Sin, Forgiveness and Redemption

Running head: SIN, FORGIVENESS AND REDEMPTION

Sin, Forgiveness and Redemption through Counseling

4-MAT #2 Mark McMinn

Andrea McNeal

Student ID # 23932465

Liberty University

COUN 506

Course Section: Spring COUN 506_2011

Subterm: D Dead Line: May 13, 2011

Instructor’s Name: Dr. Donald Deel

Date of Submission: May 8, 2011

Abstract

Psychology, Theology and Spirituality in Christian Counseling is a book by Dr. Mark McMinn who is a clinical psychologist and professor of Psychology at Wheaton College Graduate School. Dr. McMinn bridges a true understanding of how to integrate psychology and Christianity in the counseling office without losing the effectiveness of therapeutic techniques. He enforces the importance of building relationships from the inside out through healing of past hurts, forgiving self and others while emphasizing that forgiveness takes time, and redemption is a powerful anecdote to the ails of human brokenness.

According to Dr. McMinn there are three roles that counselors play at the same time: participants in the interpersonal interactions that occur in the counseling office, counselors are observers and, counselors are engineers of the counseling relationship. It is evident that so much rides on the competence of the counselor particularly the counselor’s educational and experiential background which holds the framework of that counselor’s effectiveness in the office. McMinn acknowledges throughout the book that it is not only important and beneficial for counselors to know their client, in so much as it is important for the counselor to also know themselves, their goals and theoretical map to navigate through counseling sessions.

McMinn states that there are two distinctions of Christian counselors, identifying oneself as a Christian counselor while maintaining a redemptive worldview in counseling. He acknowledges that this poses a conflict within the...