Christian counseling is inclined on the desire to help people deal and overcome their problems in a quest to find meaning in life (Awoyemi, 2015). Additionally, Christian counseling helps people to become healthy and well-adjusted individuals both mentally and emotionally. It helps children attach meaning to the spiritual side and seeks to discover imperative principles and commands for the Bible to submit to the will of God. Thus, help is drawn from the Bible as the source of all truth; "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV).
Seeker and Helper
A helper refers to a therapist trying to help a person, seeker, regain his emotional, psychological, and spiritual wellness within the confines of the Bible (Awoyemi, 2015). In essence, they have gained their knowledge or experience from case studies, dramatization, scenarios, counseling, and apprenticeship. A seeker is an individual trying to obtain help. They rest their cases and problems on the helper who will do God’s plan to help them. The helper is guaranteed with the sole responsibility of helping the seeker by maintaining high standards of professionalism through the practice and sessions. This is because they can land the seeker to deeper problems if they decide to terminate the sessions with no due process prematurely. Thus, it is important for the helper to approach Christian counseling sessions with due diligence of Christianity (Awoyemi, 2015). This can be achieved through helping the seeker to experience a warm and loving Christian relationship with the body of Christ. The impetus of this nature, the seeker can achieve emotional and spiritual growth. A Christian helper ensues many possibilities for the helper and the ministry at large and gets connected with the body of Christ. Most importantly, a helper should also base their practice on a theoretical pedestal which helps in prescribing the steps to follow during counseling to make sense of what they are doing. Thus, a Christian counselor, helper, should intervene in the problems disturbing the seeker buy utilizing the gifts given to them by the Holy Spirit and others acquired through training.
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Roots of Theological Counselling
Theology and spirituality counseling; Christian counseling has its roots in the bearings of bringing the truth of the scriptures to shoulder the problems in the life of a person (Lambert, 2016). Theological concerns embedding the problems of a person and the therapeutic application of empathetic listening, practical insights, and discerning insights of the Bible as the framework of a guiding a troubled person. This is done through applying the word of God directly or indirectly to the situation presented. Thus, counseling can be said to as having its roots within the context of faith and applying these teachings to daily living. Christian counseling includes aspects such as family counseling, pastoral counseling, psychology, career counseling, therapeutic counseling, and training but to name a few (Lambert, 2016). As such, theological foundations derive its teachings from the first problem that humankind subjected himself to be acting against the demands of God, sinning. Sinning affected the nature of humankind. Furthermore, continuing to sin harms and worsens the problem. Thus, sin contaminates and influences a person even further. With this understanding, a counselor can integrate this teaching to a client that they are humans who have acted against the doctrines stipulated by the Bible. This is on a quest to reconnect them with the Bible. In this setting, theology acts as the ultimate judge of truth, wholeness, and faithfulness of life.
Christian counseling has its roots in Christian cognitive behavioral therapy (Lambert, 2016). This is a proactive approach for a counselor who prefers the integration movement. Additionally, it has been endorsed by the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). Christian cognitive behavioral therapy refers to the process of identifying, assessing, and renouncing faulty thinking. This is then replaced with truth and insights of the scripture and right thinking. Cognitive behavioral therapy serves to help patients attach meanings to the scripture as the source of psychosocial problems. This is because people in the scripture were just like them and as such, they had similar experiences and problems. For this reason, they are called upon to incorporate Christ as the centrality of Christian maturity. This is more so helpful that cognitive behavioral therapy helps people not only to have changed mindset but also changed thinking. Christian counseling with Christina cognitive behavioral therapy is like counseling without the Holy Spirit or its fullness and power (Lambert, 2016). The Holy Spirit is handy on various occasions as it helps in freeing and freeing others completely. For example, people suffering from sexual addiction treatment. That being said, cognitive behavioral therapy is important in Christian counseling through interpersonal interaction with the Holy Spirit and Christ.
