Download - Intro to counseling note 1
Class Notes #1Rev. Michael Prince MA.WIST Introduction to Counseling © 2013
Counseling is a science and an art . It is a science because it applies techniques and procedures that are utilized in helping a person to understand their situations and employ the most adequate solutions for problem solving and life change; it is an art because it allows the therapist to use unique or own personality and experiences in assisting the client.
Counseling denotes a professional relationship between a trained counselor and a client…to understand and clarify their views of their life space…and through resolution of problems of and emotional or interpersonal nature (George, Cristiani p. 2) Counseling refers to the application of mental health, psychological or human development principles, through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systematic intervention (Gladding p. 6)
Counseling attempts to provide encouragement and guidance for those who are facing losses, decisions, or disappointments…stimulate personality growth and development; help people cope more effectively with the problems of living, with inner conflict and with crippling emotions… (Collins 1988, p.16)
Christian Counseling may be defined as an art and a science of applying Biblical principles to treat clients’ issues with the use of all the rudiments of professional counseling. Class Definition (2010)
Christian counseling draws upon psychology and Christian teaching. It is an effort to combine professional counseling with Christian or other religious perspectives or approaches: “integration.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_counseling)
Christian Counseling may be defined as an art and a science of applying Biblical principles to treat clients’ issues with the use of all the rudiments of professional counseling.
Sin is the primary focus of mankind’s dysfunction (Rom 5:12-14)Salvation, and transformation through counseling from the gospel is the primary solution.Scripture is authoritative and necessary for Christian counseling because it is God’s soul care guidebook
Triune God
Self Others
A Four-Dimensional Relational Model
Material Universe
Spiritual
Ethical
Psychosocial
Biological
{
Soul
Body/Brain Biological
Psychosocial
Ethical
Spiritual
Unique Assumptions – Sin is the primary cause (fall of man) of man’s deprived state and that restoration/forgiveness of God through salvation and transformation will make man ‘totally whole’.
Unique Goals – To stimulate spiritual growth by encouraging confession of sin, experience divine forgiveness and commit lives to Jesus Christ.
Unique Methods – The application of prayer and faith in God are cornerstones of pastoral counseling.
Unique Counselor-Characteristics – Demonstrate personal reliance upon the same factors of salvation, transformation and a relationship with God.
Unique Giftedness – As believers we demonstrate the characteristics of God and equipped by God.
Collins p. 19-20
Psychology Focus on the mind Describe human
experiences and behaviors
Applies Logic Understand the
structure of being
Spirituality•Focus on God•Describes the
source of man•Applies Faith•Understand the
meaning (source) of being
Psychology can not deduce the meaning or morality of life while Theology/Spirituality is not equip to explore
the dynamics of personality.
Is the process of helping people make important choices that affect their lives. …(Gladding p.5)
Focuses on serious problems associated with intra-psychic, internal, personal issues/conflict (p.6)
The science that systematically studies behavior and experiences
The service of assisting clients to manage their problems in living more effectively
The ability to stimulate a person to operate or behave in a selected way
Operate as an agent between the client and their personal issue
The systematic process of training and assimilation in order to confront issues
An authoritative entity that determines how a dispute is settled or apportioned
Guidance focuses on helping individuals choose what they value most.
Counseling focuses on helping individuals make changes.
Psychotherapy focuses on causing change
Counseling focuses on assisting the person to change
They have different clients› Psychotherapist – deals with neurosis
(mental dysfunctions)› Counselor – deals with persons with poor
coping and decision making skills.
Psychology focuses on observing behavior
Counseling focuses on behavior change Psychology is non-engaging Counseling is interactive and intimate Psychology focuses on the pattern of
behavior Counseling focuses on the
reasons/sources of behavior
Helping may bare the closes resemblance or comparison to counseling
Helping is the process of assisting someone in an informal and non-technical/scientific manner
Counseling provides a support system and provides technical/scientific skills
Persons will seek help based on the competence of the person they seek out to help them
Counseling is done by someone who is trained
Motivation stimulates a person through external influence and reward
Counseling focuses on empowering the person to effect life change
Intervention is initiated by others Counseling is initiated by the person;
even if there is external motivation Intervention uses external pressures to
stimulate emotions to effect change Counseling uses personal/internal
reflection and reasoning to effect change
Coaching provides premeditated or rehearsed action for future events
Counseling addresses coping skills for present daily living
Coaching is a form of education that assist in anticipating probable future circumstances
Counseling educates persons in basis skills
Mediation involves a third-party making decisions
Counseling requires the client to reach to a point of making decisions
Mediation focuses on present issue only
Counseling focuses on present issue and provide coping skills for the future
The actions of people are as a result of basic desires and needs.
