In the counseling domain, it is quite natural to come across people who
have committed sins in their lives. While confronting sin, two important
factors must be taken into consideration. The first factor is the level of
trust that is shared between the counselee and the counselor. The next
important factor is the willingness of the counselee. If the counselee is in
a willing position, instead of being in an attending or blaming position, the
possibility of confrontational effectiveness increases considerably.
In case there exists proper trust as well as willingness between the two
individuals in the counseling setting, the available confrontation options
increases. For instance, it is possible to conduct an inquiry and get an in-
depth idea into the situation. Similarly, it is also possible to ponder about
the situation. Such a form of confrontation might be effective as long as
the counselor does not try to manipulate in any manner[1]. Such a
technique works by disarming the client while facilitating the exploration
or discovery process. Another useful confrontation technique that might
be valuable in the counseling context is cognitive therapy. It is considered
to be useful, especially for the counselee, as it helps in visualizing the
outcome by asking questions such as ‘Then What?’ Another key form of
confrontation is silence. However, this method might lead to some kind of
discomfort for the client. On the other hand, it can enable the counselor to
refrain from encouraging sinful behavior. Direct censure is another mode
of confrontation that can be used to deal with sin in counseling setting[2].
Such a technique might be highly effective when there exists a high level
of trust between the counselee and the counselor. But in order to ensure
that this technique works effectively, high emphasis must be given to
laying down the laws as it could give rise to ‘sinful passion’ in
counselee[3]. The empathetic confrontation technique is considered to be
highly impactful while dealing with sin in the counseling backdrop. It
basically serves as holding a mirror in front of a counselee so that he can
discover the truth himself and understand the fact that he has committed
a sin. This confrontation serves a dual purpose as the counselor is able to
be truthful to the counselee and guides him in the truth discovery process.
The method that I would choose for confronting a counselee who has
sinned is the empathetic confrontation technique[4]. By adopting this
method, I would make a sincere attempt to address maladaptive coping
modes as well as associated behavior in the clients. It would empower the
client to understand the situation and identify the sins that have been
committed. It would help me to combine psychology with theology so that
integrated assistance could be offered to counselees. I would not use the
silence confrontation technique while engaging with counselees as it could
act as a pathway for miscommunication. It might restrict the ability to
effectively interact with a client who is in need of help to understand the
sins that he has committed.
Bibliography
Kollar, Charles Allen.5Solution-focused pastoral counseling: an effective
short-term approach for getting people back on track. Zondervan, 2010.
Entwistle, David N.5Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity:
An introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and
models of integration. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2015.
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[1]5Entwistle, David N.5Integrative approaches to psychology and
Christianity: An introduction to worldview issues, philosophical
foundations, and models of integration. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2015.
[2]5Kollar, Charles Allen.5Solution-focused pastoral counseling: an effective
short-term approach for getting people back on track. Zondervan, 2010.
[3]5Ibid
[4]5Kollar, Charles Allen.5Solution-focused pastoral counseling: an effective
short-term approach for getting people back on track. Zondervan, 2010.
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