Article Critique
Introduction
In this article critique assignment, it discusses the theories, commonalities, and difference
between the two disciplines of pastoral counseling and psychology. The purpose of this study draws a
discussion of research, collaborations, and differences that pastoral counseling and psychology share. It
also discusses the common themes and virtues that they share such as forgiveness, hope, and love. It
begins by discussing how psychology and pastoral counseling are in conflict with one another when it
comes to science and religion. However, in spite of their differences, pastoral counseling will utilize
psychology to collaborate with psychology when it comes to addressing certain conflicts. Yet, in its own
defense, pastoral counseling uses its own psychology from a pastoral point of view of pastoral care.
Additionally, pastoral counseling uses theology and psychology where it leans on pastoral care when it
comes to helping their client. Psychology, however, uses its own interventions when helping someone
through their problems. The article will bring into discussion common theories from psychologists from
both disciplines such Carl Rogers, Sigmund, Gestalt, Freud, and other common theorist and how they are
approach in their disciplines.
Bridging Pastoral Psychology and Positive Psychology
The articles begins with a discussion on the adaptions from certain psychology theorist that are
used in both psychology and pastoral counseling has used such as Carol Rogers. Carl Rogers had a
humanistic view. The article discusses how the holistic and humanistic view helps both pastoral
counselors and psychologists on helping the client focus on the individual’s strengths. Rogers also
informs how he felt there was a need for more psychological insight and skills for pastoral engagement
(Rogers, 1950). Another difference that was discussed was how modern psychology approach focuses on
healing the person from depression, substance abuse, and other mental health disorders. Pastoral
counseling has its benefits on providing therapeutic relationships by using their own models in a more
Article Critique
spiritual manner. However, pastoral counseling can be used in certain areas but in the mental health
profession, it has its limitations. Pastoral counselors share a more religious perspective in their healing
approach than psychology. Plus, Pastoral counseling accepts clients at their worse without judgement.
Whereas, positive psychology attempts in helping people recover their strengths. The article
discusses on the role of forgiveness and how it is plays a role in both pastoral counseling and
psychology. It suggests that forgiveness is used in both disciplines because it promotes emotional,
spiritual, and cognitive functions. In pastoral counselling, forgiveness has its divine and human
implications (2018). In psychology, it acknowledges the positive effects that it has on the healing
process and also how it contributes to better mental health. One expert also suggests how a forgiving
attitude can contribute towards a person mental health (Maltby & Day, 2004). Mental health
professionals also acknowledge that it adds to their virtue of temperance and learning to forgive as part
of their healing process.
Next, hope was describes as being significant in both disciplines in their therapeutic process. It
describes hope in pastoral counseling setting as being significant because it gives the client a goal to
achieve. Pastoral counselors also view themselves as “agents of hope” and use this as a way of helping
the client in their therapeutic process. It also suggests how pastoral psychology also does not to raise
false hope but supports hopes, and raises hope when there is none. Pastoral counselors also believe
that their ability to advocate and provide them with a sense of hope. Then, there is the subject of love.
In psychology, mental health professional has to show unconditional judgment or positive regard. It also
explains how love is also important by using Carl Rogers client centered therapy. It informs how Rogers
approach uses the approach of acceptance, congruence, and empathetic understanding with a client.
Rogers approach provided ongoing encouragement and a positive reinforcement that would show love
due to the empathetic understanding towards the client.
Article Critique
The article relates to my research topic due to its discussion and collaboration of pastoral
counselling and psychology. My article will discuss the challenges of addiction from a pastoral
counselling point of view and also the challenges from psychology in healing families. The article gives
insight on the commonalities between the two disciplines and also how they view them differently. For
example, when it discusses the subject of hope, it gives a different approach to how pastoral counseling
uses it in their approach from pastoral care. It also gives the example of how hope is uses in positive
psychology as well and giving the client a reason to achieve their goal. Research has shown how hope is
associated with religion (Smith, 2005). The article raises the question on their views by also sharing how
they can co-exist due to their humanistic approach. It also explains how in both areas of disciplines that
they focus on the potential with the client to improve their human condition. Furthermore, they both
shared a common goal in how they use encouragement and how it gathered from the Adlerian
approach. Both disciplines have found that encouragement can be used to help improve the client’s
confidence and also improve their self-esteem. Next, it explained how the attitudes that both pastoral
counselors and secular counselor shares in being both genuine, showing empathy, unconditional
acceptance, and trust in order to have provide the foundation of hope and motivation for positive
change.
