The article highlights the importance of prayer and scripture to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The ethical use of prayer and Scripture represents a Christian approach to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The article touts CBT as one of the most empirically supported treatments for several psychological disorders. The author also outlines several important features of the biblical, Christian approach to CBT. Such key features include the primacy of the agape love, dealing more adequately with the past, paying particular attention to the meaning of spiritual and experiential aspects of faith and life, focusing on problems in one’s thoughts and behaviors, and emphasizing the ministry of the Holy Spirit among others.
The article suggests that the application of prayer and Scripture in therapy can either be implicit or explicit. While implicit integration in therapy is a covert approach that does not involve the discussion of spiritual issues, explicit integration represents an overt approach that directly deals with spiritual issues. A covert or overt approach can be chosen by a professional based on the needs and problems of the client. According to the article, a biblical approach to CBT has been applied in therapies involving adult Christian clients with such problems as phobias, anxiety disorders, burnout, stress, marital and family problems, obsessive compulsive disorders, depression, hypertension, and anger control issues.
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The article emphasizes the importance of pre-intervention assessment in the Christian approach to CBT. The author asserts that the assessment helps in understanding the needs and problems of the client. The pre-intervention assessment involves problem listing, history making, and goal setting. Additionally, the assessment provides the therapist an opportunity to find out whether the client desires a Christian Cognitive Behavior Therapy approach. The client should give informed consent.
The major interventions highlighted in the article are prayer and inner healing prayer and use of Scripture. Prayer is defined as communicating with God. There are several types of prayer listed in the article; contemplative prayer, intercessory prayer, listening prayer, and inner haling prayer. Inner healing prayer allows clients to image past painful memories in a bid to achieve a deeper level of healing. The significance of forgiveness is reiterated in the inner haling prayer sessions. Additionally, the clients are urged to be more realistic about their expectations.
Interaction
The article was an eye opener to me considering that I had never imagined that prayer can be used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I have learnt that Christian values and practices are of critical importance to the field of CBT. I have also been impressed by how therapists have successfully utilized Christian CBT approach to address various psychological disorders. Thus, prayer and Scripture can play a significant role in psychological therapy. Interestingly, I have realized that the Christian CBT can take a covert or an overt approach depending on the needs, problems, and preferences of the clients. A covert approach does not initiate discussions about religious issues while an overt approach that systematically deals with religious and spiritual issues. Thus, a therapist does not actually need to initiate the discussion of religious or spiritual issues during therapies.
The article explains how important pre-intervention assessments are to the therapist and the client. I have realized that the pre-intervention assessments help the therapists to understand the problems and needs of their clients. The session also allows the therapist and the client to set the objectives of the therapeutic relationship. As such, the assessment is an important component of the Christian CBT approach. Surprisingly, the Christian cognitive behavioral therapy does not have to involve the use of prayer or Scripture in every session. Prayer and Scripture are only used where and when they are appropriate. This means that the Christian CBT approach is client driven, as it focuses on the needs and problems of the client. I have also learnt that prayer and inner healing prayer and Scripture are the main interventions used in the Christian CBT approach. The interventions are systematically applied in the therapy sessions involving clients with a variety of psychological disorders.
Application
As a pastor, I can apply Christian CBT approach to help Esther, a middle-aged woman who is experiencing depression after a disagreement with her husband, overcome her problem. The session would start with a pre-intervention assessment where I ask my client to narrate her past history, particularly those events connected to the problem. I would also ask her to list all her problems. After getting familiar to the client’s past and the problems listed, I would help the client to set goals for the therapy. The goal setting stage ensures that the client understands what will be required of her during the therapy. One of the goals would be to have God change the behavior of Esther’s husband. Thereafter, I would begin the session with a prayer upon seeking her consent.
Through the prayer, I would ask for protection and healing power from God. I would then guide the client into a relaxed state by utilizing deep breathing and Bible imagery. I would thereafter ask God to come and minister to the client His love and comfort. I would then wait quietly for God to minister to the client with his healing grace and truth. I would then close the session with an intercessory prayer, asking God to minister to Esther’s husband His understanding, love, and comfort. Finally, I would discuss with Esther about the power of prayer and how faith could help her overcome her problems.
Reference
Tan, S. Y. (2007). Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Journal of Psychology & Christianity , 26 (2).
