Respond to discussion

The most important points made in the lectures were the holistic view of a client's well being incorporating spirituality in the biopsychosocialspiritual aspect, the redemptive world view, and the need for a counselor' self-awareness and humility that is necessary for productive counsel (Brewer, n.d.).  A therapist must consider the client's world view before asking about incorporating spiritual practices in session and the client must give consent.  With the incorporation of spiritualism in counseling, the client becomes aware of their sin(s) or their wrong(s), but they also come to know the redemptive salvation of Christ.  They come to acknowledge their fallacies and are comforted knowing that through repentance they should carry no shame.  When a counselor uses a theological concept in treatment, they, too, become more self-aware and hold themselves to a more ethical standard based on Biblical morals and God's love.  In this manner, it helps the therapist stick to the oath of doing no harm.  It is similar to the logic of 'what would Jesus do'.  When clients are shown through Scripture that they were created in the image of God, there is consolation in knowing they have a purpose.  Even though they may have been wayward for a long time and their alienation from the Heavenly Father has left them feeling despair and hopelessness, Scripture reading, prayer, and/or meditation on God's word provides one with the solution of grace, redemption, and repentance (Brewer, n.d.).  How could someone not feel a glimmer of hope after the Gospel?!  Those of us who have a personal relationship with Christ know the benefits of our religion and its practices.  However, for those clients that don't or hold a grudge against God for all the "bad" that has happened in their lives, it can be a huge task to ease them in to the mindset that religion in therapy can be beneficial.  If at first one doesn't succeed in therapy, it is common for the treatment plan to be evaluated and some other treatment attempted.  I have heard so many individuals say that they have been in therapy for many years and they can't be told anything that they haven't heard or didn't know.  And yet, they have no religious preference or spiritual practice!  I want to say,'How about giving God a try?  What is the worst that could happen?'.  A therapist can always throw in research information to support to the idea of treating someone spiritually in congruence with psychological aspects.  An evidence-based review published from 1990 to 2010, shows that "the relationship between religious involvement and less depression has been fairly consistent, with good evidence" (Kim, 2015).  Spirituality has also been linked to improved outlook and less negative effects of treatment for cancer patients.  Religion and spirituality "allows individuals to make meaning in times of crisis" (Elkonin, 2014).  Entwistle also stated in his article that spirituality gives a person something greater to focus on than themselves; that something removes some of the burden from the person's shoulders and offers reprieve.  An individual is still accountable, but they know that they are not alone.  A psychological view solely points to the factors of one's outcomes as their own personal creation and/or an environmental factor shaped them.  There is no room for error and any mental illness is a sickness or poor coping habits for that individual (Brewer,n.d.).  That provides nothing, but a feeling of guilt and hopelessness and not a counseling perspective that I would want to adhere to.

Brewer, G., & Peters, C.  (n.d.). COUN 506 Weeks One & Two, Lecture One: Christian spirituality and the ministry of counseling.  [PowerPoint]. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Online.

Elkonin, D., Brown, O., & Naicker, S.  (2014).  Religion, spirituality and therapy: Implications for training.  Journal of Religion and Health.  Vol. 53, No. 1.  Pp.  119-134.   https://www-jstor-org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/stable/24485065?pq-origsite=summon&seq=3#metadata_info_tab_contents

Kim, N.Y., Huh, H.J., & Chae, J.H.  (2015).  Effects of religiousity and spirituality on the treatment response in patients with depressive disorders.  Comprehensive Psychiatry.  Vol. 60.  Pp. 26-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2015.04.009