After reading Garzon’s article, Christian Spirituality is defined, to develop and grow
a personal close relationship with Jesus Christ through the relationship one
continues to transform their values, beliefs, sense of purpose and lifestyle. Watts
article states that there are numerous definitions of the term spirituality and that
they are often diverse and conflicting. It was good to read that no longer is
spirituality neglected as a legitimate domain of client inquiry in professional
counseling. Garzon feels that to legitimately contrast the strong religious feeling of
the public and mental health professionals there is a need of a clear definition. He
also expresses the importance of understanding the ethical and empirical support
of inclusion of Christian Spirituality.
According to Watts many conservative Christian perspectives on spirituality are
hesitant to see secular therapists. They are concerned that secular therapists will
not appreciate or consider their faith, neglect religious concerns, and presume that
they share non-religious cultural norms. The teachings of the Bible are
foundational in Christian spirituality.
Christian Spirituality and Individual Psychology are similar that they both are
relational. Individual Psychology is relational psychology and Christian spirituality is
a relational spirituality. I believe that integrating spirituality in counseling is greatly
beneficial to Christian’s clients. It allows the client to feel that their beliefs systems
are being taken into consideration. Both address the importance of monitoring
thoughts, beliefs, and assumptions and both highlight the importance to make
cognitive and behaviors change. Also, it is important to use techniques that are
consistent with the client’s belief system.
b b b b b b b b b b I believe that a secular therapists could give thoughtful attention and
respect a Christian client’s faith and beliefs. If the therapists are themselves a
Christian it makes the understanding of the client’s beliefs easier. Secular
therapies such as Adlerian and Individual Psychology have been more open in
regards to religious and spiritual issues. This is a pleasant change because
historically most systems of psychology have had a neutral or negative positions
towards spirituality.
b b b b b b b b b b The limitations to a secular therapist helping a Christian, who desires
faith-based type counseling is how deep the therapist would be able to go in the
faith. Will the therapists be able to counsel using the Word of God? The secular
therapist may not be able to demonstrate the love of God to the counselor. This
may not result in the therapist not being able to lead people to Christ and unable
to nurture a relationship with God.
b
References
Garzon, Fernando L., "Spirituality in Counseling" (2011). Faculty Publications and
b b b b b b b b b b Presentations. 62. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/ccfs_fac_pubs/62
Watts, Richard. (2000). Biblically-based Christian spirituality and Adlerian therapy.
Journal of b b b b b b
b b b b b b b b b b Individual Psychology. 56. 316-328.
