mmf 1 responds

· Brody needs to regain a sense of stability and security from someone in his life.

· I will use the solution-focused pastoral counseling to help Brody find a source of stability and security in his family friend, Melissa, who can be considered a close aunt who understands him similar to his mother and sister.

Guiding Purpose Statement.  

· Concisely point out how a Guiding Purpose Statement will help you be and become more like Christ in every relational context, especially this pastoral counseling scenario.

· My Guiding Purpose Statement for this scenario is: “Seeking to be a reflection of Christ, I am committed to becoming a compassionate counselor.”

· Being a compassionate counselor using active listening and a solution-focused approach will help me guide Brody to a secure and stable solution. 

Rapport and Relational Alignment. 

· Brody has a DISC profile of S/C and I have a DISC profile of C/I/S.

· To build rapport and shift my relational style I will build trust with him by getting to know him and his creativeness.  He likes music and we can build a relationship around that since I like music also.  This can be the bridge that closes the gap between us and may bring him to invite me into his life, especially since one of the last things that he asked his mother was to listen to his newest music creation.  While he may be blaming his dad for being distant, he seems to have forgotten that Melissa is still there for him to be a source of security and stability while his father adjusts to be a more reliable single parent.

Phase One Distinctive Features. 

· Phase one will begin with Brody and myself meeting in a safe environment comfortable for him.  Someplace of his interest with minimal distractions and few people.  I would suggest a local coffee shop with music similar to his interests.

· The purpose of phase one is to actively listen to Brody and hear his story and his current struggles.

· The goal of phase one is to determine the problem plaguing Brody.

· The chief aim is to actively listen to Brody

· The role/responsibility of the counselor is to shift my relational style to meet Brody’s and build rapport.

· The behavioral position of Brody will be determined to be blaming.  Blaming his father for not being there for him and blaming Justin for causing his mother’s and sister’s death.  All seemingly leading to his insecurity and instability which has thrown his life into chaos. 

· Guiding assumptions will be addressed:

. God has been active in Brody’s life already in Melissa as well as Josh. 

. As complex as the problem at hand may seem to be, the solution is not necessarily as complex as there is already work God has started in Brody’s life.

. Exceptions are in place in Melissa’s relationship with Brody that he may not have realized.

. Brody is changing, and his emotions are not being helpful, he needs to trust the Lord as he is creating solutions during this time of change (Pro 3:5-6).

. Only Brody knows what exactly is going on and will be the main definer of his goals.

. As his counselor, I will help him create his own solutions.

. The problem is the problem, Brody is not the problem.  He just needs help finding the right avenue for a solution.

. Brody’s position in counseling is blaming.  He does not initially feel like part of the solution, but the counseling will help him become a willing participant as he sees hope and a bring future with an attainable solution.

Phase One Marker. 

· A marker that indicates I have been invited into the care seeker’s story is a direct question about the grief he has encountered, tied to his music.  Since his interest and creativity was an anchor with his mother and sister, he may be avoiding that part of his life.  As the discussion about music comes up, his question, “How can I get back into music?” or “Who can I share my music with now?” will be the invitation to discuss a future solution and find the exception in his life leading to a secure and stable relationship with Melissa.

Food for Thought: 

· With the complexity of suicidal ideation in Brody, it is essential that I not overlook the possibility of referral to a mental health professional if the phase one discussion does not bring him down from those thoughts (Yeagley 2002).

· Both my role as Spiritual Counselor and the role of Disaster Mental Health workers is mutually beneficial and requires us both to work together (Brenner 2010, 153). 

Bibliography  

Brenner, Grant H., Daniel H. Bush, and Joshua Moses, eds.  Creating Spiritual and Psychological Resilience: Integrating Care in Disaster Relief Work.  New York: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.  E-Book.

Carbonell, Mels.  How to Solve the People Puzzle: Understanding Personality Patterns.  Blue Ridge: Uniquely You Resources, 2008.

Clinton, Tim and Ron Hawkins.  The Quick-Reference Guide to Biblical Counseling: 40 Topics, Spiritual Insights, and Easy-to-Use Action Steps.  Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2009.  Kindle.

Harrison, John K.   Crossroads: A Story of Forgiveness.  Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Inc., 2007.

Kollar, Charles.  Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling: An Effective Short-Term Approach for Getting People Back on Track.  Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011. Kindle.

Professional/Leadership DISC Profile, retrieved from https://uniquelyyou.org.

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