Running Head: PERSONAL THEORY PAPER 1
PERSONAL THEORY PAPER
A Paper
Presented to Dr. Marcus Tanner
Liberty University
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for
THEOLOGY/SPIRITUALITY IN COUNSELING
PACO-507
By
Harold Hanson
December 12, 2021
PERSONAL THEORY PAPER 2
I Introduction
In the prevailing society, people come across several situations that for them to
compromise their faith. In the 21st century, the level of uncertainty has increased considerably
due to various changes that have been taking place. When people face uncertainty and adversity,
they may feel scared and hurt. During such trying times, they may simply need a voice that can
assure them and give them hope that peace will prevail. Every single time a Christian moves a
step backward and makes a compromise to his faith, a voice of unrest arises within him. At
present, it has become imperative for biblical counselors to play a proactive role and extend help
to individuals so that their vision can expand beyond their temporal possessions and they can
move closer towards a spiritual dimension. A total of three books have been covered as a part of
the PACO 507 course. Each of these books has served as an important resource that has offered
unique points of view relating to biblical counseling (Benner, 2015). The first book is titled
‘Effective Biblical Counseling: A Model for Helping Caring Christians Become Capable
Counselors’, and it is written by author Larry Crabb (Crabb, 1977). In the book, he has
advocated Christian maturity as it can enable a believer to have an enriched experience relating
to worship. Furthermore, a sincere believer can also lead a more efficacious life of service. The
next book that has been covered in the course is titled ‘The Biblical Counseling Movement:
History and Context’ by author David Powlison. In the book, the main emphasis has been laid on
Jay Adams’ theoretical framework and approach relating to nouthetic counseling (Powlison,
2010). The final book that has been covered is by author Sandra Wilson, and it is titled ‘Hurt
People Hurt People.’ She has presented her personal counseling methodology (Ren et al., 2018).
She has argued that individuals who have been hurt by others may be healed through their trust
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in Jesus Christ. In this Personal Theory Paper, I have critically examined diverse methodologies
relating to the effective integration of psychology and theology.
Primary Goal
Spiritual counseling refers to the process of being motivated to extend help and support to
individuals so that they can find a way of reaching the place where God intends them to reach.
One of the integral aspects of the process is to comprehend that many individuals need spiritual
counseling even though there arise objections relating to the unification of Christianity and
psychology. The text from each of the books has been compared to gain a deeper insight into the
topic. A key element that has been highlighted is that all three authors have laid a significant
level of emphasis on common kinds of issues that affect mankind. For instance, Crabb has
mainly focused on counseling theory, and its ultimate aim is to promote spiritual and
psychological maturity in individuals. So, according to the author, counselors are likely to
become more mature only by establishing long-term character growth. It serves as the pathway
which helps them to be connected with Jesus Christ. In the theoretical model, the author has
highlighted that the spiritual element of maturity is linked to an individual’s growth because he
directly deals with his issues by referring to biblical resources.
Powlison, in his book, has shared ideas that mirror the ideologies and views of Crabb in
many ways. This is because he has focused on spirituality and psychology. However, the author
has laid high emphasis on the theory of nouthetic counseling by Adams. In the counseling
approach, Bible acts as the key component that is utilized by Christian counselors to establish
counseling on the pastoral foundation. According to the author, in nouthetic counseling, Bible
acts as the fundamental statute for faith as well as development. In the work, Powlison has given
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a basic insight into counseling by using examples of how individuals can benefit by establishing
a relationship with the Almighty.
Wilson, in her work, has shared her views on several aspects such as problem
development, the possibility for change, personality development, biblical scholarship, the
contribution of counseling, and its functions. The intention of the author is to strike a balance
between theology and spirituality within the context of counseling function as well as personality
development. In the book, she has further elaborated how emotional and spiritual damage can
lead to long-term scars in individuals. At the comprehensive level, all three authors have
presented a diverse range of strategies relating to scriptures, and each of the perspectives is
valuable as they can empower individuals to lead a fulfilling life.
Development of problems and personal need
In the current world, one comes across many views and suggestions relating to why
people suffer from several problems in their life. But from the biblical point of view, all issues
that human beings encounter in their life come from a single source, i.e., a place of sin and
selfishness. Crabb has identified diverse sources of sins, such as encountering hurtful situations
during childhood and adulthood, facing crisis and traumatic events (Powlison, 2010). In several
scriptures of the Bible, sin has been defined, which helps the readers to gain an in-depth insight
into what it is. The Hebrew and Greek words that have translated sin by using the Bible revolves
around two distinctive concepts. The first concept relates to transgression, which means to go
beyond a certain limit. A majority of the other words that have translated ‘sin’ have followed the
second concept, i.e., ‘to miss the mark.’ 1 John 3:4 has presented the most fundamental
definition of sin. He has stated, ‘whosoever committeh sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is
the transgression of the law.’ It implies that God has defined a boundary that mankind must
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follow while leading life. He has said that sin is committed when an individual transgresses His
holy spiritual law. When a person breaks the law, he crosses the divine boundary that has been
set by the Almighty, and thus he ultimately commits sin. Crabb, unlike many counselors,
believes that when the importance and security of a person are threatened, it gives rise to a wrong
idea within him and the main root of the issue is wrong thinking. The wrong thinking of an
individual needs to be amended so that he can become aware of his true personal value. In Prov.
