Christian Counseling
Content
Christian counseling
Christian counseling is pastoral counseling that draws 2 Integration with psychology
upon psychology and Christian; practitioners approach
psychology through the lens of the Bible.[1]
Efforts to combine counseling, psychotherapy or other
scientific or academic endeavors with Christian or other
religious perspectives or approaches are sometimes called
“integration.” Integration of academic subjects with
theology has a long history in academia and continues in
many colleges and universities that have continued their
1 History
founding religious underpinnings. [4] There are multiple kinds of integration, as it has been defined differently
Christian Counseling began in the end of the 1960s lead- over the years. The way in which Christianity has been
ing into the 1970s with the Biblical Counseling Move- integrated with psychology thus far is by considering the
ment directed by Jay E. Adams which brought to atten- ways in which psychology and the bible agree and not
tion in his book Competent to Counsel a Christian-based integrating the teachings of psychology that don’t agree
approach which was different from the psychological and with the bible. While this tactic is still in progress and
psychiatric solutions of the time. He was a devout Protes- continuing to be looked at there have been significant eftant who believed that it was the job of the church to forts to try and integrate the two. Two men Stanton Jones
heal people who he believed were morally corrupt, but and Richard Buteman came up with a list of three diflabeled by society as mentally ill. He did not believe in ferent methods on how to integrate psychology and the
psychological practices and he gained converts but also Christian faith. The methods are called Pragmatic ecleclost popularity among people as well. [2] Prior to this ticism, Metatheoretical eclecticism, and Theoretical intemovement, counseling had become something more sec- gration. The first method, pragmatic eclecticism, looks at
ular and not associated with the church. People such as the best solutions for resolving patients’ problems based
Charles Darwin, who questioned the book of Genesis and on previous research comparing different methods that
how life began in his book Origin of Species published in have been used. The second method is concerned with
1859. This caused panic in the church because it called the effectiveness of the counselor and looks at the tacin to question everything that the church believed at the tics they are using that are beneficial and those that are
time. Following in that direction, Later Wilhelm Wundt, not. The third method takes theories that are previously
a main contributor to the scientific method, introduced it existing and makes that the baseline from which further
[5]
to psychology and claimed that one’s biological makeup research can build upon. What all integrators of Chriswas the reason why humans are the way they are. He was tianity and Psychology do believe as underlying truth is
[6]
one of the main drivers behind psychology being looked that all truth is God’s truth.
at in the scientific realm. In addition to Wundt, Sigmund
Freud believed that the church had failed to counsel in the
correct way, so he came up with psychotherapy, “the talk- 3 Principles of Christian Counseling therapy”, apart from the church. These were driving
ing
factors behind why the responsibility of counseling was
moved away from the church and began to be secularized. The Church began to fall behind the ever-changing Christian counseling focuses on a few main principles that
scientific field that seemed to blossom quickly. When are different from traditional counseling. It focuses on
Adams did come along he brought the attention back to the care of the whole person as it is also sometimes named
the church but his influence faded in the 1980s only to “soul-care”, and maintains the values taught in the bible.
be continued by David Powlison. Powlison converted to The aim of Christian counseling is to help people regain
Christianity in his adult life publishing a journal, Journal a sense of hope for their life that is found in Jesus Christ.
of Biblical Counseling that made his beliefs known and Faith-based counseling has been increasingly sought afwas extremely influential in this movement. Because of ter in recent years. When people seek counseling, peohis work, biblical counselors reflected on their movement ple are open to the idea of having their lives transformed
and began to seek ways that it could improve which had and changed in a positive way. People are searching for
never really been called to question before. His aim was answers in the midst of pain and suffering that is experito advance what had already been started by Adams. [3] enced in life and to obtain meaning for their life. Chris1
2
6
tian counseling believes that at the core of what they do
is to help others achieve a better understanding of themselves and God which is rooted in the Holy Spirit’s conviction. People become aware of the sin in their lives that
has caused them suffering but also come to know the immense worth and value they have as a person to God.[7]
[8] “History”, About, NANC.