Step 6- Analyze the problem
The problem in this article is that it addresses the conflict of pastoral psychology in counseling
against positive psychology. It addressed how integrating the would mean that one discipline would
have to give up their boundary. It also addresses how issue of psychology separates itself form religion
and view faith to be a separate component. It also informs how in psychology that it also does not share
the same views on certain concepts that religion agrees with. Another issue that it addresses was how
there are more research studies in psychology than in pastoral psychology that causes problem in their
Article Critique
research for their positive affects and how it contributes to a person well-being. Although there are
fewer studies that inform that their positive affects in pastoral counseling; it still raises the question on
the validity. HIltner also suggests how with the right interdisciplinary attitude that pastoral counselors
can learn more insight dem psychologists on the human function (Hiltner, 1950a).
Also, psychology also investigates through research studies on the humanistic virtues and how
pastoral counseling is more concerned with a person virtue and spirituality (2018). It provides examples
of pastoral counselors and psychologist influencers like Larry Crabb who believes that collaboration will
point to the risk that could undermine the other (Crabb, 1978). However, Brundson also suggested that
there is to be an investigation with philosophy when it comes to collaborating between the two
disciplines (Brunsdon, 2014). Since pastoral psychology is based more on theology and psychology is
based on research finding in human sciences; a positive relationship could benefit the two disciplines
that would be both beneficial for the counselor and the client by respecting each other mutual
boundaries. Also, the article gives a few methods to use when it comes to helping the client because
they share a humanistic approach. The results in this study also reach a conclusion that both disciplines
can enrich each other because they both have great things to offer one another. Both disciplines could
benefit from one another by sharing their knowledge and also using their methods when it comes to
helping the client. Instead of neglecting the spiritual side when it comes to psychology, it is suggested
that psychology should embrace it if it helps the client and being supportive of their goal. Overall, this
article gave great points on the bridging the two disciplines by explaining what they both have to offer
from their disciplines.
Article Critique
References:
Arnau, Randolph, David Rosen, John Finch, Jamie Rhudy, and Vincent Fortunato. 2007.
“Longitudinal Effects of Hope on Depression and Anxiety: A Latent Variable Analysis.” Journal of
Personality 75 (1): 43-63. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2006.00432.x.
Brunsdon, Alfred R. 2014. “A Three Musketeering Approach to Pastoral Care: Reflections on
Collaboration between Pastoral Care, Narrative Therapy and Positive Psychology.” Verbum et Ecclesia 35
(1): 1-9. https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v35i1.865.
Crabb, Larry. 1978. Effective Biblical Counseling. Michigan: Zondervan.
Conn, Walter. 1987. “Pastoral Counseling for Self-Transcendence: The Integration of Psychology
and Theology.” Pastoral Psychology 36 (1): 29-48. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01719045.
Hiltner, Seward. 1950a. “Mr. Hiltner Accepts.” Pastoral Psychology 1 (4): 5-8.
Kahneman, Daniel. 1999. “Objective Happiness.” In Well-Being: The Foundation of Hedonic
Psychology, edited by Daniel Kahneman, Ed Diener, and Norbert Schwarz, 3-25. New York: Russell Sage
Foundation.
Maltby, John, and Liz Day. 2004. “Forgiveness and Defense Style.” The Journal of Genetic
Psychology 165: 99-109. https://doi.org/10.3200/GNTP.165.1.99-112.
Smith, Nicholas. 2005. “Hope and Critical Theory.” Critical Horizons 6: 45-62.
https://doi.org/10.1163/156851605775009528
