Counseling and Christianity: Five Approaches
Overview
What does authentic Christian counseling look like in practice?
This volume explores how five major perspectives on the interface of Christianity and psychology would each actually be applied in a clinical setting. Respected experts associated with each of the perspectives depict how to assess, conceptualize, counsel and offer aftercare to Jake, a hypothetical client with a variety of complex issues. In each case the contributors seek to explain how theory can translate into real-life counseling scenarios.
This book builds on the framework of Eric L. Johnson's Psychology Christianity: Five Views. These include the Levels-of-Explanation Approach, the Integration Approach, the Christian Psychology Approach, the Transformational Approach and the Biblical Counseling Approach. While Counseling and Christianity can be used independently of Johnson's volume, the two can also function as useful companions.
Christians who counsel, both those in practice and those still in training, will be served by this volume as it strengthens the connections between theory and practice in relating our faith to the mental health disciplines. They will finally get an answer to their persistent but unanswered question: "What would that counseling view look like behind closed doors?"
- Builds on the framework of Eric L. Johnson's Psychology Christianity: Five Views
- Explores how five major perspectives on the interface of Christianity and psychology would each actually be applied in a clinical setting
- Offers an opportunity for both new and seasoned Christian psychologists to contemplate and appreciate diverse approaches to integrating Christian faith with counseling and psychotherapy
- Setting the Stage for the Five Approaches
- Moving Models into Practice
- A Levels of Explanation Approach
- An Integration Approach
- A Christian Psychology Approach
- A Transformational Approach
- A Biblical Counseling Approach
- Distinctives and Dialogue
- Conceptualization and Contextualization
- Case Scenarios for Further Exploration
Top Highlights
“Christian soul care has its earliest roots in the Old Testament. McNeill’s (1951) classic work points out that the people of ancient Israel saw God as the Ultimate Guide and the Bible as his wisdom.” (Page 19)
“Psychology historically is the ‘study of the soul,’ a meaning strangely lost by a modern discipline practiced mostly by those who do not believe in a ‘soul’ to start with.” (Pages 27–28)
“science embraced an empirical approach that allowed only what could be seen and measured” (Page 21)
“One does not, then, ‘integrate’ the two disciplines of psychology and theology, but honors each in its own domain” (Page 24)
“Jake will change not because of therapeutic techniques or strategies but because of his relationship with his counselor.” (Page 96)
Consideration on how to best integrate faith into counseling can (and perhaps should) be a life-long endeavor. This book offers an opportunity for both new and seasoned Christian psychologists to contemplate and appreciate diverse approaches to integrating Christian faith with counseling and psychotherapy.
—Bethany Claes, Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 36/1
- Title: Counseling and Christianity: Five Approaches
- Authors: Stephen P. Greggo, Timothy A. Sisemore
- Publisher: IVP Academic
- Print Publication Date: 2012
- Logos Release Date: 2018
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Counseling › Religious aspects--Christianity
- ISBNs: 9780830863280, 0830863281
- Resource ID: LLS:9780830863280
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T19:04:17Z