The Installation of Hope
Thread: You are learning that one of the foundational tenants of pastoral counseling is the
"Instillation of Hope." How important do you feel the instillation of hope is within the
counseling process and what are some ways that you would seek to instill hope in your clients at
the onset of the pastoral counseling relationship?
Importance of Instilling Hope
As a counselor instilling hope in the client is an essential element of the counseling
relationship. Many people coming in for counseling are working through pain or struggles in
their past or present. Some such pain and struggles have been going on for years and the client
does not see a way out. Thus, clients can come to counseling at the brink of giving up hope that
things could get better. Thomas and Sosin (2011) state that pain can cause a client to view the
future with fear and doubt, they need to hear from someone that their future can be better than
their past or present. If a client can believe that there is hope and that their future can be better,
then they will be more motivating to play an active role in achieving life change. The antithesis
of hope results in “a loss of direction and despair” (Thomas and Sosin, 2011, p. 43). If hope can
be instilled in a client than they will have a sense of direction for their future, and change will
occur much quicker.
Ways of Instilling Hope
At the onset of a pastoral relationship with a client it will quickly be evident through
conversation the level of hope or self-defeating (Thomas and Sosin, 2011, p. 43). Thus, from the
beginning it is important that even if the counselee is not ready to believe there is hope that the
counselor discusses the client’s treatment plan with hope focused verbiage/ expectation. This
does not mean making promising that cannot be guaranteed, such as “things will get better”.
Rather, it means the pastoral counselor is talking to the client with a truth perspective. Though
the counselor may choose not use scripture directly, they should remind their client of the truth
concept that the Lord has plans for them for good and not evil, to give them a hope and future
(ESV Jeremiah 29:11).
Additionally, we know that sin has entered into the world causing pain and struggles within
ourselves “knowing the good we ought to do” (Romans 7) but struggling to do so. Thus, it is
important clients know we were not made to suffer and try to get better/ do better alone. God has
given us the body of Christ and the power of His resurrection, defeating sin and death, to draw
upon. God is our ever-present help in times of need (ESV Psalm 41:6). “God radically changes
our potentiality at the core of our being” (Issler, 2012 p. 30). Through Christ our natural sinful
operating system is changed, and we gain the ability to function at optimum levels (Issler, 2012).
One way to foster hope and help show the client their ability to make change early on, is through
giving them a very small assignment they can succeeded in. This will allow the client to see that
things can change, and they will be able to take on progressively bigger areas they want to see
change in (Thomas and Sosin, 2011, p. 44). Thus, in relating with a client providing does not
mean the counselor brushes over the client’s affliction, but rather they remind the client that they
are momentary and that as believers there is an imperishable hope that is to come that cannot be
destroyed.
Thomas, J.C., & Sosin, L. (2011). Therapeutic expedition: Equipping the Christian counselor for
journey.Nashville, TN: B& H Academy.
Issler, K. D. (2012). Living Into the Life of Jesus: The Formation of Christian Character.
Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books.
How Important Do You Feel the Instillation of Hope is within the Counseling Process”?
A considerable number of people that present for counseling sessions are in the state of
despair (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, p. 13). In recognition of the above statement, the Scripture
posits that “…darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people” (Isa 60:2, KJV).
Consequent upon the gross darkness which is due to sin, people will begin to wallow about in
utter dismay coupled with the sense of hopelessness. Becker (1973) opines that because of the
height of despair some would adopt escapism mechanism. The above involves a scenario where
the modern people would drink, indulge in illegal sex, use pain medication and so forth as an
effort to numb their sorrows. However, the above activities of men indicate the longing for the
infilling of vacuum in their hearts; God alone is the One who can fill those vacuum (Hawkins &
Clinton, p. 14). Thus, it becomes imperative for the counselor to foster hope in his counseling
process (Thomas & Sosin, 2015, p. 43).
Ways to Instill Hope in My Client(s)
To instill hope in the counselee, as the counselor Michael will take the following steps:
Point the counselee to the higher supernatural power (God) and make such one understands that
He (God) can perform the miraculous. Directing the client to the supernatural ability of God is
dependent on whether the counselee is a person of faith – is the counselee’s worldview in
congruence with the existence of the living God? If the counselee believes in God and His Son
Jesus Christ, then it will be easy to remind such one of the miraculous deeds of God in the
Scripture, thus instilling hope to the counselee by informing such one that nothing is impossible
with God (Luke 1:37, KJV).
Secondly, Michael will endeavor to foster hope in the counselee by being respectful as
well as being bodily present to the counselee via “attending” counseling technique (Thomas &
Sosin, p. 139). Attending skill implies positioning one’s body to pay attention to the counselee, to
enhance open dialogue (Bolton, 1979). The open discussion can further create rapport between
the counselor and the counselee thus, builds trust. God demonstrated attending skill to man when
Adam and Eve disobeyed Him by eating the forbidden fruit. Instead of summoning Adam and
Eve to Himself, the Scripture opines that God made available His presence to them at their time
of need (Gen 3, KJV). Moreover, the world was in darkness due to sin and lacks direction. God
attended to the world by sending His only Son to pay the ultimate price for the sins of the world
(John 3:16, KJV).
References
Becker, E. (1973). . New York, NY: Free PressThe denial of death
Bolton, R. (1979). People Skills: How to assert yourself, listen to others and resolve conflicts.
New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.
Hawkins, R., & Clinton, T. (2015). The new Christian counselor: A fresh biblical &
transformational approach. Eugene, OR: Harvest House.
Thomas, J.C., & Sosin, L. (2011). Therapeutic expedition: Equipping the Christian counselor
for journey. Nashville, TN: B& H Academy.