[9] Wallace, Ken. “Integrating Psychology and Christianity”.
Integrating Psychology and Christianity. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
6 External links
4
Criticism
Jay E. Adams published Competent to Counsel in 1970,
criticizing the influence of psychology throughout Christian counseling. He began the Nouthetic counseling
movement which teaches that the Bible alone is sufficient
for all counseling.[8] While Nouethic counseling is strictly
based on the biblical scriptures and the power of the holy
spirit separate from any psychological implementations,
Christian counseling tries to implement psychology and
Christianity still keeping God and biblical truths in the
picture. While they do not take psychology as the absolute answer or solution to problems that people face,
rather it is used as a tool in unity with Christianity to
help people have a deeper understanding of themselves
and God. Therefore, Christian Counseling should not be
thought of in opposition to psychology but as complementary, it is not a competing religion. Though some Christians do reject the teachings of science completely, others
think that they shouldn’t have to be separate and that they
can be integrated together. Christian Counseling aims to
do just that.[9]
5
References
[1] Lelek, Jeremy. “Biblical Counseling Defined”. Association of Biblical Counselors. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
[2] Powlison, David (2010). The Biblical Counseling Movement. Greensboro: New Growth Press. ISBN 978-1935273-13-4.
[3] Lambert, Heath (2012). The Biblical Counseling Movement After Adams. Crossway. pp. 30–33. ISBN 978-14335-2813-2.
[4] Stevenson, Daryl H.; Eck, Brian E; Hill, Peter C (2007).
Psychology & Christianity integration: Seminal works that
shaped the movement. Batavia, IL: Christian Association
for Psychological Studies. ISBN 978-0-9792237-0-9.
[5] Jones, Stanton; Buteman, Richard. “Modern psychotherapies: A comprehensive Christian appraisal”. InterVarsity
Press.
[6] Stevenson, Daryl; Ick, Brian; Hill, Peter (2007). Psychology & Christianity Integration: Seminal Works that Shaped
the Movement. Batavia, Illinois: Christian Association for
Psychological Studies. ISBN 978-0-9792237-0-9.
[7] Clinton, Timothy; Ohlschlager, George (1984). Competent Christian Counseling. Colorado Springs, Colorado:
Waterbrook Press. ISBN 978-1-57856-517-7.
EXTERNAL LINKS
• Christian counseling at DMOZ
3
7
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7.1
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• Christian counseling Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_counseling?oldid=661441070 Contributors: David Schaich, Walter Görlitz, Ynhockey, Ziji, Caidence, JubalHarshaw, Cswrye, Chris Capoccia, Rayc, SmackBot, Bluebot, JennyRad, Rrburke, Fuhghettaboutit, Elfburn, Doczilla, Hu12, Mattisse, AnnaMaya, Presearch, Afaprof01, SU Linguist, Hrafn, StAnselm, Delamo, Breawycker, Robwaller, Vanished user ewfisn2348tui2f8n2fio2utjfeoi210r39jf, Xyon81, Aandersm, ClueBot, Natkowski, Statchecker, Arjayay, 1ForTheMoney, Editor2020, Tide rolls, Themfromspace, SpurlockJosh, Wasuri, AnomieBOT, Wb4dwd, Edmundosargento, Cannolis, Novaseminary, Thrivecounseling, EmausBot, DonDouthitt, Bollyjeff, Herp Derp, Prsaucer1958, Cannygirl49, ClueBot NG, Buytruth, Helpful Pixie
Bot, Ct.cedeno, BG19bot, CreativecookEr, Dimtichod, Joseph the Hesychast, Mogism, Handlebars9432, Christian Counseling, Cesargarciarincon, Garisfam, Johnsoniensis, Cdenkler and Anonymous: 38
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Christian counseling is pastoral counseling that draws 2 Integration with psychology
upon psychology and Christian; practitioners approach
psychology through the lens of the Bible.[1]
Efforts to combine counseling, psychotherapy or other
scientific or academic endeavors with Christian or other
religious perspectives or approaches are sometimes called
“integration.” Integration of academic subjects with
theology has a long history in academia and continues in
many colleges and universities that have continued their
1 History
founding religious underpinnings. [4] There are multiple kinds of integration, as it has been defined differently
Christian Counseling began in the end of the 1960s lead- over the years. The way in which Christianity has been
ing into the 1970s with the Biblical Counseling Move- integrated with psychology thus far is by considering the
