Book Review #2 1
Book Review of Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling
Katherine Nicole Kinney
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
Book Review #2 2
Abstract
This paper will be a review of the book Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in
Christian Counseling by Mark R. McMinn. I will summarize the book, note my personal
reflections, analyze what I have read, and discuss how I would apply the applications of the book
to my future clients.
Book Review #2 3
Book Review of Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling
Summary
In order to help professional Christian counselors or other professionals in a faith-based
settings, Mark R. McMinn wrote a book called Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in
Christian Counseling. It can be very difficult to know how to appropriately involve scripture and
prayer into a counseling situation especially when not working directly in a church where it is
automatically understood. Discovering when and to what degree to apply can be challenging.
This book allows professionals to see how to use scripture and prayer “effectively integrate
scripture, prayer, and forgiveness,” (McMinn, 2011).
In the first chapter entitle, Religion in the Counseling Office, McMinn explains to readers
a common situation that we may encounter. Jill, a woman who is fighting depression, insomnia,
and low self-esteem, (McMinn, 2011). McMinn explains different types of counselors who Jill is
confronted with the first counselor completely rejects Jill’s religious beliefs. The second
counselor view religious beliefs differently than the first. They approach these beliefs and many
others with an open mind. The third counselor is a “Biblical counselor who rejects all secular
theories of counseling,” (McMinn, 2011). In recent years, many clients have expressed their
confusion in finding and choosing the right counselor for them because clients are starting to
value psychology, but also want their religion and religious beliefs to be involved and considered
in their counseling. In the end Jill chose Dr. Graton who is an expert in exactly what Jill was
looking for; integrating Christianity and psychology. Dr. Graton was actively in the pursuit of
knowledge concerning the subject and used the concept of which outlined by Everett
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Worthington Jr. Dr. Graton used Worthington’s techniques to fully help Jill and provide her with
addition answers and understanding, (McMinn, 2011).
In the second chapter, Towards Psychological and Spiritual Health, McMinn discusses
different ways of healing including, “Human Development, Spiritual Growth, and Psychological
Change,” (McMinn, 2011). The third chapter, Prayer, continues the subject matter in talking
about the power of prayer. McMinn zeros in on the discussion among debating counselors on
whether or not prayer should be involved in counseling. Asking the question, “Is it okay if we
pray together before ending today’s session,” (McMinn, 2011). Some people automatically
respond with a ‘yes’ presuming that prayer is an essential part of Christian counseling. Other
counselors disagree however, they believe that counseling should be apart from “spiritual
guidance and pastoral interventions,” (McMinn, 2011). There aren’t many studies to show
evidence on the effectiveness of prayer within counseling to date. This leaves both counselors
and clients confused as to whether or not prayer should be included within a counseling setting,
(McMinn, 2011).
The final five chapter of the book are; Scripture, Sin, Confession, Forgiveness, and
Redemption. These chapters are full of information that can help both patients and Christian
counselors. This information includes different scenarios, situations, thoughts, questions,
concepts, and suggestions of how to help. McMinn explains that gaining your clients trust is just
as important as being able to listen to them. McMinn also explains that he wrote this book during
a “Time of personal struggle and spiritual redefinition,” (McMinn, 2011). This an important fact
because it allows anyone who reads the book to see than McMinn is also human. We go through
hard times and question the things in our lives as well as our faith. It’s natural part of life. My
understand after reading this book is that it was written so that the reader can successfully
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integrate everything that McMinn is explaining into our own person lives as well as the way in
which we counsel others, (McMinn, 2011).
Personal Reflection
Redemption is “value and meaning restored to individuals lives” as defined by McMinn.
The whole reason we have counseling is to work through our issues and seek redemption. Isaiah
44:22 says, “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” It’s a common belief that personal and professional
beliefs concerning spirituality and counseling should be separate. After reading McMinn’s book,
one can see that should be combined in order to help people more effectively. Psychology should
be used as a tool from God to better help His people.
For me, in my personal life. I was in an abusive marriage for 12 years. After which I was
in both trauma counseling through a crisis center and spiritual coaching through counseling
offered by my church. I separated the two. One was used to help me recover from the trauma that
was ingrained in me and the other was to repair my relationship with Christ. I used both to help
me redefine myself so that I could move on and not return to the abuse that I had endured or
repeat it by walking into another abusive relationship. I continued this separation for two years
and then began regular counseling and I just do a bible study every day to keep me close to God.
I have moved from the “victim” mentality into the “survivor” mentality and am doing much
better. However, after reading McMinn’s book, I’m feeling as if I would like to find a Christian
counselor who is successful at integrating Christianity and psychology. I know that there are
some issues with trust and self-forgiveness that overlap between what is going on in my head and
what is going on in my faith. I’m now confident that I can find someone who can help me with
both. I can then use this knowledge and experience to help me with future clients.
