The primary and first declaration within Christian Counseling the central nature of Christ as healer. Christ is the ultimate counselor and the source of all healing. The Christian Counselor presents the Christian worldview, its morals, its ideals on grace, and salvation to the person with the person knowing in advance that this the primary premise and foundation. Concepts such as sin as a source of struggle, suffering and death are recognized, as well as Christ’s central importance in healing and transformation.
The extent to which this theology permeates the counseling depends upon integration of secular and modern psychological methods. Strict Biblical Counseling and Christian Psychologies will delve more deeper into Christian tradition and be less receptive to purely secular therapies, while an integrated approach, while still maintaining a Scriptural foundation will understand the limits of certain sciences. Integrated approaches will not deny that God is the source of all truth of every science but will recognize that certain limitations exist within religious texts and that the truths of God in other sciences are displayed under different approaches. It is because of this that Christian Counseling that employs an Integrated Approach is able to utilize multi-faceted approaches to help healing in a person. It recognizes the spiritual authority of Scripture, its moral guidance, and foundational teachings in helping others heal, but also understands its purpose in not treating mental pathology, which permits the integrated approach to use other ways to treat individuals. While sin is the cause of all suffering, not every individual sin causes every pathology. Sometimes, the person requires a spiritual healing but in many cases the person may just require a mental healing.
Within this premise, Integrated Christian Counseling is able to utilize modern psychology and counseling while remaining faithful to Christian idealogy and teachings. Christian Counseling, especially when under the dual guidance of a Christian and a licensed professional, as opposed to merely a pastoral level, has the ability to further treat deeper pathologies dealing with trauma and loss. It also has the ability to incorporate with those modules the concepts of Christian Grief and the purpose of suffering in the world.
It is within Christian Counseling that one can incorporate Christianity’s unique stance on suffering. Christianity does not offer to the suffering person a non answer. It does tell a person to suffer alone, or that God is merely watching from a distance. Instead Christianity offers an explanation why suffering exists but also grants comfort to the bereaved that God does not merely watch from a far away throne, but instead sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer with us. Christ, the Suffering Servant, becomes the ultimate example for the suffering. He teaches humanity how to suffer and offers the ultimate example of how to offer one’s cross. Yet, Christ is not defeated by suffering or death, but defeats and conquers it. The ultimate promise of Christianity is that who die with Christ will rise with Christ. This is a powerful philosophy and theology that is offered in Christian based counseling.
In addition to this foundational philosophy and theology, integrated Christian Counseling can utilize and use the numerous therapies afforded by modern psychology and counseling. Again, though, why limit oneself to one school of thought? Implementing and integrating different therapies can also be beneficial for some. Again, this is not saying this would benefit everyone. In some cases, strictly adhering to CBT may be the best call to action and may be the therapy the counselor or practitioner is best trained in. If this is the case, then if the patient is showing progress, then various integrations would not be needed.
First, it is important to note, when helping anyone in loss, trauma or suffering, that not all therapies fit all. Some may benefit from one, while others may benefit from a mixture. In my opinion, since human beings are so multi-faceted, sometimes a multiple approach of modules can be the most productive based upon the person’s reaction. For instance, when looking at the three primary therapies of Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral and Humanistic, one may find samples from each to help a particular individual find healing. A blended and truly integrated practice may be beneficial as opposed to maybe a singular approach.
In Psychodynamic, a counselor may look to help someone by exploring the past and come to conclusion why certain feelings are manifesting in the present that stem from the past. Past trauma does play a key in the present moment and for some, understanding why a certain feeling is manifesting may be enough to identify it and control it. Others though may need more direction and guidance beyond discovering the why and require cognitive understanding and reshaping. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help the person dismiss damaging feelings and restructure them into more productive feelings going forward. Furthermore, while some may benefit cognitively, others may be benefit from a more emotional discussion from various Humanistic approaches that dissect the feelings of now and help the person again find balance with self image and real image. This balance concurs with healthy out look on life.
In particular when dealing with someone, obviously a scriptural based prayer that reflects the issue at hand is key. This invites the Holy Spirit into any session and emphasizes the central focus of Christ in the room for healing. In any sessions, narrative therapies can provide very useful in describing and discussing the loss/stressor/ trauma. Discussions can lead to awakening and new ideals about it and help the person heal from the loss. Journaling, as a aspect of CBT, can play a big role in adaptive coping as well as a strong tool in grief work. In some cases, Humanistic approaches that include self talk and the empty chair can help individuals express the emotion of now and learn how to later handle given situations. Ultimately, the tools present are used to help the person adjust to the loss or trauma in a healthy way and connect the past with the present and future in a productive way. Counseling modules and various strategies such as those listed when integrated with prayer and healing can prove very beneficial in restoring meaning in life.
Personally, I find human beings to complicated and loss to diverse for one fit all solution. Whether Christian Counseling approaches or counseling models, many individuals need a variety of proven methods to help that particular person again find meaning. A healthy person according to Aaron Antonovsky achieves coherence when they are able to predict why things happen, have some ability to cope with those things and have a deeper meaning of the why and purpose of life. A strong integrated Christian Counseling philosophy with modern psychology that is never tied completely to one school of thought but tied to proven methods within each school that work for particular individuals gives the counselor a strong foundation that has a good base in Christ and science but also a flexible response to pathology of a person.
Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification. The Christian Counseling Program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as a Christian Counselor. The program itself is non-denominational but shares within many of the great Christian traditions. It is open to non-clinical as well as clinical practitioners. The program offers the base model for pastors or counselors to incorporate their own style of Christian Counseling and methods to better help individuals.
Additional Resources
“Integrative Therapy”. Psychology Today. Access here
“Therapy Types and Modalities”. Psychology Today. Access here
Collinsworth-Cobarruvias, S. (2018). “Biblical Foundation for Christian Integration: A Theology of Christian Counseling”. Access here
Zarbo, C. et, al. (2015). “Integrative Psychotherapy Works”. Front Psychol. 2015; 6: 2021. National Library of Medicine. Access here