ment directed by Jay E. Adams which brought to atten- ways in which psychology and the bible agree and not
tion in his book Competent to Counsel a Christian-based integrating the teachings of psychology that don’t agree
approach which was different from the psychological and with the bible. While this tactic is still in progress and
psychiatric solutions of the time. He was a devout Protes- continuing to be looked at there have been significant eftant who believed that it was the job of the church to forts to try and integrate the two. Two men Stanton Jones
heal people who he believed were morally corrupt, but and Richard Buteman came up with a list of three diflabeled by society as mentally ill. He did not believe in ferent methods on how to integrate psychology and the
psychological practices and he gained converts but also Christian faith. The methods are called Pragmatic ecleclost popularity among people as well. [2] Prior to this ticism, Metatheoretical eclecticism, and Theoretical intemovement, counseling had become something more sec- gration. The first method, pragmatic eclecticism, looks at
ular and not associated with the church. People such as the best solutions for resolving patients’ problems based
Charles Darwin, who questioned the book of Genesis and on previous research comparing different methods that
how life began in his book Origin of Species published in have been used. The second method is concerned with
1859. This caused panic in the church because it called the effectiveness of the counselor and looks at the tacin to question everything that the church believed at the tics they are using that are beneficial and those that are
time. Following in that direction, Later Wilhelm Wundt, not. The third method takes theories that are previously
a main contributor to the scientific method, introduced it existing and makes that the baseline from which further
[5]
to psychology and claimed that one’s biological makeup research can build upon. What all integrators of Chriswas the reason why humans are the way they are. He was tianity and Psychology do believe as underlying truth is
[6]
one of the main drivers behind psychology being looked that all truth is God’s truth.
at in the scientific realm. In addition to Wundt, Sigmund
Freud believed that the church had failed to counsel in the
correct way, so he came up with psychotherapy, “the talk- 3 Principles of Christian Counseling therapy”, apart from the church. These were driving
ing
factors behind why the responsibility of counseling was
moved away from the church and began to be secularized. The Church began to fall behind the ever-changing Christian counseling focuses on a few main principles that
scientific field that seemed to blossom quickly. When are different from traditional counseling. It focuses on
Adams did come along he brought the attention back to the care of the whole person as it is also sometimes named
the church but his influence faded in the 1980s only to “soul-care”, and maintains the values taught in the bible.
be continued by David Powlison. Powlison converted to The aim of Christian counseling is to help people regain
Christianity in his adult life publishing a journal, Journal a sense of hope for their life that is found in Jesus Christ.
of Biblical Counseling that made his beliefs known and Faith-based counseling has been increasingly sought afwas extremely influential in this movement. Because of ter in recent years. When people seek counseling, peohis work, biblical counselors reflected on their movement ple are open to the idea of having their lives transformed
and began to seek ways that it could improve which had and changed in a positive way. People are searching for
never really been called to question before. His aim was answers in the midst of pain and suffering that is experito advance what had already been started by Adams. [3] enced in life and to obtain meaning for their life. Chris1
2
6
tian counseling believes that at the core of what they do
is to help others achieve a better understanding of themselves and God which is rooted in the Holy Spirit’s conviction. People become aware of the sin in their lives that
has caused them suffering but also come to know the immense worth and value they have as a person to God.[7]
[8] “History”, About, NANC.
[9] Wallace, Ken. “Integrating Psychology and Christianity”.
