Class Notes #1Rev. Michael Prince MA.WIST Introduction to Counseling © 2013

Counseling is a science and an art . It is a science because it applies techniques and procedures that are utilized in helping a person to understand their situations and employ the most adequate solutions for problem solving and life change; it is an art because it allows the therapist to use unique or own personality and experiences in assisting the client.

Counseling denotes a professional relationship between a trained counselor and a client…to understand and clarify their views of their life space…and through resolution of problems of and emotional or interpersonal nature (George, Cristiani p. 2) Counseling refers to the application of mental health, psychological or human development principles, through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systematic intervention (Gladding p. 6)

Counseling attempts to provide encouragement and guidance for those who are facing losses, decisions, or disappointments…stimulate personality growth and development; help people cope more effectively with the problems of living, with inner conflict and with crippling emotions… (Collins 1988, p.16)

Christian Counseling may be defined as an art and a science of applying Biblical principles to treat clients’ issues with the use of all the rudiments of professional counseling. Class Definition (2010)

Christian counseling draws upon psychology and Christian teaching. It is an effort to combine professional counseling with Christian or other religious perspectives or approaches: “integration.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_counseling)

Christian Counseling may be defined as an art and a science of applying Biblical principles to treat clients’ issues with the use of all the rudiments of professional counseling.

Sin is the primary focus of mankind’s dysfunction (Rom 5:12-14)Salvation, and transformation through counseling from the gospel is the primary solution.Scripture is authoritative and necessary for Christian counseling because it is God’s soul care guidebook

Triune God

Self Others

A Four-Dimensional Relational Model

Material Universe

Spiritual

Ethical

Psychosocial

Biological

{

Soul

Body/Brain Biological

Psychosocial

Ethical

Spiritual

Unique Assumptions – Sin is the primary cause (fall of man) of man’s deprived state and that restoration/forgiveness of God through salvation and transformation will make man ‘totally whole’.

Unique Goals – To stimulate spiritual growth by encouraging confession of sin, experience divine forgiveness and commit lives to Jesus Christ.

Unique Methods – The application of prayer and faith in God are cornerstones of pastoral counseling.

Unique Counselor-Characteristics – Demonstrate personal reliance upon the same factors of salvation, transformation and a relationship with God.

Unique Giftedness – As believers we demonstrate the characteristics of God and equipped by God.

Collins p. 19-20

Psychology Focus on the mind Describe human

experiences and behaviors

Applies Logic Understand the

structure of being

Spirituality•Focus on God•Describes the

source of man•Applies Faith•Understand the

meaning (source) of being

Psychology can not deduce the meaning or morality of life while Theology/Spirituality is not equip to explore

the dynamics of personality.

Is the process of helping people make important choices that affect their lives. …(Gladding p.5)

Focuses on serious problems associated with intra-psychic, internal, personal issues/conflict (p.6)

The science that systematically studies behavior and experiences

The service of assisting clients to manage their problems in living more effectively

The ability to stimulate a person to operate or behave in a selected way

Operate as an agent between the client and their personal issue

The systematic process of training and assimilation in order to confront issues

An authoritative entity that determines how a dispute is settled or apportioned

Guidance focuses on helping individuals choose what they value most.

Counseling focuses on helping individuals make changes.

Psychotherapy focuses on causing change

Counseling focuses on assisting the person to change

They have different clients› Psychotherapist – deals with neurosis

(mental dysfunctions)› Counselor – deals with persons with poor

coping and decision making skills.

Psychology focuses on observing behavior

Counseling focuses on behavior change Psychology is non-engaging Counseling is interactive and intimate Psychology focuses on the pattern of

behavior Counseling focuses on the

reasons/sources of behavior

Helping may bare the closes resemblance or comparison to counseling

Helping is the process of assisting someone in an informal and non-technical/scientific manner

Counseling provides a support system and provides technical/scientific skills

Persons will seek help based on the competence of the person they seek out to help them

Counseling is done by someone who is trained

Motivation stimulates a person through external influence and reward

Counseling focuses on empowering the person to effect life change

Intervention is initiated by others Counseling is initiated by the person;

even if there is external motivation Intervention uses external pressures to

stimulate emotions to effect change Counseling uses personal/internal

reflection and reasoning to effect change

Coaching provides premeditated or rehearsed action for future events

Counseling addresses coping skills for present daily living

Coaching is a form of education that assist in anticipating probable future circumstances

Counseling educates persons in basis skills

Mediation involves a third-party making decisions

Counseling requires the client to reach to a point of making decisions

Mediation focuses on present issue only

Counseling focuses on present issue and provide coping skills for the future

The actions of people are as a result of basic desires and needs.

