Practicing Psychology: Christian Counseling

Practicing psychology requires address issues from a variety of different perspectives. Counselors and therapists need to be able to look at a wide variety of problems from multiple different lenses in order to offer the most comprehensive answers. One lense that could be potentially required is that of a Christian counselor. In addition to normal psychological conditions such as anxiety and stress, Christians can also be looking for answers and help to questions about their faith. In order to adequately address questions about the bible and the Christian faith a counselor who uses the bible. Christian counseling offers the best solution to questions of faith in Christ because it integrates secular psychology with biblical teaching in order
According to Psychology and Your life (2nd ed.) “Psychologists try to describe, predict, and explain human behavior and men-tal processes, as well as helping to change and improve the lives of people and the world in which they live” (Feldman, 2010, pg.4) and that is easier done if they can knowledgeably address all aspects of their patients’ lives, including their religion. Christian Counseling integrates psychological methods of counseling with biblical teaching in order to treat both religious and non-religious issues. Christian counseling offers another avenue in which people can find a psychological perspective that fits their needs. Executive Director of the College Avenue Counseling Center Robert King Jr. describes the need for Christian Counseling by saying “Evangelical Christians have experienced emotional (psychological) disorder, to the extent that it noticeably impaired their functioning, at approximately the same incidence as the general population… 89% expressed concern that their Christian faith would be misunderstood or unappreciated, perhaps even ridiculed” (King, 1978, pg.276). From what King Jr. is saying, it is clear that Christian need counseling just as much as the rest of the population, but because of their faith they fear seeking out treatment. Christian counseling offers an opportunity for those
Secular counseling often does not have the answers to a lot of specific religious questions being asked by those seeking therapy. Christian counseling has the opportunity to address those issues in addition to problems not having to do with spiritual concerns. Although Christian psychology has the potential to reach those who do not align their beliefs, many people are opposed to the Christian faith, and would feel opposed to a treatment offered from that perspective. In a study done on teaching the integration of faith and psychology, Fernando Garzon, the Professor in the Center for Counseling and Family Studies at Liberty University, states that “For over 40 years, evangelical Christian psychology and counseling programs have focused on how to integrate faith and psychology. Numerous models describe the relationship between Christianity and psychology… Likewise, sophisticated treatment models have emerged” (Garzon, 2012, pg. 155). From what Garzon is saying it is clear that for many years Christian psychology has been learning how to address issues that face Christians with psychological methods that have been molded to their belief. Where Christian Counseling accurately addresses part of population that hold evangelical values, it also alienates the other part. These methods can be a sort of turn off to those opposed to the Christian belief, thus affectively cutting off a sizeable