Integrating Psychology and Christianity. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
6 External links
4
Criticism
Jay E. Adams published Competent to Counsel in 1970,
criticizing the influence of psychology throughout Christian counseling. He began the Nouthetic counseling
movement which teaches that the Bible alone is sufficient
for all counseling.[8] While Nouethic counseling is strictly
based on the biblical scriptures and the power of the holy
spirit separate from any psychological implementations,
Christian counseling tries to implement psychology and
Christianity still keeping God and biblical truths in the
picture. While they do not take psychology as the absolute answer or solution to problems that people face,
rather it is used as a tool in unity with Christianity to
help people have a deeper understanding of themselves
and God. Therefore, Christian Counseling should not be
thought of in opposition to psychology but as complementary, it is not a competing religion. Though some Christians do reject the teachings of science completely, others
think that they shouldn’t have to be separate and that they
can be integrated together. Christian Counseling aims to
do just that.[9]
5
References
[1] Lelek, Jeremy. “Biblical Counseling Defined”. Association of Biblical Counselors. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
[2] Powlison, David (2010). The Biblical Counseling Movement. Greensboro: New Growth Press. ISBN 978-1935273-13-4.
[3] Lambert, Heath (2012). The Biblical Counseling Movement After Adams. Crossway. pp. 30–33. ISBN 978-14335-2813-2.
[4] Stevenson, Daryl H.; Eck, Brian E; Hill, Peter C (2007).
Psychology & Christianity integration: Seminal works that
shaped the movement. Batavia, IL: Christian Association
for Psychological Studies. ISBN 978-0-9792237-0-9.
[5] Jones, Stanton; Buteman, Richard. “Modern psychotherapies: A comprehensive Christian appraisal”. InterVarsity
Press.
[6] Stevenson, Daryl; Ick, Brian; Hill, Peter (2007). Psychology & Christianity Integration: Seminal Works that Shaped
the Movement. Batavia, Illinois: Christian Association for
Psychological Studies. ISBN 978-0-9792237-0-9.
[7] Clinton, Timothy; Ohlschlager, George (1984). Competent Christian Counseling. Colorado Springs, Colorado:
Waterbrook Press. ISBN 978-1-57856-517-7.
EXTERNAL LINKS
• Christian counseling at DMOZ
3
7
Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses
7.1
Text
• Christian counseling Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_counseling?oldid=661441070 Contributors: David Schaich, Walter Görlitz, Ynhockey, Ziji, Caidence, JubalHarshaw, Cswrye, Chris Capoccia, Rayc, SmackBot, Bluebot, JennyRad, Rrburke, Fuhghettaboutit, Elfburn, Doczilla, Hu12, Mattisse, AnnaMaya, Presearch, Afaprof01, SU Linguist, Hrafn, StAnselm, Delamo, Breawycker, Robwaller, Vanished user ewfisn2348tui2f8n2fio2utjfeoi210r39jf, Xyon81, Aandersm, ClueBot, Natkowski, Statchecker, Arjayay, 1ForTheMoney, Editor2020, Tide rolls, Themfromspace, SpurlockJosh, Wasuri, AnomieBOT, Wb4dwd, Edmundosargento, Cannolis, Novaseminary, Thrivecounseling, EmausBot, DonDouthitt, Bollyjeff, Herp Derp, Prsaucer1958, Cannygirl49, ClueBot NG, Buytruth, Helpful Pixie
Bot, Ct.cedeno, BG19bot, CreativecookEr, Dimtichod, Joseph the Hesychast, Mogism, Handlebars9432, Christian Counseling, Cesargarciarincon, Garisfam, Johnsoniensis, Cdenkler and Anonymous: 38
7.2
Images
• File:Edit-clear.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f2/Edit-clear.svg License: Public domain Contributors: The
Tango! Desktop Project. Original artist:
The people from the Tango! project. And according to the meta-data in the file, specifically: “Andreas Nilsson, and Jakub Steiner (although
minimally).”
• File:Question_book-new.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Question_book-new.svg License: Cc-by-sa-3.0
Contributors:
Created from scratch in Adobe Illustrator. Based on Image:Question book.png created by User:Equazcion Original artist:
Tkgd2007
7.3
Content license
• Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