Basic Needs› Love› Acceptance/Belonging › Companionship/Support› Identity and Direction (who am I?)
If needs are not fulfilled people become dysfunctional .
A dysfunction is the level of distress or impaired functioning experienced by the individual…from which the atypical behavior displayed varies from the culturally expected norm. (http://healthmad.com/mental-health/variance-in-psychological-dysfunction/)
Low Self-Esteem Poor Judgment Skills Dependency Mistrust/Rejection Isolation Anxiety/Double Mindedness
Anger Suspicion Resentment Loneliness Frustration Depressed
S.A.L.T. stands for stressed, angry, lonely, and tired/ threatened
The effect of an issue/problem on a person’s life:• View of Self• Choices• Response to situations• View of Others• Expectations• Relationships• Functioning• Health
Public (Superficial) Self
Private (Hidden) Self
Extravert (Open)
More is revealed than hidden
Introvert (Closed)
More is hidden than revealed
Positive Motives• Is adjusted (have an
identity)– copes with personal issues
• Respect and appreciate self• Objective (Open to Change)
– ability to be open minded• Makes life oriented chooses• Can admit to mistakes • Appreciate the influence of
culture• Sincere interest in other• Effective interpersonal skills
Negative Motives• Emotional
distress/displacement – unresolved issues, and using someone else's problems to over shadow own.
• Vicarious Coping – Live their lives through others
• Filling Void of Loneliness – a since of feeling important to others
• Desire Power – Ability to control others
• Need to Rescue – The counselor places self as the rescuer (personal healing)
Goals of CounselingGoals of Counseling• Facilitating Behavior Change• Improve ability to develop healthy relationships
• Enhance coping skills• Promote/ Improve decision making skills
• Facilitating overall development of the client
• Clients to develop a Christian/moral base (salvation and transformation)
Remedial› Functional Impairment
Preventive› Anticipate and Accommodate
Enhancement› Human Potential
What Counseling is Not!
≠It is not about giving advice≠It is not about the coercion of people into your way of thinking≠It is not about working out someone’s problem for them≠It is not telling the client what to do≠Not criticizing the client
What Counseling Is!
Providing a support base for peopleIt focuses on the needs of the clientProvides realistic tools that can be used by the client
Caught = the condition (sinfulness) Restore = the mission (heart
transformed) Gently = the attitude/character (do no
harm) Watch = the protection (watch self &
ministry); see also I Tim. 4:16 Carry = daily goal (help bear burdens
in personal relationships with people)
The PREACH principle for development: − Physical − Resources − Emotional − Action − Conceptual − Historical
• Marriage Counseling• Family Counseling• Career Counseling• Financial Counseling• Grief Counseling• Substance Abuse
Counseling• Rehabilitative
(behavioral) Counseling
• Mental Health Counseling
Psychoanalytic TherapyAdlerian TherapyExistential TherapyPerson-centered
TherapyGestalt TherapyBehavioral TherapyCognitive Behavioral Reality Therapy
•HIV/STI Counseling•Pastoral Counseling
Survey conducted among pastors:
In the Church(Counselor: Pastor)
In an Agency(Counselor: Professional)
The counselor may only be trained within a Biblical context, which will be used in guiding the counseling process.
Most persons who are counseled by this person are members of the church/constituency.
Church counselors generally have personal contact with persons before the initiation of counseling.
Persons gravitate towards the church counselor because of relationship.
The counselor has received formal training in understanding behavior and approaches to counseling.
There is no defined demographic (grouping) that comes for counseling at the agency.
Agency counselors do not have any previous contact with clients before counseling.
People gravitate towards the agency counselor because of reputation.
In the Church(Counselor: Pastor)
In an Agency(Counselor: Professional)
The church counselor may have the ability to enhance the story of the client from sources outside the counseling relationship.
The church counselor generally has direct contact with persons close to the person coming for counseling.
The church counselor may be engaged in counseling persons close or related to the person.
Church counseling is used to guide a person morally/spiritually.
The agency counselor relies totally upon the story of the client during the counseling relationship.
The agency counselor does not have any contact with persons close to the client; except by consent.
The agency counselor can not cross reference independent counseling relationships; except for couples, family and group counseling.
Agency counseling is used to explore choices.
Gladding, S. (2004) Counseling A Comprehensive
Profession (5th ed.) Ohio George, R., Christiani, T. (1995) Counseling
Theory and Practice (4th ed.) Boston
Collins, G. (2007) Christian Counseling (3rd ed.) Nashville