Category Archives: christian psychology

December 6, 2007 · 1:32 pm

How do you evaluate the “next best thing” in Christian Counseling?


Last Monday we discussed this topic in my social and cultural foundations of counseling. There are always new ideas and books trumpeting something exciting that surpasses other counseling techniques with successes never seen before. Just read this book and your life will change forever!

Do you hear my voice dripping with suspicion? You should. While there are advances in counseling, popular books are often just that because they package a good idea or two into something that people want to buy (which means they also package it with fluff). What do we want to buy? Freedom from suffering; the end of our sorrows and struggles; we want complete removal of mental pain. This isn’t a bad desire, but it does set us up to buy the “next best thing” without proper critical evaluation.

And yet, we need to be open to the possibility that there is something new on the horizon. And so, I propose we do the following:

  1. Read with an open mind. Ask these questions: What does this author observe about their world, about people, about change? What are the problems they see? What are the solutions they envision? Can we see what they see? Can we consider the importance of what their observations?
  2. What techniques and interventions do they use to solve the problems they see? We may disagree with authors at numerous points but we can still evaluate the techniques they use. Do they work? How do we know?
  3. What assumptions, worldviews, presuppositions, etc. bleed through on their pages? I used to always go here first. The problem was it made me unwilling to consider their observations if they were wrong in their assumptions. But everyone sees—even if poorly. And observations can be very helpful—even if fixated on one small aspect of life.
  4. How might their observations and assumptions challenge mine? Where are my assumptions and worldviews uncritically formed; based on faulty logic or distorted beliefs?
  5. What techniques or interventions might find a home in my repertoire and what impact would they have on my work?
  6. What promises do they offer that must be critiqued? What misrepresentations must be exposed? What admissions must be made about our own models as a result of their work?

Now, these are good questions to use to evaluate the “next best thing” that actually has substance and as several commenters observed, creation therapy probably doesn’t merit this level of work until it moves into the realm of transparency and shows that it is available for observation and critique. With research on 5,000 individuals, where is the evidence? The real challenge is evaluating those models that run too far with a few facts and ideas and sell it as a type of cure-all. Much of the “change your brain, change your behavior” popular literature out there does just this. Some significant piece of data is then used to promote an idea that one can change everything.

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October 11, 2007 · 8:57 am

Metaphysics, behavior change models, and a place for Christian counseling in the public arena


Here’s a juicy quote from a new book, Psychiatry: A Very Short Introduction (OUP, 2006) that James Skillen brought to my attention in a recent presentation on principled pluralism.

“Few issues polarize us as much as how changeable we believe human behavior to be. The disagreements are not just calm, academic ones but fuel (and are fueled by) political and social beliefs reflecting fundamentally different worldviews.” (p. 86) The development of change models are then, “dependent on the values and structures of the societies that [foster them].” (p. x).

Well said.  

While most of us bemoan the devaluing of Christian principles and talk of us vs. them (christian vs. world), Skillen argues for our vigorous participation in “principled pluralism.” “…We should be exercising both our citizenship and our nongovernment responsibilities in appropriate, publicaly open, Christian ways, working to shape public laws and uphold justice for all in keeping iwht confessional and structural pluralism.” (from p. 6 of a paper he delivered at the latest Society for Christian Psychology conference)

Skillen is passionate about Christians being in the public sphere, not just to argue for their own rights but for the rights of all citizens.

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September 17, 2007 · 10:23 am

Research that brought me to tears


I confess, the other day I got teary over someone’s research (we New Englander men don’t really cry–its a disorder caused by enculturated individualism). Truth be told, I didn’t get choked up by the research but by the man who was reporting it. Mark Yarhouse closed out the annual conference of the Society for Christian Psychology by reporting the history of his research in the area of sexual identity (and its change) and sexual orientation. 9 years ago he began explore these areas. First he and Stan Jones critiqued the pro-gay psychological research and pointed out serious flaws. At the heart of the matter he was concerned about those who acknowledged same sex attraction but because of their deeply-held theological beliefs, did not wish to identify with the gay identity. Mainstream psychology has argued that these folks are suppressing their identity or being suppressed by fundamentalist culture. Isn’t it possible, Mark wondered, that these seemingly healthy individuals could acknowledge their sexual desires and choose not to make their identity or behavior based on desire. In the talk he told us of his attempts to dialog with pro-gay psychologists and psychiatrists. He took some heat, of course, but also gained the respect of others. Most recently, he has been constructing a model for helping clients explore the many facets of their sexual identity and changing what is in their power (how they interpret and respond to same sex attraction) and allowing what they cannot change to be.

