4mat Review Mcminn

Running head: 4MAT REVIEW MCMINN 1

MCMINN 4MAT REVIEW 2

McMinn 4MAT Review

Liberty University

Bradford Peacock

COUN506

Dr. Suzie Johnson

March 11th 2018

Summary

Dr. Mark McMinn (1996) wrote the book Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling to bring together more thinking and learning in regards to integrating Christianity and psychology together. This is due in part to provide Christian counselors with tools necessary to aid them in caring for those in mental health by giving them guidance and teachings from a religious perspective. In the first two chapters, McMinn (1996) introduces theoretical findings of Christian counseling and gives some challenges that counselors may face in their practice. McMinn (1996) explains how the integrating of Christianity and psychology and how some may have assumptions of how Christian counselors need to adapt to the changes or beliefs in psychology, but remember their faith in how they can bridge both viewpoints in a session to bring a different mindset to a client who is suffering through mental health. McMinn (1996) talked about how a counselor needs to remember the foundations of counseling techniques such as assessment of self, the client, and goals for both throughout the session before bringing integrating religion into the counseling session, by doing this, the counselor will build the trust of the client who in turn may have an open mind about allowing religion to come into their life to provide them with comfort. Through these two chapters, McMinn (1996) builds upon the foundation for the rest of the book to teach us in how to bridge Christianity and psychology for our clients in our counseling careers. McMinn (1996) details the book that each chapter is subdivided into sections: facing challenges, psychology and spiritual nurturing, and foundations (p. 59). The author informs us that in order for these different tools of Christianity to be useful to therapies, one has to use them in the correct fashion. The counselor needs to understand and know when or not prayer will be beneficial for us in a counseling session or to the client as a whole.

The third chapter of Dr. McMinn’s book focuses on utilizing prayer during counseling interactions with clients. McMinn (1996) provided details of different literatures that gives examples of how prayer can be a useful tool or addition to any therapy session and how it can be integrated. In order to be successful in this, the Christian counselor has to be committed and knowledgeable in order for integrating Christianity and psychology together in their counseling careers. The following chapter, chapter four talked about using scripture from the Bible in therapy sessions. McMinn (1996) warned that by using versus and scripture in counseling sessions, one has to be prepared to face challenges from their client(s) in regards to developing spiritual self for both client and counselor and in fact to understand the healing power of prayer itself in regards to mental health as well as understanding the different interpretations of scripture. The fifth chapter: “Sin” discussed how sin can be talked about during counseling. McMinn (1996) explains that when discussing sin, we must bring it forward with a humble sense and in a way that does not give the client a sense of guilt or shame for what they are going through.

The following chapter discusses “Confession” and tells us that it is important to stay in a humble state of mind and be professional when working with those who come to us in need. McMinn (1996) informs us that all of us (both counselors and clients) need God’s mercy and that “confession gives voice to our cries and hope for forgiveness” (p. 201). The seventh chapter, “Forgiveness,” provides us as counselors details of giving the client the tools needed to forgive them of their actions, thoughts, or feelings, but tells us that in regards to this there are different meanings between secular and Christian forgiveness. Christian counseling considers forgiveness as being aware of your actions, being humble, being empathetic, and as well having insight into your life, as well it is not just to be relief emotionally for the client (McMinn, 1996). The final chapter, “Redemption,” talked about having a redemptive worldview that details a set of philosophies, expectations, and standards that enable us to not only realize how God’s grace and forgiveness is for us, but in that we need to feel this towards others in and around our lives as well. McMinn (1996) finalized with a conclusion that described the importance of counseling multitasking as a Christian counselor in how when bridging Christianity and psychology we must keep in mind the welfare of the client in regards to when we introduce prayer in the therapy session. With God’s grace, we must understand and know the task that He has called upon us and to remain humble in our therapy sessions.

Concrete Response

Dr. McMinn’s (1996) triggered for me some memories as to why I decided to become a counselor and as well learn how to work in this field as a Christian as well. Following my return from Iraq in 2010 I was often bitter, angry, depressed, and misguided, I did not know why and it took for me several years, 2015 to truly know why, this is when the Veterans Affairs diagnosed me with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. I did not know really anything about PTSD except that as a police officer it did not look good. Through counseling with the VA and speaking with my church pastor and began to realize that what I had experienced in Iraq had left a lifelong mess on my mind, but through counseling and giving my hope and faith to God I would be able to learn to live with PTSD.

As time went on I finished my BA in Criminal Justice, but knew I needed to learn all I could about Post-traumatic Stress, so I went to school for psychology and thus now my Masters in Professional Counseling. McMinn (1996) gave me some more knowledge in knowing why I am learning what I am, in my own life I have often wondered how do I help myself to heal, but at the same time remembering that God is constant in my life to give me guidance and relief for my anxieties and depressions of my experiences in Iraq. Of the haunting memories that I carry with me, knowing that in some way I came home for good reasons, to see that now using those experiences and learning to be a counselor I will be best suited to aid other veterans or others going through traumatic experiences how to cope and learn to move forward. Once I first became diagnosed with PTSD I spoke with my pastor about it and I was surprised that during our talks together how he often waited to talk about God or using scripture to help until I brought them up, asking questions such as “well how does God think about what I am going through?” My pastor would respond as needed. My pastor was a retired firefighter and he often provided grief counseling to local fire departments, so it was with those experiences he was truly best suited to provide me with aid and guidance during these past few years.

Reflection

I appreciated McMinn’s (1996) book and how the layout kept me focused throughout it to give me the best understanding of how to integrate Christianity and psychology. Through the topics, headlines, and chapters, the book remained constant. The organization also aided me in understanding McMinn’s logic for every topic.

McMinn (1996) provided examples in every chapter that aided me in understanding through visualize how a Christian counselor can integrate certain aspects of Christianity into counseling sessions. I appreciated how he gave three different counseling examples for specific clients and why one certainly would work the best. McMinn (1996) was clear in explaining the strategies Christian counselors may use in their therapy session, but was able to educate the reader in knowing how to face challenges that one may experience.

Action

Now that I have completed this book, I feel better equipped at knowing how to integrate Christianity and psychology together when conducting counseling or therapy session. McMinn (1996) explained it well, that first as a counselor I must first know how to understand a client’s spirituality before bringing prayer into counseling. Once I have established this, I will be better able to build trust with a client and know the level they are at in knowing God’s grace and promise of peace with their mental health. As a Christian counselor one must first build trust with their client before offering prayer or risk losing the chance of providing aid and peace to the mental stress they are experiencing. The most important parts that I have learned from McMinn would be using prayer and forgiveness in counseling sessions. With other studies I have conducted in regards to forgiveness therapy, I am more aware now with the help of McMinn about the strengths of forgiveness and how they can aid a client. Whenever I experience a client who confesses sin such as adultery, abuse, etc. I will be able to guide towards forgiveness and the healing power of Christ in ways that gives them reconciliation while also building or creating their relationship with God.

Reference

McMinn, M. R. (1996). Psychology, Theology, and Christianity in Christian Counseling. Carol

Streams, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.