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McMinn expresses that, “God’s agents are people who help the community.” As I
continue to heal and go through my own experiences I’ve had with domestic violence, I am
developing the desire to help other women who have been in the same situation. Going into this
work would make me an agent of God. God redeem us from adversities and restores our
spirituality when we show our kindness to others, (McMinn, 2011). I feel that because God
brought me to the other side of this nightmare, it is my responsibility to help others. This is my
redemption. Romans 3:24 reads, “Being justified freely by His Grace through the redemption
which is Christ Jesus”. In order to reach redemption, I believe, we have to be humbled. In the
beginning of realizing I was in an abusive marriage, I had to humble myself to being, “that girl.”
I helped people like that, I wasn’t one of them. I had put up a “perfect” front for everyone to see
and I believed it myself. It wasn’t until I started to talk about it outload that I was able to humble
myself and be honest with what was happening. Doing this allowed me to get out of the situation
I was in and overcome the abuse I had been apart of. This is what has led me to where I am now
and searching redemption.
Analysis
This book was really helpful to me as person and my understand on how to move forward
as a professional. I really do see that I no longer have to separate psychology and spirituality.
McMinn also used so many different scenarios to see where both the client and counselor was
coming form. After the scenarios McMinn shared his perspective and the perspective of other
counselors. This help me and knowing how to approach the many different situations in which I
may encounter in the future. Forgiveness would be a huge concept that so many people,
including myself, struggle with. Particularly, self-forgiveness, McMinn explains that forgiveness
is a clinical practice and a theological responsibility in order to heal, (McMinn, 2011). Forgiving
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is a supernatural issue. It does not come naturally to us. A huge misconception is that forgiving
someone means to excuse what they did. Or in my case, forgiving myself didn’t feel like I was
accepting accountability for the part that I played in my past. This, however, is just that, a
misconception. It’s important to understand the difference in order to move forward.
I really enjoyed reading this book. McMinn takes what is considered to be a nonspiritual
approach, relational cognitive approach, and shows you how you can use it in many different
settings regardless of what the religious beliefs of the client are. I find this to be important to that
you can meet the client where they are in both their personal life and personal relationship with
God.
Application
Years ago, I read an article about tiny homes being built for homeless veterans. The
people created entire tiny home villages to get veterans off the street. They then provided them
with a safe community atmosphere, trauma counseling with special attention to PTSD, and job
counseling. I recently did a paper about it in another classes and discovered that the movement is
growing and spreading across the country. I would like to work with the organization that does
this and learn how the operate. This way I can start my own organization to build tiny home
villages for victims of domestic violence. Victims of domestic violence suffer from trauma and
PTSD as well and also tend to not have the ability or knowledge on how to join and succeed in
the work force. So, I feel these two projects are closely aligned. One could teach me how to do
the other. I feel this is how God will use my past to help others. The five concepts I would use
apply to McMinn would be:
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1. Spiritual Level: I intend to evaluate where the client is in their spiritual walk with
God. Through discussion and getting to know the client. From there, I will
incorporate scripture in order to help and comfort my clients and meet them where
they are in their spiritual development.
2. Prayer: My first priority with prayer is to ask if the client is okay with praying during
the session. For me, prayer is very personal and was used by my ex-husband as a way
to control and abuse. Example; when I asked for separation, he all of a sudden
became religious and asked to pray with me. He would do so as a form of control and
because at this point, I was afraid to be near him, he would be able to hold my hands
in prayer and I felt obligated as a Christian wife to allow him to do so. I learned to say
no and remove myself from that, but prayer was still very personal to me and I
needed to trust my counselor more in order to feel comfortable and safe praying with
him. I also believe that prayer should not be done specifically before, during, or after,
however, because I feel this becomes ritualistic and can get in the way of being led by
Christ in the moment. It should come natural and pray when God leads you to.
3. Forgiveness: I know that forgiveness will be an important thing for me to work on
with my clients. Also, a sensitive one. I will need to make sure they know how to
forgive their abuser without eliciting contact or putting themselves in danger of
excusing their abuser’s behavior and returning to the relationship. I will also need to
focus on self-forgiveness as it’s very hard for a victim to forgive his/herself for
allowed themselves to be in that situation in the first place. But it is essential in going
from being a victim to being a survivor.
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4. Spiritual Health: It’s important for me, as a counselor, to be aware of my own
spiritual health so that I can lead my client to the best of my abilities. I also need to be
concerned about my clients spiritual growth as well as their mental health, (McMinn,
2011).
5. Self-exploration: I know that it is vital for me to really be aware of my own spiritual
and intellectual capabilies. This will allow me to develop as a person and grow in a
way in which God can better use me. This will help me with my clients as I can help
them do the same and to help improve their relationship with God.
I chose these five concepts because they are the one that I resonate with the most and
value above the others. For me to heal and hep others I needed to be able to discover my own
spiritual level so I could see where I was and where I needed to be with my relationship with
God. Self-forgiveness was the only way I could move forward and not be a victim. I then had to
make sure that I still continued to focus on my spiritual development so that I could continue to
allow the Holy Spirit to guide my life. Self-exploration allowed me to except who I am and
embrace who God wants me to be. Psalm 139:14 says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
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References
McMinn, M. R. (2011). Psychology, Theology, and spirituality in Christian counseling (Rev. ed).
Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House. ISBN: 97808423529
