Psychology, Theology and Spirituality
Donnis Lemon
COUN 506
July 3, 2011
Liberty University
Abstract
Mark McMinn, Tyndale House Publishing (1996) makes apparent that for Christian counselors there needs to be more knowledge about the concepts used in counseling sessions. Trust is stressed as an important component of the relationship with the counselee and the counselor prior to assist n making a change in the life of the counselee that may last. McMinn (1996) acknowledges that many counselors and even more Christian counselors seldom use the Bible in their counseling sessions. McMinn (1996) emphasizes the strength that Scripture carries and stress all the positive aspects of its practice in counseling. Christian counselors today should be more versed in contemporary psychological methods and have good knowledge of theology, spiritually maturity is a must. Addressing prayer, Scripture, sin, confession, forgiveness, and redemption, and incorporating them into psychology theology and spirituality will help in making the counselor better prepared.
Praying for a client openly in a session or privately is an acceptable practice and encouraged, but it does come with good and bad outcomes. The client now has an opportunity to learn how to pray, develop a closer walk with God on their own by praying on their own. However there is a negative aspect as well, because clients may become dependent on the counselor praying in the session and never learn to pray on their own.
Scripture tells us that God has given us all things that pertain to life and Godliness. (2 Peter 1: 3) while this is true many do not use Scripture as a part of counseling (McMinn, 1996) Psychologist who do not prescribe to the use of scripture, help their clients to look for truth inside of themselves, teaching them to depend on themselves to resolve issues. Christian counselors share the same, but teach that looking to God for answers about themselves helps and the use of...