Christian Spirituality
Defined and Contrasted
Spirituality provides individuals a sense of purpose, set of beliefs, and guiding lifestyle
principles through an intimate, transforming relationship with Christ in a faith community
(Garzon, 2011). A never-changing God provides a secure, stable base. Post-modern
spirituality recognizes changes, does not strive for absolute truth, and emphasizes the
individual’s role in constructing their own truths (Matise et al., 2018). This is a shifting
foundation. Scripture warns about two types of foundations for life (New International
Version (NIV), 2011, Matthew 7:24-25). This difference in spirituality definitions can be
troublesome in counseling.
Secular Therapy-Christian Client Effectiveness
Garzon (2011) shares that less than half of counselors declare themselves as Christian, just
over a third represent a variety of faiths, and the rest being a mixture of agnostics, atheists, or
no faith connection. Research has supported the intertwining spirituality and psychotherapy
for positive client outcomes. Counseling effectiveness can be improved through additional
training in spiritual formation, biblical practices, and Christian spirituality. Seeking guidance
from clergy concerning a client’s faith will enhance counselor effectiveness (Garzon, 2011).
However, Adlerian therapy has several commonalities with Scripture-based spirituality
(Watts, 2000). Both perspectives understand the elements of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
in relationship to human functioning. Adlerian counselors operate from four phases of
