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Discussion Board- counseling suffering
clients
Integration of Spiritualty and Counseling (Liberty
University)
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300-400 words – 2-3 sources. 2 replies 200 words- 2 sources + bible worldview.
1. Considering the numerous points that were made, make a list of at least 5 concepts (“questions
to ask myself as I counsel those who are suffering. . . “) that you found particularly helpful,
insightful, unique, or had not thought about before. What guidelines would you particularly
emphasize as you counsel hurting people?
The guidelines that I would particularly emphasize as I counsel hurting people is to remind them that
trusting in God during our suffering is a part of our spiritual growth and that spiritual growth is not a
self- improvement program but a work to show admiration and love for God’s majesty (Hawkins &
Clinton, 2015, p.73). All of the questions that were discussed in this week’s readings were amazing and
they all made complete sense to me. They all clarify our purpose and role as counselors and where we
have to stand in the therapeutic relationship. To separate our worldview from the client’s as well as not
to oppose our beliefs. So the questions I chose are as follows:
1. What is driving this? Am I doing what I’m doing and saying what I’m saying because is in
my client’s best interest? I need to be responsive not reacting.
2. Does this client have an accurate sense of self-awareness? Does this client have an
accurate awareness of need? Does the client have a healthy openness to healing
relationships?
3. What is my personal worldview behind the practice?
4. Theory of healing?
5. Understanding of pain and brokenness?
The questions –“ Does this client have an accurate sense of self-awareness? Does this client have an
accurate awareness of need? Does the client have a healthy openness to healing relationships?” Are
essential, and they can be so helpful to get a feel of where the client is standing in their journey of
healing or in their story at the moment This will also show me how ready they are for change, and if
they realize what traumatic experience they are having and what is their thought process. The theory of
healing I link to Neff and McMinn (2020), and I discovered that lament involves suffering, crying out and
giving a voice to our deep aches. I learned that lament resists the way things are and wants to move to
make things better. I now understand that lament is something we never move out of. As Neff and
McMinn (2020) say, lament leads us deeper into the heart of God. This is certainly important to
recognize that lament is a journey, not a destination.
Some of the guidelines
that I would use for
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myself as a counselor
is remembering that I
am called to be a
vessel though which
the Holy Spirit works. I
do not heal or restore
the Holy Spirit does
and I need to relay on
him. Secondly, I need
to remember that I do
not need to fix but
have the posture of a
servant to my client. It
is not about the
techniques; I just need
to make myself
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available (Peters n.d.b
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A beautiful goal that the Christian spirituality and the ministry of counseling presentation mentions
(Peters, n.d.a), describes the clients as strangers to us (the counselor), a stranger to God, and to
themselves. Our job is to convert them to be a friend to us, God, and themselves. A couple of ways I
found meaningful are risk asking the tough questions and caring enough to sit with them in their anger
and through their tears.
Some of the guidelines that I would use for myself as a counselor is remembering that I am called to be
a vessel though which the Holy Spirit works. I do not heal or restore the Holy Spirit does and I need to
relay on him. Secondly, I need to remember that I do not need to fix but have the posture of a servant
to my client. It is not about the techniques; I just need to make myself available (Peters n.d.b
How is counseling redemptive?
Theory of personhood & personal responsibility?
Understanding of sin and fallenness?
2. For A client who expects me (as their counselor) to fix their problem, I would respond as follows
by: Clarifying my role as a counselor. I am here to walk through this difficulty with you. I would
explain to the client that I do not have the solution or answers. I cannot make the suffering go
away. By explaining my role as a counselor, I am helping in the healing process (Peters n.d.b). I
would also explain to my fellow Christian client that Jesus promises to comfort those who
mourn(Matt 5:4, New International Version, 2001), and I as a counselor am there to help with
the process of mourning, lamenting, and grieving.
3.
When considering the client’s comments in regard to coming to counseling for sex weeks and
not feeling better the first thing I would remind the client it there is no time for healing.