23:7, it has been stated, ‘As a man thinketh in his hear, so is he’ which implies that thinking
shapes a man. The core message that Crabb has presented is solid as he has argued that when the
basic needs of human beings are not fulfilled, people will be driven to meet their personal needs.
While building upon Crabb’s ideas, it is necessary to consider Powlison’s perspective as well. He
has insisted that sin acts as the chief instigator relating to human improvement issues. So, the
presence of God must be treated as the ultimate solution by mankind. Both the theories must be
considered to be the foundation of the problem and personal need in the prevailing times (Ren et
al., 2018).
Biblical integration
When a person decides to follow Jesus Christ throughout his entire life, Bible can serve
as the ultimate element that can lead to spiritual wellness. This aspect must be taken into
consideration, and a biblical counselor must make sure to integrate scripture as an indispensable
instrument in his counseling sessions. It can serve as a valuable and effective tool of counseling
that can help the counselees to get closer to Christ. The Christian outlook on science was not
monolithic, and its outlook is similar to the rise of psychotherapy as well. Adams had the firm
belief that God played a dominating role within the human personality. The people who were
forgiven would also get help and support from the Holy Spirit to alter their thinking, behavior,
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and feeling. He supported a mixed or integrated strategy for counseling in which the counseling
technique can act as the pathway and help to arrive at the correct outcome by focusing on the
Biblical message. Biblical integration is instrumental to fulfilling the needs of the counselee, and
it can lead to effective pastoral counseling. The three distinct levels of counseling that are
available to most Christians are ‘Encouragement,’ ‘Exhortation,’ and ‘Enlightenment.’ Almost
each and every Christian can be encouraged at a certain level on a daily basis. The Christians
who have a higher level of maturity may be trained at the exhortation level (Benner, 2015). A
few of them may even rise to the level of the spiritual walk, where there will be the possibility of
being trained at the enlightenment level. It can enable them to effectively manage stubborn,
complex, and deeper issues.
Formula for change
Change is the only thing that is constant. It is necessary for individuals to accept the fact
that change is inevitable. In the counseling context, the acknowledgment of this fact is vital for
successfully progressing towards the counseling mission. A person will be able to effectively
move in the path of transformation and become the best version of himself by recognizing that he
is the creation of the Almighty. It is necessary for an individual to go to the point of origin to
understand where certain beliefs and behavior come from. The insight can be extremely valuable
as it can help in the learning process and aid in developing new beliefs and behaviors that are
rooted in the relationship with the Almighty (Benner, 2015). In the counseling context, the
counselor must use his role in such a way that can help the counselee to identify the need for
change in him. Several methods can be adopted to bring about change. Jay Adams has laid
emphasis on the confrontational approach, and he believes that it is the only real biblical model
that offers the core concept of Christian counseling. However, Crabb does not agree with his
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views. According to him, the method is not viable because it falls short of optimally utilizing all
the possible ways for achieving Christian maturity, which serves as the ultimate goal of biblical
counseling.
Balance of theology and spirituality
It is possible to find a gap between an individual’s comprehension of spirituality and
theology. The manner in which he acts can be derived from his knowledge of who God is to him.
Both theology and psychology require a certain degree of independence. However, both cannot
be separated from one another. The ultimate goal of Christian counseling is to promote and
stimulate Christian maturity and growth. A person who serves as a Christian counselor must
make sure to promote such growth and maturity by sharing the biblical point of view with others.
Crabb has prompted the perspective (Benner, 2015). A biblical perspective is of paramount
importance as it sets forth only two basic directions to lead a life, i.e., for self or for God.
Balance s established between these two elements by using the scripture to speak the truth. Such
an approach displays that a counselor has Christian knowledge, and he is able to disseminate the
love of God. It reflects that a person has complete trust in the Almighty.
Human Personality
Humankind, by nature, is an imperfect creation of God. They are sinful creatures who
need redemption. It is possible for human beings to transform themselves by making use of their
personal relationship with Christ. Only by establishing a sincere and selfless bond with Jesus, the
option of redemption become available for them. There exist defects and flaws in them until the
point they have gained ample experience and established a solid relationship with Jesus. The
association with Him is the ultimate way to change the circumstances. In Christian spirituality,
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individuals need to completely surrender themselves to Christ as it serves as the one and only
path of Christ.
Functions and Role of Counselor
The interaction between a counselor and a counselee must be built on the foundation of
integrity, trust, and openness. It is essential that both individuals must be able to navigate
through the counseling relationship in an effective way. Similarly, both of them need to share the
feeling that the relationship is a safe haven (Benner, 2015). A counselor must make sure to
provide continuous and encouraging feedback to the counselee throughout the counseling
relationship. In such an environment, the counselee can develop feelings of optimism, hope, and
affirmation. The counseling of a counselee must not occur in the absence of the word of the
Almighty. It is highlighted in the Bible that scripture must be used as a key instrument to share
the message of God. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV), ‘All Scripture is breathed out by
God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that
the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.’
