Phase Three: Clarify and Execute the Action Plan
Ministry or Agency-based Context
My name is Wayne Prevett, and I have chosen as my predetermined care-seeker Bruce
Murakami, the father in the Crossroads story. As per the instructions in the case study, I have
selected the time frame of several weeks after the trial and sentencing as my entry point to
counsel Bruce. He has come to me at the suggestion of a mutual friend.1
My actual ministry context is the Founder, President and Lead Facilitator of Celebrating
Life Ministries (CLM). CLM exists to help and inspire people, mostly unchurched, to Celebrate
and Navigate life’s significant moments. We assist people at the familiar and traditional
crossroads of life (rites of passage), such as marriage, the birth of a child, and death. We lead
their services, bringing the presence and power of Jesus Christ to each event. With over ninety
percent of Canadian society disconnected from any faith community, these crossroads of life
events are often the only times they will come in contact with the message of Jesus Christ. We
outsource all of our marriage, pre-marriage, and grief counselling to other trained professionals.
Guiding Purpose Statement
My Guiding Purpose Statement (GPS) is: seeking to be a servant of Christ, I am
committed to becoming a difference-maker. I accomplish this by engaging and serving people
through encouragement, edification, exhortation, and example. My inspiration is the life and
ministry of Jesus. Everywhere He went, and with every human encounter He had, He made a
powerful difference. He came that we might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10
1 Dwight C. Rice, “A Case Study on Crossroads: A Story of Forgiveness” (paper prepared to support the central
learning activities in PACO 500 Introduction to Pastoral Counseling at Liberty University/Department of
Community Care and Counseling, Lynchburg, Virginia, 2020), 4-10, 12.
NASB).2 Jesus never left people the same way He found them. The hungry were filled, the blind
gained their sight, the lame and sick were healed; He made a difference. I desire that my life
reflect that of my Creator and Savior, and that I walk this earth and serve the way He did. My
GPS is a roadmap reminding and helping me to become more like Christ in every relational
context I encounter. I approach each such encounter, and especially a pastoral counseling
scenario, with a desire to be used by God in that person’s life to make a difference. I have been a
servant and difference-maker by feeding the hungry, offering emotional support, along with
many other practical works of service. God has also used me to bring edification and exhortation
to someone’s life by sharing principles from the word of God. With Bruce, I was able to make a
difference by listening to his story, and by affirming, from Scripture, that he had acted in a way
that brought glory to God.
Rapport and Relational Alignment
Based on the case study, I infer that Bruce is a “D/S” type personality. I am also a “D”
type, so I believe there are both an instant foundational rapport and a mutual understanding to
begin our relationship. The relational shift will not be significant, as we have many
commonalities. We are both driven, determined, demanding, decisive, and direct. We also tend to
be positive and assertive. Challenges stimulate us, and we hate to lose. We can do several things
at once, and are not as concerned about dealing with the details, as we are about seeing results.3
We are both entrepreneurs with a construction background, and both own our own companies.
We are both family men devoted to our families, and the families under our care. We have both
suffered loss, faced tragedy, and learned the importance of offering forgiveness to those who
2 Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the New American Standard Version (La Habra,
CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995).
3 Mels Carbonell, How to Sove the People Puzzle: Understanding Personality Patterns (Blue Ridge, GA: Uniquely
You Resources, 2008). 13.
have wronged us. These similarities are the reason Bruce has come to me, upon the suggestion of
a mutual friend. His purpose in connecting with me is to seek assurance that he has acted wisely
and appropriately.
Although initially angry, and somewhat vengeful, his current behavioural position was
that, through the Holy Spirit’s work, Bruce’s heart had been softened, and he had offered
forgiveness to Justin. As with so many “D” type personalities, he moved forward quickly in his
emotional and spiritual journey, but then questioned his behaviour and decisions after everything
seemed to settle.
My most significant relationship alignment will be to curb my problem-solving impulses
enough to listen to and affirm Bruce through engaging body language, a nodding head, and a
caring spirit. I will need to heed James Petersen’s advice in his work, Why Don’t We Listen
Better? Communicating and Connecting in Relationships, too, resist the urge to finish his
sentences and “bite [my] tongue and listen.”4 It will be vital that I not talk, but instead practice
the art of “responding as a listener”.5 As I contemplate how best to help Bruce, I first think about
saying something like, “it sounds as if you have had to make some tough decisions with regards
to the accident and forgiving Justin, and that you need me to affirm that you have acted in a way
that brings glory to God and honour to your wife and daughter”?
Phase Three Distinctive Features
4 Jim Petersen. Why Don’t We Listen Better?: Communicating & Connecting in Relationships (Portland, OR:
Petersen Publications, 2015), 74.
5 Ibid.
Purpose:
The purpose of my third session with Bruce is to confirm his willingness to move to
phase three and clarify and execute the action plan mutually created in our second session.
Goal:
The first goal of my third meeting with Bruce will be to continue to provide him with a
safe environment in which to tell his story, and know that I accurately hear him.