Okay, you are probably wondering why this moved me. I was moved because here was a man showing great compassion to these faithful, struggling christians–double minorities in both the world and in the church. He has done this at great cost to himself and has had to hang on to the Lord under significant spiritual warfare. Here is a man not willing to get stuck in the political speak but willing to dialog with those many would consider enemies and to try to hear and understand–even when he knew it wouldn’t change the world. Here is a man willing to explore how people remain faithful to God while trying to understand their brokenness. Finally, I was moved by the love and wisdom shown to Mark in a letter from his sister. She encouraged his faith and reminded him what was true in language fitting of a classic pastoral care author.

Okay, I still can’t express why I was moved. But I wasn’t the only one. The speaker who came up to close the conference was also choked up. It is possible that scientific endeavors show us the hand and face of God. 

Mark’s latest book, Ex-gays? A longitudinal study of religiously mediated change in sexual orientation (IVP) is hot off the press (first author is Stanton Jones).   

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September 12, 2007 · 1:15 pm

Ed Welch at the Society Conference


Ed talked this am about how he thinks about biblical counseling, integration, and Christian psychology. He sees Christian Psychology as founded upon two good ideas: (a) building a solid infrastructure for our Christian work (in the past christian counseling hasn’t done this well), and (b) helpful listening and dialog so that we can learn from each other (and we haven’t done this well in the past either).

He acknowledged that given his milieu at CCEF and Westminster Seminary, the issues of integration aren’t primary. They might well be for others but haven’t been for him.  He discussed how he sees secular literature. He reads it and enjoys it when stimulating and not so much when it is boring or overly preachy in worldview. As a teacher he asks his students to engage this literature and read it carefully.

What has been more of a primary focus for him is how we access Scripture and the person of Jesus Christ. He spent a considerable amount of his talk on making sure we see problems from Scripture’s multiperspectival approach. As example he used the concept of low self-esteem. In the 80s, biblical counselors rightly pointed out that low self-esteem was poorly masked pride and egocentrism (wanting to look more highly than we think we do).  And yet, he admitted that this is not all that Scripture has to say about the chronic feelings of not measuring up. First, there is the impact of Adam’s original sin. We are in places where we feel guilty because we do not measure up. Second, we must acknowledge the sin done to us and how that shapes our sense of self. As biblical counselors we need to have this rich understanding of problems and not treat issues such as self-esteem from only one perspective.

Ed’s talk was personal and open, as usual. Its really hard to dislike him or to disagree with him–even if I wanted to. I am biased as I have always liked listening to him muse about life. I am glad he has come and lent his voice to the conversation here. It will help those only exposed to radical forms of biblical counseling see a better example and also will help Ed see how others see biblical counseling.

Later in the day, Steve Zombory (Palm Beach Atlantic University) gave a talk entitled, “Why I am not a biblical counselor.” He brought to light some of the lack of self-critique within the movement, the stagnation that may come as a result of not interacting with developments of mind/brain research, of misrepresenting academic psychology. These are some of the complaints I have also raised. He did also suggest that biblical counseling lacks a broad understanding of suffering (I highly disagree) and doesn’t interact with serious pathology (I disagree here but understand that their public writings haven’t been as focused here as much as their teaching). Later, Welch and Zombory will have a public dialog. Should be good.

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September 11, 2007 · 4:12 pm

Larry Crabb at the Society for Christian Psychology


6 years ago today…remember what you were doing?

Today, the Society for Christian Psychology is meeting for its third annual meeting. Larry Crabb spoke this morning on the topic of Christian psychology. He acknowledged the value of empirical research but talked about being somewhere between Christian psychology and Biblical counseling because empirical work is not his work. His work is to hang out in the Scriptures to understand how God is at work in human healing. He’d like to see our group develop a core dogma that grounds us without being dogmatic. He wants to see a body of thinking that arouses the passions, that transforms, that refines, and isn’t merely intellectually coherent. So what should be the framework for a Christian psychology? Here are his non-negotiable core truths:

1. Final reality is relational not propositional. Truth is not the center of reality unless you define truth as a person. Christian psychology must be rooted in trinitarian theology. The central nature of God is not a substance but a passion.

