Psychology Theology And Spirituality In Christian Counseling Summary

A 4-MAT Review System: Psychology, Theology and Spirituality in Christian Counseling
Cendy Mascrier
Liberty University

McMinn, M. R. (2011). Psychology, Theology, and Spitituality in Christian Counseling (Rev. ed.). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House. Summary This textbook consists of many aspects when it comes to psychology, theology, and spirituality within the Christian counseling realm. It is essential for a Christian counselor to be able to overcome and adapt to these situations during these sessions. As with any profession, there can be issues that come along and it is up to the counselor to overcome them. In the textbook, McMinn (2011) explains the map towards effective cognitive therapy; which

McMinn (2011) describes intradisciplinary integration as “understanding spirituality and the process of spiritual formation among the scholarly journals” (p. 9-10). In other words, this integration involves bringing aspects of a spiritual realm into a counseling session along with journals to justify any studies that can help assist the client. In addition, McMinn (2011) explains how a 1990 article by Dr. Bouma-Preediger defines intradisciplinary integration “as bringing together two or more different disciplines-psychology and theology, for example-and attempts to find connections between the two fields (p. 29). In other words, this definition explains how many disciplines can come together and help clients towards an efficient and achievable goal. The attribution theory of the client can be seen as people placing different attributes “to their own internal flaws and good events to external causes, such as luck or random chance” (p. 161). A client can be so focused on an issue within his or her self, which causes any attributes towards good circumstances to be flawed and skewed. McMinn (2011) describes the spiritual maturity level of the client as “a balanced sense of self, brokenness, and close relationships with God and others” (p. 51). As mentioned earlier with cognitive therapy, having this map helps a client feel closer to their spiritual side as well as have

In order to have a successful session, it would be beneficial to notify the client during the first session the counselor’s views. McMinn (2011) demonstrated an example of how cognitive therapy would work during the first counseling session: “. As a Christian psychologist, I believe that some psychological problems result from the evil embedded in human nature and in our culture and people often experience problems as a result of being hurt by others (past or present), making poor choices, undervaluing things that are truly important, and overvaluing things that are unimportant” (p.290). In other words, the counselor must be comfortable with their own views in order to be able to fully express them to others. Without nurturing their own spiritual life, the counselor would not have “an accurate sense of self, which allows us to recognize our responsibility to God, others, and ourselves” (McMinn, 2011, p.