My second goal is to prayerfully listen to Bruce, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
with a desire to gain a better understanding of what is causing him to doubt his decisions. I will
affirm Bruce through the appropriate use of body language that I am listening to him. As
Petersen writes, “[r]eal listening gets us inside each other.6
The third goal will be to revisit the action plan that we mutually created at our second
meeting and confirm that he is ready to put the plan into action.
The fourth goal will be to remind him that he is God’s Masterpiece. (Psalm 139). Bruce
has been reading Ken Nichols’s book Masterpiece, and learning that “that’s how God sees you
and me.”7 He has been working towards applying the principles discovered in the book into his
everyday life.
The fifth and most crucial goal will be to clarify and begin to execute our collaborative
action plan from session two. Such execution will involve identifying the resources to use, and
the corresponding steps to take.
Chief Aim:
6 Ibid., 7.
7 Ken Nichols, Masterpiece: Seeing Yourself as Gods Work of Art Changes Everything (Lynchburg, VA: Liberty
University Press, 2017), 18.
My chief aim with Bruce will be to clarify and execute the action plan. It is crucial,
though, that I continue to listen until I am confident that he Knows I hear him. It is equally
important to affirm his actions have been based on the principles of the Word of God. I will
remind him of biblical principles, teaching on forgiveness, and that he acted in obedience to
God’s word. As Nichols reminds us in Masterpiece, “no matter the nature of the failure or sin,
nothing is beyond God’s forgiveness and His promise to restore our image into His likeness.”8 As
Charles Allan Kollar states in, Solution-Focused Pastoral Counselling: An Effective Short-Term
Approach for Getting People Back on Track, it will be important that I practice active listening
skills, and fully understand everything Bruce is wrestling with.9
Role/Responsibility:
My role and responsibility with Bruce will be that I continue to be an affirming listener. I
will also help him to build hope that his preferred story and solution can be realized. As a “D”
type, Bruce needs to know that he is moving forward to accomplish his end goals. I must keep
the session moving forward with clear and identifiable goals. The steps to reach those goals may
need to be small for some. However, for Bruce, he is ready and able to jump in and get going.
Although I am a “D” type, and enjoy talking over listening, I will remember to adjust my
relationship skills to that of Bruce, and allow him to speak without interruption. I will bite my
tongue, as so wisely suggested by Petersen. Through listening to understand, I will paraphrase
back to Bruce what he has shared. As Petersen writes, “to understand means for listeners to
become engaged in what talkers are trying to say.”10
8 Nichols, Masterpiece, 15.
9 Charles Allen Kollar, Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling: An Effective Short-term Approach for Getting
People Back on Track (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 93.
10 Petersen, Why Don’t We Listen Better?, 125.
Behavioural Position
Bruce continues to be in a willing position. At his initiative, he has sought my counsel,
and he has voluntarily returned for this session. He took the lead in creating the action plan and
is hopeful and engaged.
Use of Guiding Assumptions:
Having memorized Kollar’s technique of nine guiding assumptions foundational to
solution-focused pastoral counselling, I am aware that Bruce never doubts that God is already
active in his life.11 As followers of Jesus Christ, we both know that God is in control, even when
it does not feel like He is (Deut. 31:8). We are, also, both firm believers that God has
orchestrated our time together, and that God knows what we need, when we need it (Matt. 6:8).
Using another guiding assumption, I am aware that Bruce does not have any complex
problems.12 He is very capable of pressing forward with his family and business life. What he
needs is the assurance that he has acted in a way that pleases God. When I asked Bruce what is
different now, he shared an all too familiar story for “D” type personalities. He was concerned
that he might not have acted wisely and appropriately, as he tends to act first and think later. He
needed a sounding board to help him make sense of what happened, and the decisions he made.
Acting upon a third guiding assumption, I was able to help Bruce confirm that he was the
expert,13 and had made wise decisions and choices. His openness to, and willingness for
instruction and correction, placed him in the perfect position to grow and change. One more
11 Kollar, Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling, 63.
12 Ibid.
13 Ibid., 73.
guiding assumption was that “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”14 The only thing broken in Bruce’s
life was his heart. We prayed together, and I invited him to pray the words of David in Psalm 51.
Supportive Feedback Break
I began the session by asking Bruce, “on a scale of one to ten, what number would you
use to describe how you are feeling today concerning finding peace and assurance in the difficult
choices and decisions you’ve had to make over the last few months?” He indicated he felt he was
at a seven or eight. Bruce is a “D” type, so relapse is highly unlikely. Pushback is a possibility;
however, Bruce has remained in a willing position and is eager to live in and enjoy a new
narrative free of uncertainty and anger. If relapse comes, it will be imperative to return to what
has worked for Bruce up to this point. Using the Quick Reference Guide, I will revisit the
definitions of anger and forgiveness, and walk Bruce through the assessment found in each
corresponding chapter. The use of the “General Questions” in the assessment sections will be
invaluable in helping us determine where and how Bruce is stuck and needs to move forward.