4. I would remind the client that each person is different, while some clients may only need oneor
two sessions it may take over a year for other clients. When having a client that is so much pain,
and they are feeling as if they are stuck in the counseling session, I would offer the client a
choice to receive counseling from another counselor if he or she feels they need someone else. I
would encourage the client to understand that as a counselor, I can not take away their feelings
of pain and suffering. I would however offer the client tools to be able to help deal and cope
with what they are feeling. I would remind the client of 1 Peter 3:14. “But and if ye suffer for
righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; (King
James Bible, 2020)
References
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Neff, A. M. & McMinn,
M.
R. (2020). Embody
integration: A fresh
look at Christianity in
the therapy room.
Intervarsity Press
Hawkins, R., & Clinton, T. (2015). The new Christian counselor: A fresh biblical and
Transformational approach. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers.
Neff, A. M. & McMinn, M. R. (2020). Embody integration: A fresh look at Christianity in the
therapy room. Intervarsity Press
New International Bible. (2001). Women’s Devotional Bible. Zondervan
Peters, C. (n.d.a) Christian spirituality and the ministry of counseling [Power Point]. Lynchburg,
Reply 1
Hi Randa,
I loved reading your discussion on the concepts you would like to apply as you counsel those
who are hurting. The first principle that you stated- “ We can articulate our relationship with
God in a way that He can listen to our complaints and it will be okay” I totally agree with this
statement and just add that spiritual interventions (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, p.317) is a concept
that I had not thought about before and think that it would be helpful to consider during
counseling. This will allow counselors to show clients how “Human suffering is probably
the number one reason why people turn away from belief in God” (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015,
p.325) which is not the purpose of God’s sovereignty.
Also, the role of prayer in therapy has its benefits (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, p.327). I assumed
that everyone knew how to pray and had not thought that some clients must be taught how to
pray (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, p.328). I thought it was insightful how many Christians have the
impression that “good” Christians are never sad, angry, or afraid and repress their emotions
because of their beliefs. This reminds me of Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 “To everything there is a season,
a
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time for every purpose under heaven: a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn,
and a time to dance.”
References
Hawkins, R., & Clinton, T. (2015). The new Christian counselor: A fresh biblical and
Transformational approach. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers.
Neff, A. M. & McMinn, M. R. (2020). Embody integration: A fresh look at Christianity in the
therapy room. Intervarsity Press
New International Bible. (2001). Women’s Devotional Bible. Zondervan
Reply 2
Hi Frank,
God is present in His people’s suffering; how present should I be in
my client’s suffering? A counselor can use hospitality along with
grace and truth to build the client’s trust. In
establishing trusting relationships, counselors are able to confront
faulty thinking (Brewer & Peters, n.d.). Counselors are able to give
instant relief to a client- by assisting them in selecting needless
suffering in their lives and encouraging them to make adjustments to
stop that suffering (Brewer & Peters, n.d.). This allows the client to
progress from feeling “hopeless to hopeful” (Brewer & Peters, n.d.).
All clients want to see progress in their lives, everyone wants to see
results, and helping a client achieve instant results can be powerful
and helpful in their healing journey (Brewer & Peters, n.d.).
Ongoing assessments are also important in the healing process of a
suffering
client. The counselor and client should be certain they are on
the correct
journey to achieving the goals agreed upon. McMinn
states, “Effective counseling requires an ongoing assessment of
treatment goals, and the
client, as well as an accurate self-
assessment of the counselor” (p. 61). The
assessments include
assessing the established goal, the progress of the client, and the
effectiveness of the counselor. If the assessments do not produce
positive results, changes should be made in order to meet the
client’s specific needs.
References
Brewer, G., and Peters, C., (n.d.). Spirituality, suffering and counseling
dynamics. Liberty
University.
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McMinn, M. R. (2011). Psychology, theology, and spirituality in christian
counseling.
Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishing, Inc.
