Book Review: Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling

Book Review: Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling

Summary

This paper will elucidate upon the content of a book named as, “Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling” by Mark McMinn. In this book, the author started by formulating a strong argument for the Christian world view in a psychoanalytic arrangement; whereas, the notion presented in the book has clearly communicated that “this is a book for those wanting to investigate the frontier of intra-disciplinary integration” (McMinn, 2011, p.9). In this discourse, the author discussed basic viewpoints and spiritual discussions as for integration and, in addition to, the disputes dealt by counselors of the Christian society. Not just are biblical and religious institutions are keys to the success of intra-disciplinary incorporation, but an individual's divine control also plays an important part in signifying; how perfectly the integration gets done.

In the wake of establishing the framework, McMinn (2011) took route through philosophical subjects applicable to intra-disciplinary incorporation, starting with the supplication to God. The author has elucidated that the supplication to God and spiritual control are essential for mental and eternal health. Nevertheless, various scholars are not adequately taught in philosophy, nor do they have the essential religious knowledge in order to incorporate religion into therapy. Together with these issues are ethical situations that a person experiences, when spirituality is performed over a client, in the form of therapy, and the actual intention of the counselor when performing prayer in the Church.

The author offered several models for incorporating spirituality into counseling; however with each model there comes an increased risk of misuse by those improperly trained counselors. Along with the use of prayer, there is also the use of religious text in counseling. Religious text is principally another tool that can be misused in counseling.

The author offered some models for integrating supplication to God into counseling; however, with every model there is excessive risk of abuse by those inadequately qualified counselors. In addition to the utilization of the supplication to God, comes the utilization of religious text in therapy. Religious text is one of the instruments that could be abused in therapy. For counselor, the most essential things are the tactic and hypothesis chosen. For the Christian counselor, the hypothesis taken must be in agreement with what religious text educates (McMinn, 2011). The counselor should examine whether the practices put under consideration are directly related to religious text, obscure, unarguable, or conflicting.

McMinn rationally progress all the way through those issues, which influence the client religiously and mentally. These issues include wrongdoing, declaration of guilt, absolution and salvation. The dilemma of wrongdoing is based upon both universal and individual factors. Wrongdoing is there in all, and an essential aspect of counseling is to tackle the evil present within a person. Making decision regarding at what time and how to tackle the evil in counseling has deep association for achievement. Declaration of guilt is the most important part of tackling wrongdoing and counseling is, in real meaning, a type ...