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LBMukau Journal Article Revew Use of
Prayer 1
Integration of Spiritualty and Counseling (Liberty University)
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JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW 1
Journal Article Review: Using Prayer as an Intervention in
Counseling Liz B. Mukau
Liberty University
COUC 506-D01 Integration of Spirituality and Counseling
June 26, 2022
Liz B. Mukau
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
Liz B. Mukau
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Summary
In recent years, spirituality has been recognized as especially important in existing
writings, well-known organizations and professions that help clients achieve full success in
mental health and addiction recovery. The article by Juhnke, Watts, Guerra, and Hsieh discuss
how the use of prayer has a positive impact in counseling sessions by providing services to
clients who claim to have faith in God. (Juhnke, et al., 2009). The article also discusses 12-step
programs of Alcoholics Anonymous that use prayer to connect clients in recovery with God. In
addition to prayer, meditation is needed in these programs as well. Prayer and meditation
strengthen the bond between clients and the highest power that is God. Based on the study, the
authors identified three criteria for clients to include prayer in their substance abuse session.
These criteria are: 1) when the client believes in the existence of God, 2) when the dedicated
client wishes for their successful recovery, 3) responds to personal prayer. Furthermore, the
client would like to incorporate spiritual activity such as prayer into their addiction counseling.
The article focuses on four methods which the authors found useful. The first involves
establishing meaningful treatment goals. The second method consists in using prayer at the start
of the treatment session. The third method is to pray at the end of the treatment session to help
the client gather what they have learned over the course of the day. The last method is the way to
use prayer with clients which must be specific to the urge to leave the session and stress factors.
Interaction
Upon reading this article, it was interesting to learn how secular counselors compared
with Christian counselors viewed prayer during treatment sessions. Also, I was pleased to read
the article because it provided me with clear and specific strategies to use when implementing
spirituality in counseling sessions. The criteria, methods, questions, and examples used to
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integrate prayer in therapeutic sessions are helpful tools. In addition, in comparing secular and
Christian counselors, I discovered that the secular-based treatment focuses on the role of
biological, psychological, and environmental factors of mental health or addiction, and provides
relevant interventions such as counseling and group therapies, vocational training, and social
support (Yeung, 2020). On the other hand, the faith-based treatment emphasizes the Christian
theory of dependency of considering addiction as a sin caused by spiritual emptiness and
separation from God.
Besides, as a Christian, I have an ardent desire to share the word of God with others, and
so I would like to integrate prayer in counseling sessions with my clients. However, according
to American Counseling Association code of ethics 2014, section A.4.b., I would not impose my
faith and convictions on my clients (ACA, 2014). That is why my preference is to work in a
practice of counseling founded on Christian faith. In fact, a treatment based on faith is primarily
based on Christianity. The core of faith-based treatment requires that recovering addicts receive
Jesus Christ as their savior and seek their gradual religious growth (2020). This reminds me one
of the scriptures in the epistle of John which says, “But to all who receive him, who believe in
his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12, ESV).
Moreover, as the article indicates, the most powerful thing we can do as Christian
counselors is to pray with and for our clients (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015). If the prayer was
clearly explained as an intervention in the consent form, our desire to pray with them should not
come as a surprise. It still makes sense to ask the client's permission. The prayer must not take
long. Some counselors pray at the start of the session to express their trust in God for wisdom
and insight. Others pray in closing. In addition, my experience working in a secular mental
health organization as a case manager/community support and liaison has taught me to respect
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the organization's policy and ACA's code of ethics. During my home visits, I encountered clients
with mental health and substance abuse issues who desperately needed a word of prayer. I was
not allowed to do so, but as requested by the clients, I had to find time to quickly share a biblical
scripture and pray with them. A number of counselors would not disclose that they are Christian
counselors; however, they will involve prayer during treatment with the client's permission. For
example, a few months ago, when my son passed, I was going through grief and sorrow. Until
today, I am still coping with the loss and adjusting to my new life. I needed to see a Christian
therapist, but I had tough time to find the one I needed. It took my family weeks to connect me
with a good grieving counselor who has been immensely helpful. Our way of walking with God,
or our Christian life, can encourage others to give their lives to Christ and develop their
relationship with Him.
Application
Having read the article and given the specific steps shared within the article, I will use
these strategies and apply the information I have learned to different cases that I may have to
deal with in my counseling profession. As a counselor, I will do as stated in the article. I would
like to use the four questions to assess if prayer would be useful to my client for counseling
treatment (Juhnke, et al. 2009). I would be willing to verify my client's spiritual, emotional, and
psychological standing. In the case of Sharon, she is a 32-year-old woman from Georgia. Sharon
is a single lady who was not fortunate in her relationship. She has been in a relationship for two
years and has recently broken off with her unfaithful boyfriend David. During the assessment,
she shared that she is coming from a Christian and loving family, and she has been faithful to
every person she loves including her parents, her siblings, and friends. She is extremely
disappointed and devastated because she loved David and is concerned that someone who said
he
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loved her could easily betray her. Sharon is anxious, so she came to counseling to ask for help.
Sharon confesses that she is very depressed because David's behavior deceives her. When I
started the assessment, I asked Sharon four questions that allowed me to know if I should
integrate prayer into her counseling sessions. Given her Christian background, all the questions I
asked were positive. Then I asked Sharon about the idea of including prayer and biblical
scripture in her sessions as an intervention to help get through depression. Sharon accepted and
asked to start the meeting with prayer. As Sharon's response is positive, I complete an informed
consent form for her to sign. After the consent is signed, we proceed with the counseling
session. I use prayer at the beginning of the session, and at the closing a prayer is used as well.
Prayer strengthens Sharon's faith in learning and insightful thinking.
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References
ACA (2014). American counseling association: Code of ethics. Retrieved from:
https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
Bible Gateway (2022). Online Bible John 1:12, ESV. Retrieved from:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A12&version=ESV
Hawkins, R. & Clinton, T. (2015). The new Christian counselor: A fresh biblical and
transformational approach. Harvest House Publishers
Juhnke, G.A. et al. (2009). Using prayer as an intervention with clients who are substance
abusing and addicted and who self-identify personal faith in God and prayer. Journal of
addictions & Offender Counseling.
Yeung, J.W.K (2020). Faith-based intervention, change of religiosity, and abstinence
of substance addicts. Liberty University
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