The New Christian Counselor: A Fresh Biblical and Transformational Approach by Hawkins and Clinton is an attempt to bring out the role of faith in psychological and spiritual healing. The authors are keen on equipping counselors with the spiritual awareness with the prerequisite faith needs so that they can become effective counselors. Moreover, the duo is keen on focusing on the importance of spirituality perspective as applied to psychology. Hawkins and Clinton achieve this objective by focusing on eight significant concepts, which are discussed in a clear and distinctive manner. The first concept is What is Christian Counseling? where the author attempt to set apart Christian counseling from any other type of counseling. According to Hawkins and Clinton, Christian counseling is important, as counselors are able to understand the role of Christianity in Christianity. Here counselors can make use of Christianity to help heal clients who may be suffering in their spiritual life.
The second concept, Anthropology and Identity points to the fact that Christian counselors have an understanding of the concept of souls. Moreover, it is essential to have an understanding of what it means to be human in order to help the clients relate effectively with themselves, others, and the world. The third concept on Attachments and Relationships points to the importance of relationships to an individual. Interestingly Hawkins and Clinton affirm their proposition by establishing that ‘God exists in a relationship-an unshakeable connection of love and truth that forever binds the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.’(Hawkins and Clinton, 2013, p .111). The fourth concept Addiction and Idolatry emphasizes on the importance of using our talents for good in honoring God. However, people no longer do that, as they are inherently evil and instead indulge in evil acts. The fifth concept Authority and Armor establishes that all authority is from God and as such should be exercised for God in ways that are consistent with his character (2013, p. 174). The sixth concept Action and Adaptation asks the Christian counselor to adapt to building therapeutic alliance to develop best courses of action to move clients to accountability. The seventh concept Atmosphere and Alignment calls for the Christian counselor to form powerful partnerships with clients to encourage them to explore and explain their needs. The eighth concept Community and Accountability emphasizes on the role of community in bringing about accountability. Here the authors relate community to Trinity, which is a reflection of the divine nature of a community. Overall, these concepts and others build on each other to offer a rich perspective regarding Christian counseling.
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Analysis
Hawkins and Clinton's book emphasizes more on Christian counseling as the basis of counseling by emphasizing the role of Christianity doctrines and perspectives on counseling. Despite such a take, the authors are not blind to the fact that integration is inescapable since counseling is a dynamic discourse. In their book, the author's approach can be defined as a Christian-psychology model. This model creates a midpoint between the biblical and psychological models of integration. However, unlike the biblical counselors and secularists, this Christian psychology is open to the fact that human experience and human sciences may fuse with the word of God. In essence, Hawkins and Clinton borrow heavily from John Bowlby an English psychologist who proposed the attachment theory. This theory forms one of the main concepts in the authors work as they establish that is attachment and relationships. For Hawkins and Clinton, the attachment theory is envisaged by God himself through the Trinity, which reveals that God values attachments and relationships. Moreover, Hawkins and Clinton use the attachment theory to point to the relationship which exists between God and men and which is at the center of Christian counseling.
Hawkins and Clinton would not identify psychological issues apart from spiritual issues but they consider them the same. The reason for this assumption is the fact that Hawkins and Clinton are keen on supporting the integration of Christian counseling. The duo believes that Christian counseling cannot make sense if it does not help individuals to become whole. In becoming whole, a counselor must address every aspect of the individual including his spirit, which is at the core of an individual existence. According to Hawkins and Clinton counselor must first address a client’s psychological issues to the clients’ satisfaction. From here, the counselor can then move on to the spiritual aspect by addressing the underlying issues. The authors give an example of a young man who suffered from depression and anxiety, which hindered him from forming meaningful relationships with women.
The authors had to assess the client to understand the deep-seated issues before offering him professional help. On digging deeper, they realized that the man harbored feelings of abandonment as his mother had walked out on him when he was young. From this information, Hawkins and Clinton established a plan to deal with these immediate feelings. Later they brought up the spiritual aspect to help the young man to understand he is not alone since God can offer him love and support he requires. From this scenario, it is clear that the authors make use of psychological and research since they are capable of establishing God’s truth in the scenario and use it for the spiritual benefit of the young man. They were now able to understand that the young man is harboring feelings of abandonment and they figure out how to treat those immediate feelings. However, they do not stop there; they continue to work with the client, through various spiritual practices, so that he understands that he is never truly alone because he has God’s love and support. The above example also shows how important theory and research is to Hawkins and Clinton’s approach. The authors value psychological theory and research because they are able to discern God’s truth within it and apply it to the spiritual well-being of the client. Moreover, they understand that both spiritual and psychological issues must be addressed if a counselor is to treat a client fully, which encompasses the theoretical aspect of counseling.
Application
The five principles I would use are The Cry of the Soul, Everyone Needs God But…, Sin Mars Everything, The Larger Story of Humanity-From Glory to Glory and The Process of Possessing. I believe that the concept of The Cry of the Soul would be useful in the particular counseling setting as it reflects how the clients are suffering from within following their struggles. In essence, this concept points to the overall care of the soul, which is the core of human existence. This concept points to the fact that as a Christian counselor I should be attentive to the clients so that I would realize their "past hurts, present struggles and future hopes' (Hawkins and Clinton, 2013, p. 7). From the setting, it is clear that the clients are struggling with various conditions and issues and would want assurance that there is hope. At this point, I would point to the fact that “man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward”(Job 5:7). However, this trouble will not last since “Our Redeemer Lives and offers us forgiveness, purpose, and ultimate hope” (Hawkins and Clinton, 2013, p. 8).
The concept of Everyone Needs God, But would be a helpful concept in this counseling setting. It is right to say that these clients have reached their end with nowhere to turn due to the complexity of their psychological needs. However, the grace of God can change everything, and a person can live a fulfilling life. I would ask the clients to turn to God since He is able to transform their lives for the better. Hawkins and Clinton list the kind of people who will benefit most from accepting God in their lives. They include "people who are addicted and need to be set free," "people who are troubled by trauma and post-traumatic stress" and "people who are best described as the "walking wounded"'(2013, p. 33-34.).
I believe that the concept of Sin Mars Everything would be applicable in the counseling setting. I essence god created man to be happy, but sin came in the way of this initial plan. Once the relationship between God and a man is broken, a person is liable to have a myriad of challenges. However, God's forgiveness can help clients to take steps forward. I would advise the clients to accept God’s forgiveness through sanctification through Jesus to become complete again.
The Larger Story of Humanity-From Glory to Glory concept, in particular, applies to the issues prevalent in the counseling setting. It is important to let their clients understand that they are created in the image of God and "have the potential for great good and great evil." (Hawkins and Clinton, 2013, p. 71). However, individuals who accept God through Christ's blood "experience the regeneration of their inner core through the indwelling of the presence of the Holy Spirit.” (1 Cor. 6:19-20). As such, the clients can witness such regeneration if they let Christ reign in their lives and do away with their addictions and sins.
The Process of Possessing concept as the name suggests would be an ideal concept to apply in the counseling setting. This concept establishes that individuals have the ability to possess their soul by faith. As it is, the clients do not fully possess their souls, as they are not satisfied with the challenges they face. However, the Holy Spirit can help them get a supernatural empowerment by providing them with spiritual gifts. In turn, the clients will have “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Hawkins and Clinton, 2013, p. 72). The things that disturb their lives will no longer disturb them once they allow God into their lives.
Reference
Hawkins, R., & Clinton, T. (2015). The new Christian counselor: A Fresh Biblical and Transformational Approach. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers.