Phase Three Marker
I ask Bruce to confirm whether he is ready and willing to execute the plan we agreed
upon in our last session. He affirmed he is, and I infer he continues to be in a “willing position.”15
He remains eager to seek confirmation and guidance about the difficult choices and decisions he
has had to make due to the accident. He continues to desire that I show him, from God’s word,
the principles of forgiveness and grace. His body language remains engaging, and his mind,
14 Ibid., 82.
15 Ibid., 80.
heart, and arms are all open and ready to receive. He is eager to move forward with his life
despite the loss and grief that at times seems crippling. He willingly participated in creating and
forming an action plan at our last session, and is looking forward to beginning putting the plan
into action. Bruce’s greatest need remains to find assurance and peace. Applying the “common
sense test” to Bruce’s story brings us to an understanding that what we are doing in our sessions
together is working, and that we need to do more of it.16
Clarifying the Action Plan
In our last session, Bruce and I collaborated to create an action plan to guide him to his preferred
story. In this session, we will clarify and begin to execute the following action plan:
Review definitions of anger and forgiveness from the Quick Reference Guide.
Follow the Assessment Interview for anger and forgiveness from the Quick Reference
Guide.
Review Biblical Insights for anger and forgiveness from the Quick Reference Guide.
Review and put into practice Action Steps for both anger and forgiveness from the Quick
Reference Guide.
Choose several verses from the Bible on forgiveness for Bruce to memorize.
Review, and possibly memorize Kollar’s Nine Guiding Assumptions.
Executing the Action Plan
It takes strategy, action, and drive to make a plan a reality, and Bruce, a “D” type
personality, has no shortage of motivation and drive. He is a successful entrepreneur, loving
father, and passionate follower of Jesus Christ. Bruce took the lead in obtaining the best lawyers
16 Ibid., 82.
to bring justice for the wrongs committed against his wife and daughter, and he offered Justin
forgiveness when he believed it was appropriate. Bruce made it clear that he wanted to know
more about forgiveness and anger from God’s perspective. More knowledge will not overwhelm
Bruce; it will assist his healing process. As “D” type, Bruce will respond well to clear and
identifiable steps that are simple to understand, and not overwhelmingly time-consuming or
complicated. We have mutually decided to adopt the following plan and schedule:
In session one, we will begin with visiting definitions for anger and forgiveness as
described in The Quick Reference Guide pages 39 and 123. Our purpose is to understand
them better through Scripture, and gauge how well Bruce is doing through the eyes of
God in both areas of his life.
We will work through the Assessment interview questions found on pages 41 and 124 in
The Quick Reference Guide in session two.
We will move to the Action Steps on pages 43 and 126 of The Quick Reference Guide in
session three.
Bruce wants to dig deeper into the word of God; therefore we will work through the
beneficial resources expanded in the Biblical Insights section for forgiveness and anger in
The Quick Reference Guide. Digging deeper will take us through our fourth session
together.
At my recommendation, Bruce has chosen to memorize 2 Corinthians 10:5-6. We
are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we
are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all
disobedience whenever your obedience is complete. He has also chosen to memorize
Mark 11:26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your father, who is in heaven, forgive
your offences.
Our fifth and final session will be devoted to learning spiritual warfare prayers that Bruce
can use to combat Satan’s attacks.
Food for Thought
If blaming were to present in our session, I would use the following techniques to help
Bruce gain perspective and forward progress:
1. First, understand that a person in the blaming position is a person who “views the
solution as outside of himself, and he does not perceive himself as capable of
achieving a positive outcome.”17 This understanding is essential so that we can
work together to find a solution. Up to the setback, Bruce has been guiding the
sessions, and collaborating on a preferred solution. The power for change is inside
him, so we must return to this practice as soon as possible.
2. Second, revisiting Kollar’s three basic tenets will be an essential step.18
3. Third, I would incorporate a series of questions that will help shift the position
from blaming to willing.19
“What will you have to do to get back on track?”
“What have you learned from getting off track?”
“Even though you got off track, has anything been better?”
“What will you have to do to stay on track?”
“How will you get that to happen?”
17 Ibid., 81.
18 Ibid., 82-84.
19 Ibid., 161.
Bibliography
Carbonell, Mels. How to Sove the People Puzzle: Understanding Personality Patterns. Blue
Ridge, GA: Uniquely You Resources, 2008.
Eriksson, Cynthia. “The Three C’s of Pastoral Counseling” (teaching video), Fuller Seminary,
January 5, 2015, 6.34, youtube.com/watch?v=rBfnKM7xb28.
Kollar, Charles Allen. Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling: An Effective Short-term Approach
for Getting People Back on Track. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011.
Nichols, Ken. Masterpiece: Seeing Yourself as Gods Work of Art Changes Everything.
Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Press, 2017.
Petersen, Jim. Why Don’t We Listen Better?: Communicating & Connecting in Relationships.
Portland, OR: Petersen Publications, 2015.
Rice, Dwight C. “A Case Study on Crossroads: A Story of Forgiveness” (paper prepared to
support the central learning activities in PACO 500 Introduction to Pastoral Counseling at
Liberty University/Department of Community Care and Counseling, Lynchburg, Virginia, 2020).
Soution-Based Short-term Pastoral Counseling (SbStPC) Handout.
Yeagley, Larry. “Pastoral Counseling: The art of referral.”
https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/2002/09/pastoral-counseling-the-art-of-referral.html.
