Biblical Integration: Counseling Techniques

Biblical Integration Essay

Tiffany Tate

Department of Psychology, Bryan College

PSY449-A-2301- Counseling Techniques

Dr. Jodie Castellani

February 26, 2023

Biblical Integration Essay

There are many counseling techniques and skills that are essential to professional helpers. Showing empathy and mindfulness is important in helping clients. Another important technique to counseling is reflecting and paraphrasing the client’s thoughts and emotions by listening. Listening and observing can be one of the most crucial techniques in counseling. Being attentive when communicating might influence the client’s viewpoint and success in therapy. I believe these three methods could help a client with better understanding their issues and how to

Empathy also involves understanding the client’s gender and cultural backgrounds. (Cormier, 2016, p. 28). Professionals should understand in that not everyone will have the same beliefs or backgrounds. As helpers, whether it be professional or unprofessional, we should have an understanding for others. For thousands of years, spiritual seekers have used mindfulness techniques to help train the mind to concentrate and remain nonjudgmentally focused on the present moment and to increase affect tolerance (i.e., the ability to tolerate difficult feelings in the self or others)—all skills that are important for counselors (Greason & Cashwell, 2009, p.5). A show of empathy might show the client that he/she can trust the provider if the client doesn’t feel judged. Many clients want to be acknowledged and the provider can show acknowledgment through empathy. Empathy might be a good way to show a connection with clients. Empathy might help professionals with other techniques, such as listening and attending skills. I believe empathy is a good way to show compassion and understanding to others, which is essential to counseling

There are several ways to show attentiveness to clients. Facial expressions, eye contact, body positions, and verbal responses are the main ways to show attentiveness when communicating (Cormier, et al, 2013). These forms of communication might contribute to a client’s sense of security and trust they have in the professional. The professional can use facial expressions to emphasize behavior. Successful eye contact offers easier communication with clients. Body positions and distance might make a client feel comfortable during a session depending on their culture and/or gender. Nonverbal communication inherently implies an intention to affect another person or persons (Herring, 1990). I believe the forms of nonverbal communication can help or hinder the client’s view of the counselor and/or therapy. Verbal responses from providers might play a role in the client’s responses. It’s important to use the correct communication techniques, whether they be nonverbal or verbal to ensure success of therapy