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ARTICLE REVIEW: USE OF SCRIPTURE IN THERAPY
Article Review: Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Ronald Shrewsbury
School of Psychology, Liberty University
Author Note
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
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ARTICLE REVIEW: USE OF SCRIPTURE IN THERAPY
Summary
In this study “Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy” by Siang-
Yang Tan. This study expands the ethical ways scripture should be used in a therapy setting (Tan,
2007). It gives the expansion on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and how it now includes
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical
Behavior Therapy. The research goes into depth how all these types of treatments can be
integrated with a Biblical approach (Tan, 2007).
Within the article there is a mention of study on how 241 people with depressive disorder
that are doing cognitive therapy had the same benefits as someone doing antidepressants (Tan,
2007). The article goes on to express how to express how will Biblical principles are used
cognitive behavioral therapy it can eliminate the need of antidepressants. The author states in his
research how he has used this practice for 25 years (Tan, 2007).
Siang-Yang Tan then goes into details and steps of how to use prayer and biblical
scripture in counseling in an ethical way. Creating a strong relationship and empathy with the
client so that they understand their information is private (Tan, 2007). Find a link between their
past and possible Biblical or spiritual background that can be used in the healing process. Inner
healing can be found within spirituality and prayer that can help overcome past trauma (Tan,
2007). The use of community resources was a point that was mad by the author so that these
principles and teachings can be backed up by more than just the counselor. These community
resources can be a pastor, family, friend, or spiritual leader this person is just to give extra
support in the healing process (Tan, 2007).
Within the research there is an example of a therapist talking with a client on how to use
the Bible to reconstruct her unbiblical thinking. The client discusses how she believes that anger
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ARTICLE REVIEW: USE OF SCRIPTURE IN THERAPY
is wrong and is a sinful act (Tan, 2007). The client describes the guilt that she feels after getting
angry with her farther for not showing her affection. The therapist tells the client that there is a
type of anger that is not sinful as Jesus and God get angry (Tan, 2007). People can be angry, but
people should not sin in their anger. To finish the conversation the therapist applies scripture
from Eph chapter and four to help his client block out the feeling that come from anger.
Reflect
My first initial thought of the article after reading it was scripture and Cognitive-
Behavioral Therapy kind of similar aspects that can build off one another. As the goal of the
therapy is to find the root of the problem which is usually something in a client’s past and bring
it to surface. One of the key steps when using prayer and scripture is find a source of spirituality
in a client past and help them use that to find a solution. All these steps can be correlated to help
and individual grow in Christ while recovering from their traumatic experience.
The study gave insight on tips and stages to go through with a client to work into
Biblically integrated therapy style. The best insight that I found in the research was through the
therapist’s discussion with a client on how God views sins and how this can be explained to a
client. As many clients will believe that they are doing something wrong in the eyes of God, but
they are just misinterpreting the Bible (Tan, 2007). As the example that was given was the client
getting angry with her farther and she thought it was a sin to get angry. This can be redirect back
to other scripture to give a client a better understanding that anger is not a sin.
The reason this article was interesting to me is because there is a lot of power in prayer
and scripture that can be used to benefit this field of work. There are beliefs that spirituality and
professional settings should not be mixed. In this study there many points and values gathered to
why these two aspects of life can benefit one another. This is where it is important to discuss why
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ARTICLE REVIEW: USE OF SCRIPTURE IN THERAPY
the professional needs to lead by example and show what God has done in their life. Which is a
point that is made in the checklist by the author.
Something that could expand and help people implement this into their practice is more
examples of scripture that relate to a therapy setting. Even though this may be tough as not all
client’s situations are the same. Another aspect that should have been included in this research
was how prayer is used.
Apply
The topic that I have chosen for the application section is at a detox center and the client
is coming in with a substance abuse issue. This client has this issue for several years and has
been to many centers for help that have all failed to keep the individual sober. The client has a
heavy family history of substance but had a grandmother who would take her to church to keep
her away from the rest of the family issues. This history eventually caught up to her and she
began to drink heavily and abuse prescription pills.
The first with this client is to develop a level of trust with this individual and find what
triggered her to start her abuse of alcohol and medications (Tan, 2007). After the client has begun
to feel comfortable with me, I was able to find out the five years ago she lost her job and house.
She was homeless and felt she had no one to turn to so she began to drink to feel better. When
alcohol wasn’t enough, she would ways to buy prescription pills. She began to discuss her
religious background with and how she would attend church with grandmother.
This gave me the opening to discuss what God could do for her and how the scripture
could help change her life. She said that since she lost everything that God hated her, and she ran
from him and was unable to find comfort in him. I would go on to tell her that God tests
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ARTICLE REVIEW: USE OF SCRIPTURE IN THERAPY
everyone in the world whether these tests are small or big we must look to him for guidance. As
God tested his only son by sending him to the cross to die for us.
This would hopefully lead to me being able to find community supports for her such as
housing, church group, and an AA/NA group to help stay sober. Giving her extra support so that
she knows she is not alone in this battle.
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ARTICLE REVIEW: USE OF SCRIPTURE IN THERAPY
Reference
Tan, S. (2007). Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Journal of
Psychology and Christianity, 26(2), 101-111.
https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-
journals/use-prayer-scripture-cognitive-behavioral-therapy/docview/237253648/se-2
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