In addition to this weakness, I found McMinn’s work to lack clarity regarding therapeutic counseling and God. He states that redemption comes directly from God; however, a person can question if the benefit of a therapeutic relationship is indebted to the human relationships as “ultimately transforming” (McMinn, 2011). I appreciate how McMinn explored each aspect of his Christian counseling model thoroughly and efficiently. He broke down each aspect by giving Scripture reference, research validity, named the benefits and the associated risks. He also gave several warnings to using theology within the counseling setting… for example prayer, Mc Minn does recommend prayer in and outside of the counseling setting, yet he warns that open prayer in the counseling setting can cause dependency or intimacy between the counselor and client (McMinn, 2011).
When somebody does something bad or illegal, there are consequences; Whether it results in karma, punishments, or even a jail sentence, these consequences are solely based upon our actions, or, at least we would hope. In the book Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals, we learn that our actions do have repercussions, but we also learn that those of which we receive can be unjust and biased. The memoir follows the true story of Pattillo Beals, one of the nine original black students to integrate into Little Rock Central High School, in 1957 Arkansas. Throughout her journey, she and her fellow colored peers receive relentless hate and unjust treatment from both students and school staff. Minnijean is Melba's closest friend in the group.
The concepts from this book that I will use as a render human services through counseling are the McMinn's core foundations: prayer, Scripture, sin, confession, forgiveness and redemption. I will apply prayer in my therapy sessions so that it can enhance the spiritual growth of the person I am trying to help and fill him with a feeling of hope. I will also use the Word of God in order to boost my client's emotional and mental condition. Further, it is important that I have a comprehension of sin and when in the course of counseling sin is discovered, I have to use the issue not to judge my client but instead, encourage and restore him by telling him that God is willing to offer second chances. I believe that when a person comes to the point of acknowledging his sin, it is my duty to lovingly expose him to God's mercy.
The purpose of this 4MAT Review is to discuss Mr. David Entwistle’s book, Integrative Approaches to Psychology & Christianity: An Introduction to Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations, and Models of Integration, 3rd Edition, which is a scholarly analysis of the integration of the study of Psychology and the religion of Christianity. The beginning of Entwistle (2015) takes an in depth look at the reasons why throughout history there has been such a strong debate about the relationship between science and faith, specifically whether Christianity can and or should be combined with the practice of Psychology. Traditionally science and faith have been considered incompatible and irreconcilable (Entwistle). One reason is because, it was thought
Emily Dykstra and Dr. Jennifer Feenstra, both professors within the psychology department, discussed the journeys of their faith life and how they came to truly articulate their personal beliefs. These professors also talked about the many challenges faced by “emerging adults” who perhaps have a rather weak hold of their faith in the midst of a heavily-secular world and how to deal with such challenges. Of course, they believe that our education at Northwestern equips us as “courageous and faithful learners” with the suitable framework for our faith, yet they also realize that this Christian environment may be sheltering us from the harsh realities of the world. This session reminded me of a previous discussion I had with my FYS class about why we believe what we believe. Through that discussion, I realized that I had never really articulated what my faith actually meant to me.
