Prayer and Forgiveness (McMinn, 2011, p.90 & 282). Further explanation of how these aspects are as follows.
- I would remind clients that guilt related to confession is not always “harmful and self-defeating” (McMinn, 2011, p. 209). This would not be a simple task to achieve however, it would offer helpful information for clients to realize that guilt is not always bad and assists us see how it supports our universal order, resolve issues with others, and obey moral standards.
- The aspect of Scripture would be the primary concept used because it offers the most hope when needed and is helps understand human nature. Furthermore, it offers access to different therapeutic approaches.
- If I was to be employed as a Christian counselor, being involved with my client’s spiritual growth and mental health would be of great concern for me (McMinn, 2011, p. 39). McMinn offered the pattern of healing map which I would use because of its simplicity and because not many others are attainable for Christian counselors.
- The aspect of self-exploration is important because several people struggle with low self-esteem issues and don’t realize their true self-worth. Utilizing this concept will allow the Christian counselor to assist their cliental to develop a closer relationship with Christ and accept God’s grace instead of continuing to “build a mask of shame resistance” (McMinn, 2011, p.227).
- Finally, there is the concept of Forgiveness and Prayer which is a very useful aspect. Even though there is some danger of misapplication of prayer in counseling (McMinn, 2011, p.284). The good thing is that the counselor will always have the ability to pray for clients outside of sessions (McMinn, 2011, p. 91). This can be used because we will be a Christian Counselors realize that God will ultimately answer your prayers. In addition, this practice will be useful even if our clients are unwilling to partake in prayer in the course of their session.