Comprehensive orientation or meta perspective; Christian counseling is inclined with a meta perspective whereby it helps the counselor integrate Biblical wisdom, psychopathology, developmental constructs, and spiritual formation (Jones, 2016). This is an important foundation of Christian counseling because it helps to understand how people grow and interact emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. This is also important as it helps in establishing how normal development can be affected causing psychopathology. Meta perspective aides in defining important spheres such as spiritual maladies encountered by people. This includes spiritual apathy, chronic doubt, and turning from God solves many problems. Additionally, the meta perspective helps Christian counselors in a dynamic way as it can be well woven into the fabrics of psychology and psychosocial problems that affect individuals. One useful meta perspective is empirical observations that help Christian counselors to devise and deliver intervention programs. The appropriate clinical intervention is called BEST an acronym for biblically-based, empirically-supported treatments (Lambert, 2016). These intervention strategies are specifically important in helping counselors to deliver wellness and intervention programs that befit the client. They have open methodologies that are constructed to allow important interventions are implemented in practice.
Scripture as a foundation; as mentioned earlier, the Bible is an important guide for Christian counselors (Jones, 2016). This is outlined in 2 Timothy 3:16-17; “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Hence, everything that is required for counseling should be based and looked from the Bible. The scriptures have a plethora of information in guiding and instructing people how to live a good life. For example, the Bible can guide a person facing depression following adultery. In this setting, the Bible has important designs such as the classic intervention of humble and compassionate listening, consolation, and comfort over despair, confrontation over sin, assurance of pardon, receiving of confession, and reconstructing man through the proper virtues of fidelity, self-control, respect, fidelity but to name a few (Jones, 2016).
Helping Dynamics in Christian Counselling
The helping dynamics assist Christian counselors to treat patients humanely as possible and more so connect with their problems (Lambert, 2016). During a client- counselor session, it is important that the counselor proactive and impart the skill of empathy. This is an imperative skill in counseling as it ensures that the counselor can be able to listen and deal with problems as they manifest. Thus, it helps to eliminate any thoughts of judging the client. This can be looked at on three tenets, namely intensity, context, and selective responding. Intensity refers to responding to the feelings of the patient at the required level of intensity during a session. For example, if a client reports that they have been evicted from their house, the right approach is to show actions of being very upset. Acting, on the contrary, will distant the client. Thus, it is important to reflect the intensity to the level of client emotional level appropriately. Empathy also requires the ability of the counselor to take the aspect of context into consideration. This is to mean that they should come to terms with the unexpected problems that may manifest during sessions. Finally, is to ensure selective responding in the quest to exercise empathy (Lambert, 2016). This can be achieved by either choosing to respond to feelings or behaviors. This is because some clients do not respond when their feelings are being discussed. In such a case it is important to focus on concrete elements such as their behavior. Successful integration of empathy can be identified by the actions of the client such as a nod on the head or positive verbal response. Conversely, not executing empathy to the client can be seen through actions such as frustrations of the client, fumbling, or no communication.
A Christian counselor is also called upon to empower the client during sessions. Empowerment encompasses several aspects, including financial, emotional, psychological, spiritual, or physical (Lambert, 2016). Empowerment is an active approach to being able to make the best possible decision for the client and providing appropriate means of turning them into actions. Although the mandate of a Christian counselor is to ensure spiritual counseling is key, they should also strive in emotionally, psychologically, and physically empowering clients. All these are actualized through being aware and having intimate knowledge of the client’s needs, desires, and wants. The counselor also ought to implement healthy boundaries in relationships through paying important attention to red flags. This achieved through monitoring self-talks and increasing the awareness of what needs to change to accommodate other important elements.
Ethical consideration is significant helping dynamics for a counselor if the seeker is to receive true divine healing (Webb, DeRubeis, & Barber, 2010). The ethical consideration required of a Christina counselor include confidentiality in which the seeker's information should not be divulged withstander consent. Clear cut and platonic relationships should be established with the seeker. Non-maleficence and prompt referral action should be given utmost importance when appropriate.