According to McMinn, pondering is a good way to indirectly confront the client about sin, allowing the client to intently think about their choices. The third is questioning. McMinn says that by asking questions the counselor is able to access the client’s values of right and wrong. This will help give the client a feeling of ownership over their decision instead of conforming to meet the expectations of the
Integration: Mixing Psychology and Christianity Latoya Alston Liberty University Summary In the book Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity, David N. Entwistle (2010) forces readers to question whether or not psychology and Christianity can be integrated. As the book begins, he argues that integrating the two disciplines is difficult because there are two perspectives in which a person can view the world: from a secular perspective or from a Christian perspective (Entwistle, 2010). Secular thinking contradicts Christianity because it consists of a worldview that is limited to the earthly realm and is based on things that can be tangibly proven (Entwistle, 2010). Christian thinking, however, reaches beyond the physical,
Because of the division of science in religion discussed in chapters 1 and 2, there is very little room for interaction among psychology and religion, especially in the earlier years of psychology. Going into chapter 4, the author gives a comprehensive overview of different worldviews while discussing what they are and the importance of a Christian entering into the counseling profession to have a Christian worldview. Worldviews are learned through various influences and shape our understanding of the world, which gives both insight and distorted thinking. It is vital for counselors to have the proper worldview that is aligned both with empirical scientific evidence and sound theological doctrine to properly guide and direct others into truth, insight, awareness, healing, and
In helping to strengthen these areas Dobmeier and Reiner used the following publications. To spell out the importance of teaching and using techniques for including spiritual and religious aspects Briggs & Dix Rayle, (2005), Burke et al. , (1990), and Young, Wiggins-Frame, and Cashwell, (2007) said, spirituality is the breadth of a person’s experience, and an important piece endorsing training to help counselor integrate spirituality into sessions. Validating the topic of teaching and agreeing that counselor educators lack self-confidence on how to teach spirituality to students echoed in research by Young, Cashwell, Wiggins-Frame, and Belaire (2002). Dobmeier and Reiner (2012) end with modalities and the rationale for the study, examining student readiness to discuss spirituality and education curriculum should create learning modalities to cover spirituality (Briggs & Dixon Rayle, 2005; Curtis & Glass, 2002;
Johnson explains in his book that psychology and Christianity went hand-in-hand as a coalition. This is seemingly due to the church’s assumed responsibility of soul-care, and the belief that all problems were caused by sin, not necessarily mental illness (2010). However, there are currently several views of conflict between psychology and Christianity, similar to the conflict recurrently found between science and faith. There is importance in the correlation of psychology and Christianity for both scientists and Christians. When not examined and pondered on, the relationship between psychology and Christianity today can cause much confusion in an individual, potentially leading to atheism and evolutionism.
In this book, I feel the title of the Christian psychology approach can be very confusing .if we see from the title, we will interpret the Christians who are in the field of psychology is a Christian psychologist. Also, in this book explained that not all Christians must conform to Christian psychology approach. Christian psychology approach is a combination of integration approaches and the biblical counselling approach. This approach get many criticized because there is no application or can we called is only an
One of our first obstacles is defining exactly what assumptions are constitutive of a uniquely Christian approach to psychology. How do we identify the core convictions of Christianity, and how can we leave room for a divergence of different Christian approaches?” (Entwistle 2015). The main problem that Entwistle is addressing is integration and the boundaries in which they both inhabit together. Where do the bounds of psychology and theology begin and end?
Families, who encounter problems, whether it is in their marriage or a parental issue with a child, will pursue counseling as a way to help mend the broken family dynamic. If the family has a strong Christian belief system and worldview, they might feel more comfortable receiving therapy from a pastor in the church or from a therapist that will incorporate a Christian perspective into the therapeutic approach. The articles Counseling From The Christian Point Of View, Just What Is Christian Counseling Anyway?, and an interview with professor Chip Vining will show the different methods of a Christian approach and how to accommodate families who wish to have their counselor integrate faith as part of therapy. Chip Vining is a pastor as well
When Christianity and counseling are combined the same goal remains: Spreading the true and undiluted, unaltered Word of God while providing the best therapy possible. Therefore, each Christian counselor must prepare daily for the sectarian attack of proposed ideologies that support “higher powers, spiritual awakenings, and understanding Him” (Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, 2001). “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1, NASB). Awareness of self is highly important to all counselors as well as being aware of everything else that may ensnare clients or
Essay #1: Why is biblical counseling important, and how does it fit within the ministry of the local church? As Christians, biblical counseling helps us apply both the greatest (and the second which is like it) commands as spoken by Jesus in Matthew 22:36-40. Biblical counseling is also a mechanism to which each of us can fulfill the great commission as spoken by Jesus in Matthew 28: 19-20. As such, biblical counseling not only fits within the ministry of the local church, one could argue that it is the ministry of the local church!