Basic Needs› Love› Acceptance/Belonging › Companionship/Support› Identity and Direction (who am I?)

If needs are not fulfilled people become dysfunctional .

A dysfunction is the level of distress or impaired functioning experienced by the individual…from which the atypical behavior displayed varies from the culturally expected norm. (http://healthmad.com/mental-health/variance-in-psychological-dysfunction/)

Low Self-Esteem Poor Judgment Skills Dependency Mistrust/Rejection Isolation Anxiety/Double Mindedness

Anger Suspicion Resentment Loneliness Frustration Depressed

S.A.L.T. stands for stressed, angry, lonely, and tired/ threatened

The effect of an issue/problem on a person’s life:• View of Self• Choices• Response to situations• View of Others• Expectations• Relationships• Functioning• Health

Public (Superficial) Self

Private (Hidden) Self

Extravert (Open)

More is revealed than hidden

Introvert (Closed)

More is hidden than revealed

Positive Motives• Is adjusted (have an

identity)– copes with personal issues

• Respect and appreciate self• Objective (Open to Change)

– ability to be open minded• Makes life oriented chooses• Can admit to mistakes • Appreciate the influence of

culture• Sincere interest in other• Effective interpersonal skills

Negative Motives• Emotional

distress/displacement – unresolved issues, and using someone else's problems to over shadow own.

• Vicarious Coping – Live their lives through others

• Filling Void of Loneliness – a since of feeling important to others

• Desire Power – Ability to control others

• Need to Rescue – The counselor places self as the rescuer (personal healing)

Goals of CounselingGoals of Counseling• Facilitating Behavior Change• Improve ability to develop healthy relationships

• Enhance coping skills• Promote/ Improve decision making skills

• Facilitating overall development of the client

• Clients to develop a Christian/moral base (salvation and transformation)

Remedial› Functional Impairment

Preventive› Anticipate and Accommodate

Enhancement› Human Potential

What Counseling is Not!

≠It is not about giving advice≠It is not about the coercion of people into your way of thinking≠It is not about working out someone’s problem for them≠It is not telling the client what to do≠Not criticizing the client

What Counseling Is!

Providing a support base for peopleIt focuses on the needs of the clientProvides realistic tools that can be used by the client

Caught = the condition (sinfulness) Restore = the mission (heart

transformed) Gently = the attitude/character (do no

harm) Watch = the protection (watch self &

ministry); see also I Tim. 4:16 Carry = daily goal (help bear burdens

in personal relationships with people)

The PREACH principle for development: − Physical − Resources − Emotional − Action − Conceptual − Historical

• Marriage Counseling• Family Counseling• Career Counseling• Financial Counseling• Grief Counseling• Substance Abuse

Counseling• Rehabilitative

(behavioral) Counseling

• Mental Health Counseling

Psychoanalytic TherapyAdlerian TherapyExistential TherapyPerson-centered

TherapyGestalt TherapyBehavioral TherapyCognitive Behavioral Reality Therapy

•HIV/STI Counseling•Pastoral Counseling

Survey conducted among pastors:

In the Church(Counselor: Pastor)

In an Agency(Counselor: Professional)

The counselor may only be trained within a Biblical context, which will be used in guiding the counseling process.

Most persons who are counseled by this person are members of the church/constituency.

Church counselors generally have personal contact with persons before the initiation of counseling.

Persons gravitate towards the church counselor because of relationship.

The counselor has received formal training in understanding behavior and approaches to counseling.

There is no defined demographic (grouping) that comes for counseling at the agency.

Agency counselors do not have any previous contact with clients before counseling.

People gravitate towards the agency counselor because of reputation.

In the Church(Counselor: Pastor)

In an Agency(Counselor: Professional)

The church counselor may have the ability to enhance the story of the client from sources outside the counseling relationship.

The church counselor generally has direct contact with persons close to the person coming for counseling.

The church counselor may be engaged in counseling persons close or related to the person.

Church counseling is used to guide a person morally/spiritually.

The agency counselor relies totally upon the story of the client during the counseling relationship.

The agency counselor does not have any contact with persons close to the client; except by consent.

The agency counselor can not cross reference independent counseling relationships; except for couples, family and group counseling.

Agency counseling is used to explore choices.

Gladding, S. (2004) Counseling A Comprehensive

Profession (5th ed.) Ohio George, R., Christiani, T. (1995) Counseling

Theory and Practice (4th ed.) Boston

Collins, G. (2007) Christian Counseling (3rd ed.) Nashville