Major contribution to the counseling
The topics relating to spiritual and secular counseling have given rise to a lot of debates
relating to the definition of spirituality. Such a form of counseling may have a significant
implication in individuals as it has the potential to pull them towards Christian doctrine as well
as faith. The greater impact may also be felt when people are driven to adopt a more open
approach and extend help to others. This counseling is of high value as it can serve as the
pathway and ensure that individuals are willing to help others, both inside and outside of the
Christian faith, by showcasing love, understanding, and compassion.
Limitations of counseling theory
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There exist a number of limitations in the specific kind of counseling. In the vast domain
of counseling, psychological principles play an integral role. Some individuals may have the
view that psychology in the absence of spirituality can produce the best form of counseling. The
hostile attitude of some Christians towards the area of psychology is a serious issue that has
existed for a long time. For instance, during the outset of the 20th century, the practice of
psychoanalysis was considered to be a moral sin according to Catholic beliefs.
Classification
In my model of counseling, I will try to strike a balance between different elements so
that both counselors and counselees can be benefited. I will try to attain balance by ensuring that
Christian Spirituality along with the integration methods of counseling coexists by respecting the
biblical counseling movement. I will focus on integrating theology with psychology so that value
can be created at the comprehensive level throughout the counseling session for individuals.
II Practical Application
Integration of counseling model with other models
While assessing the issues of counselees, emphasis must be laid on philosophical truth
while coordinating theology and psychology. By focusing on philosophical truth, it will be
possible to use the counseling capacity to carry out a broad range of activities and reach the
desired end results, i.e., to achieve a healthy balance between the two components. Both of them
can play an instrumental role in designing an ideal treatment plan for a counselee. While
behaviorists can lay emphasis on the reduction of the symptoms, the psychoanalysts can focus on
aspects such as ego strength. Similarly, Christian counselors are the individuals who are
concerned about the spiritual growth, maturity, and mental health of counselees (Ren et al.,
2018). While designing a suitable course of a treatment plan for a counselee, it is extremely
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important for a counselor to give special attention to minute details relating to the transformation
path. Such an approach is necessary so that holistic support and assistance can be extended to
counselees, and they can derive value from the counseling session (McMinn, 2012). The role of
a biblical counselor is extremely important because he carries out his functions in the counseling
landscape to help the client establish a relationship with the Almighty. Similarly, it is also a
fundamental necessity to strike a balance and understand when it is time to refer the counselee to
some other counselor if his situation is beyond the expertise of a particular counselor.
Particular area of counseling and its effectiveness
The main proof that can help to see the precision and adequacy of a theoretical model is
the ‘transformed life of an individual.’ The fundamental objective of a counseling session is to
transform the life of a counselee for the better. When a counselee decides to join a counseling
session, he is generally troubled and distressed. The counselor must have the capability to see the
underlying emotions that a counselee might be feeling. The proper focus on such aspects must be
given so that suitable counseling techniques and methods can be implemented to extend valuable
help to the troubled person. When a troubled client comes to a counselor, the counseling session
might move towards one of the many paths, depending on the theoretical beliefs and models that
the counselor lays emphasis upon. Other important factors might also come into play and
influence the path of the counseling session, such as the nature of the association with the
counselee, the level of trust, etc. (McMinn, 2012). The ultimate intention of counselors is to
change the lives of people for the better. It can help to accomplish the goals of their ministry.
When thinking about influential individuals, people typically think of the ones that have brought
about a change in their life in one form or another. Counselors play an important role to play an
influential role in the lives of others. By combining their knowledge and insight relating to
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counseling and combining elements relating to psychology and theology, they can help people to
move towards the path of Jesus Christ. In current times, when individuals face a host of issues in
their personal as well as professional lives, counselors can combine theology and psychology
together to offer counseling at an integrated level. Such an approach can be of high value as it
can empower counselees to identify the need for change and move towards the intended path.
The integration of biblical principles can play a critical role in the counseling domain as it can
help people to understand the importance of Jesus Christ in their lives. It can act as the pathway
and make sure that counseling is used to bring about a positive and lasting change in the lives of
people.
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References
Benner, D. G. (2015).ESurrender to love: Discovering the heart of Christian spirituality.
InterVarsity Press.
Crabb, L. (1977).EEffective biblical counseling: A model for helping caring Christians become
capable counselors. Zondervan.
McMinn, M. R. (2012).EPsychology, theology, and spirituality in Christian counseling. Tyndale
House Publishers, Inc..
Powlison, D. (2010). The biblical counseling movement.EGreensboro, NC: New GrowthPress.
Ren, D., Wesselmann, E. D., & Williams, K. D. (2018). Hurt people hurt people: Ostracism and
aggression.ECurrent Opinion in Psychology,E19, 34-38.
