4 Mat Review Mcminn

4-Mat Review

“Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling”

LaShan Pittman

Liberty University

Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling

Summary

Providing services as a Christian counselor can be rewarding, while it also presents challenges as it pertains to incorporating theology and spirituality into the counseling session. In reading McMinn’s (2011) text entitled, Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling, areas were covered that provided techniques in which counselors can use to help them to obtain optimal success as they guide their client on a journey of psychological and spiritual healing. According to McMinn, Christian counselors should understand the flow of utilizing all three areas of competence, which include: psychology, theology, and spiritual formation; as these three components are necessary in providing holistic, effective services.

Within the text, McMinn (2011) also mentioned the importance of personal and professional development amongst Christian counselors and how they should focus on implementing practical use of their Christian faith within the counseling realm. Within the Christian counseling profession, one must consider the notion that challenges can and will arise due to conflicting beliefs between the client and counselor, client’s developmental history, and also simply due to the client’s experiences (McMinn, 2011) In stating this, McMinn states that the Christian counselor’s role is to provide services that are specifically catered to that particular client’s issue. McMinn further states that for many clients who are seeking therapy, they are simply trying to fulfill a need and receive healing from their situation by developing an awareness of the need for psychological change and spiritual growth. Within the text, McMinn (p. 32) posed a question for the Christian counselor, which asked: “Will we be those who learn all the right tricks to help people feel...