Misbeliefs in Counselling
It is important to be aware of misbeliefs attached to mental illness to reduce the associated stigma. Despite the fact that mental illness affects many people, it is shrouded with the stigma which has into myths and even affecting the concerned parties. One misbelief is that mental problems are a single rare disorder (Lambert, 2016). In essence, there are many types of mental disorders, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, impulse control disorders, addiction disorders, sexual and gender disorders. Each has specific causes, problems, and approaches to treatment. The second misbelief concerns the fact that mental illness can never get better. The truth is that there are varying treatments for mental illnesses which are more sophisticated than before. Moreover, researchers are becoming proactive in this field. Many people do recover because of these advances in medicine. The third concerns a belief that Psychiatric disorders are not true illnesses (Lambert, 2016). Traditionally, mental illness is not graded like other diseases such as heart attack. Nonetheless, a person suffering from the problem is considered to “crazy.” This inability to see the problem adds to the continued stigmatization of the problem. Fourth is that young people do not get mental illness problems like depression; after all, young people not have much to think nor burdened with responsibilities. Finally, people with mental illness should not be given important duties in the society or sometimes not hold jobs. The subjected parties can and do functionally well in the society and workplaces. Perceptively, these misbeliefs worsen the issue and make the concerned parties not to tell their friends, employees, or family for fear of being shunned. They will be subject to prejudice which will only worsen the problem.
Family Systems Theory
Developed by Dr. Murray Bowen, the family systems theory suggests that individuals cannot be understood in isolation from another, rather as part of their family (Titelman, 2012). This is because families are interconnected people and connect with one other. Notably, people who come from the same families help form certain behaviors due to the position, roles they play, and rules to respect in the family. Members of this systems are expected to respond to each other as guided by their roles and position, which subject to relationship agreements. With this pattern in place, a certain family member’s behavior is caused and conversely causes the behavior of others. Maintaining such systems is retrogressive, leads to an imbalance in the unit, and dysfunction.
Family systems theory is evident in Isaac’s family. Isaac and Rebekah had two children, namely Jacob and Esau (Genesis 26). The father loved the later while the mother loved the former child. Isaac loved Jacob because he was the first son and hardworking hunter who used to provide them with wild meat. Conversely, this aspect pissed off Jacob as he was not desirable in the eyes of this father. He yearned for his father attention which was not well reciprocated and it is for this reason that he developed personality disorder and wanted to be the first son. This presents a two-person dyad in the emotional triangle (Titelman, 2012). Jacob wanted his father to divest his emotions from Esau. Thus, the family later became dysfunctional when Esau took Jacob’s blessings.
Christian Counseling and Behavioral Science
Theology relates to behavioral science based on the fact that a Christian counselor should be proactive in holistic intervention. As such, it calls for a biopsychosocial approach; meet the physical, intellectual, social, emotional, vocational and spiritual needs/. Neglect of one parameter will reduce the ability of a “seeker” to withstand the effect of mental problems. Theology also provides a clear vision of the world and human nature. This culminates in the desire to solving psychological, emotional and relational problems.
Conclusion
Summing up, Christian counselors should ensure that they integrate Christian counseling in their approach. The roots of Christian counseling include Christian cognitive behavioral therapy, theological and spiritual counseling, biblical foundation, and meta perspective. The helping dynamics of Christian counseling entail empowerment, ethical considerations, and showing empathy to the seeker. The nature of misbeliefs regarding mental illness propagate the problems further as they cause stigmatization to the affected parties; thus, worsening the problem. Roles and position of a person in a family develop their behavior and conversely causes the behavior of others. Theology as a behavioral science calls for the “helper” to use a biopsychosocial approach; meet the physical, intellectual, social, emotional, vocational and spiritual needs.
References
Awoyemi, J. A. (2015). Ethical code for church and Para church organizations in a Multicultural Society. Lulu. com.
Jones, I. F. (2006). The counsel of heaven on earth: Foundations for Biblical Christian counseling. B&H Publishing Group.
Lambert, H. (2016). A Theology of Biblical Counseling: The Doctrinal Foundations of Counseling Ministry . Zondervan.
Titelman, P. (2012). Triangles: Bowen family systems theory perspectives. Routledge.
Webb, C. A., DeRubeis, R. J., & Barber, J. P. (2010). Therapist adherence/competence and treatment outcome: A meta-analytic review. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 78(2), 200.
