Integration of Counseling Theory From a Christian Essay

Integration of Counseling Theory From a Christian Perspective

Current Integration of Counseling Theory from a Christian Perspective

The biblical approach to counseling brings with it so much in the field of counseling. Unlike many other logical approaches to counseling, Christian view of personality and counseling takes a spiritual angle to behavior and behavior change. Effectively, the worldview of a Christian ion as far as counseling is concerned will be very different from that of a non-believer. I have developed a Christian-based personal theory of counseling from various readings covered in class. In this respect, I have come to appreciate the role of God and his power in shaping human behavior and bringing humanity into himself. By acknowledging that human beings do acknowledge the existence of the Supreme Being, God as a factor cannot be ignored if the counseling process has to be effective. Whereas human action may be motivated by physical environment as may be dictated by the situation they could be facing. Including God in the counseling process helps the client to in terms of restoration of hope. The Biblical approach to personality and its position of life in eternity would always provide solace for many clients that may be downtrodden.

Importance for Understanding Human Personality

Development and structure of personality

From the biblical and psychological approaches to personality, personality is taken as a product of man's interaction with the environment. Man's exposure to different instructions, activities, and upbringing fosters the understanding of this concept. From a collection of all these activities, a human being takes up a particular personality. However, the Bible has quite a comprehensive yet a definite approach to personality (Wilson, 2001).

The Bible presents four circles, which expose what personality it. These four cycles are found in the book of Matthew 22:37. This occurred when Matthew reinforced the first commandment of loving God with all that humanity entails. Effectively, human personality is defined from four corners, the heart, the soul, the mind and the supernatural systems and temporal systems. The temporal systems refer to the earthly systems, which affects a person's worldview while the supernatural systems involve God, angels, Satan, and demons. One's personality is defined by all these factors.

The source, role, and function of motivation

Motivation is an important aspect that defines one's personality. It is through motivation that a human being dedicates their energies towards certain activities and makes a decision on what to do. There are currently three major elements to consider as far as motivation is concerned. This will encompass the elements of meeting needs, satisfaction, and sustainability.

Psychoanalyst Erik Erikson has vividly expounded on the three elements of motivation. In his submissions, Erikson argues that whenever a crisis occurs, a human being will always act to meet the demand of the crisis (Feldman, 2008, p. 17). Crabb also covers the need for satisfaction. He argues that whenever a crisis occurs, humans will always strive to ensure they have solved the crisis or 'fixed' it. Whenever they are successful, new challenges continue coming up and so the person will always carry out actions with the motivation of getting better and better results. As humans struggle to satisfy all these needs, they will be motivated by their fear of failure. However, as failure comes in, emotional, physical, or spiritual exhaustion will follow suit and ultimately draw them to God. This is the justified through Jesus' submissions in Matthew 11:28 in which he argues; "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Motivation is made to help us draw near to God and acknowledge Jesus as the only savior of the world.

Theory of Human Development and Individual Differences

Human development and individual differences can well be defined from various biblical provisions. There are different factors or areas that will bring about differences in personalities. Feldman (2008) makes a clear submission that personality is "the total of the enduring characteristics that differentiate one individual from another" (p. 728). The surrounding systems of a person will determine the core values and approaches to life they will have in the future. However, the Christian perspective of personal differences is well brought out through the presence and the release of the Holy Spirit. In the book of 1 Corinthians 2:16, Timothy makes a submission to the church in Corinth and states that human beings can have their minds renewed by God if they allow him to be in their lives.The Holy Spirit also helps in the restoration and strengthening human souls (Psalm 23). Individual differences are thereby created by the presence of the Holy Spirit and the renewal and transformation that comes with salvation.

Problems Developed

Conceptualizing health and wellness

Various components of health can be identified in a human being. This will vary from biological, psychological, relational, and spiritual pieces. From the biological perspective, the health of an individual is said to be in good shape when all organs of the body are operating as per the set standards which are taken as normal. In terms of relation, one will be considered healthy if they can easily get along with those they interact with or share ideas or issues during their lifetime. On the spiritual, attention is given to how one is truthful or sincere to God, who is taken as their creator of heaven and earth and so are human beings.

From my personal theory of counseling, health refers to maintaining forward motion toward positive personal change. This will cover all other components of health, only that it will give it a spiritual touch as defined by christen teachings and references in the Bible. For one to keep on moving forward, they must move away from their self-preoccupation and appreciate the need for relationships. From a biblical perspective, the relationship between man and God is enough to bring about good health in a human being. Effectively, the pillar of personal change is Christ-likeness as is the submission made in Hebrews 12:2.

Conceptualizing illness -- psychological & spiritual

The Christian model of counseling will have it that illness is 'the cessation of positive forward motion'. In this respect, one will only feel sick is they have stopped walking the talk of good relations with God. One will be taken to be ill or unhealthy if they have deviated from what God has instructed them to do. This will simply imply that one falls sick immediately their relationship with God is severed. This is well demonstrated in the Book of John 15:1-8. The relationship between God and humankind is defined. In this chapter, Good is defined as the husbandman who owns the vine trees. Human beings, who are equated to believers, are the branches. The farmer will always prune the leaves to ensure only productive ones are left while the rest are thrown like the 'chaff'. In this section, it is clear that severing relationship with God will ultimately expose one to all forms of illnesses because God will not have his mercies upon them (Feldman, 2008, p. 17).

Systems do play an important role in the health of a human being. As human beings, we are faced with needs, which will always make us struggle to get remedies for the challenges we may encounter. Wrong emotions and actions could result when humans misbelieve or take wrongful thinking of Good. By misbelieving in what God can do for us and what he has instructed human beings to do, a wall is created which separates man from God. Effectively, such a person is vulnerable to various problems that come from the outside or external circles. Therefore, God is the pillar and the source of all forms of health (Cloud & Townsend, 1999).

Role of integration and multitasking

Integration and multitasking are a very important aspect of counseling. For proper counseling to take place, the need for integrating all aspects surrounding a given situation cannot be ignored For instance, one cannot run away from the realities of the physical in the name of dealing with which is spiritual. The physical defines and affects the spiritual. One's level of spirituality will dictate the activities and actions they take when confronted with different situations. As a counselor, one must be well equipped with knowledge of the physical just as that of the spiritual in order to feel the transformation in their lives (Crabb, 1986).

Sourcing for Problems and Structuring Effective Intervention

Key elements of a comprehensive theory

Some of the qualities that a counselor must have in order to deliver on the demands of counseling include acceptance, empathy, and genuineness. The client will only open up when they have been accepted and undoubtedly believe that the counselor has no ulterior motives in seeking to gain information from them on their situation. Once this is done, it will be followed by interventions that are geared to each client's need. Once the interventions have been rolled out, change.....