2. We are wired with the capacity to enjoy God more than any other source of joy. Everything else should pale.

3. Our capacity for enjoying God has been lost in the fall. However, the space designed for enjoying God has remained. It is now perverted into a demanding emptiness searching for fullness anywhere but from God. Our deep longing for love from God has become a demand for pleasure, power, meaning.

4. Our capacity to want God has now been restored in God’s children. But, our natural enmity against him remains and therefore the battle ensues. There is a fundamental battle in our souls going on right now–beneath whatever organic problems and abuse. We have the hope of fulfillment in God but not the actuality.

In many respects I hear Larry not talking so much about Christian psychology but the struggle he has in his own life to understand what God is up to. He is very much, as he suggested, a tortured soul.

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September 6, 2007 · 7:53 pm

Live blogging from Nashville


On Monday I will be traveling, Lord willing, to Nashville, TN to attend two back to back conferences at the Opryland Hotel (after 4 days in that bubble where the temp never changes and you hear incessant water flowing I crave the outdoors). The Society for Christian Psychology will hold its 3rd annual conference and the AACC will then hold its biennial world conference. I will be making several posts to give a sense of what I am hearing at these two conferences.

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July 10, 2007 · 5:05 am

The centrality of Christ in Counseling


Chapter nine of Maloney’s and Augsburger’s Christian Counseling: An introduction ends their section on foundations. The chapter is entitled: Christ in Christian Counseling. They state their primary concern in this chapter this way.

We are convinced that Christ is essential for Christian counseling….[so] how does this assertion of the centrality of Christ specifically relate to counseling that goes by his name? (92-3) Continue reading →

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June 25, 2007 · 5:12 pm

Science Monday: The ethics of working with those who want to change their sexual orientation


Last class of the school year! Excitement is in the air for both teacher and student. Tonights Ethics class adddresses the matter of counseling those who are different (sexual and religious). Since I have little time before class I want to mention an article worth reading. Mark Yarhouse and a colleague have written a 2002 article in the journal, Psychotherapy (39:1, 66-75), on the topic of the ethics of doing or not doing reorientation therapies. The larger psychology community has come out against such therapies despite some data that say it is successful for some. Mark argues for the right of self-determination as a guiding principle. Check it out if you are interested. Article is entitled: Ethical issues in attempts to ban reorientation therapies.

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June 12, 2007 · 4:01 pm

Christian Counseling or Spiritual Guidance?


Sorry for the absence. Grading and teaching, teaching and grading….soon to be over but not yet.

In chapter 5 of Christian Counseling, Malony and Augsburger address this question: How might Christian counseling help believers discern how faith works out in everyday life? The authors believe, “Christian counseling should provide an opportunity to explore faith in a manner that goes far beyond [living in a christian culture in an unconscious manner].” Using the analogy of walking (casual christian living) vs. hiking, they say, “The task of Christian counseling is to help walkers become hikers.” Continue reading →

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May 30, 2007 · 5:29 pm

What is the substance of Christian counseling?


In this third chapter, the authors consider the substance of Christian counseling. They present the apologetic that all counseling (secular to Christian) is evangelistic in nature. “It is now accepted that all counseling is impositional. Every counselor imposes a point of view on those who come for help. All counseling is rhetoric–that is, designed to influence clients…” (p. 18). They distinguish between overt and covert forms of “evangelism” but contend that all counseling makes metaphysical or quasi-religious claims about the nature of persons and the nature of change. They believe that “sharp distinctions between religious and psychological theories are ill-advised” due to the the subjectivity of theories (p. 20).

Since counseling theory is just that, not something provable in a grand sort of way (neither is it completely without objective data however), both christian and secular counseling theories share some commonalities:

1. Observations (subjective facts)
2. Intervening variables (meanings given to those “facts”)
3. Mediating constructs (higher level abstractions and assumptions made from steps 1 and 2)

So, for christian counseling, we have the intervening variable of God. God is. And God advocates, reconciles, heals and directs.

Commentary: I’m surprised by several things in this chapter. It is good to hear their dictum that all counseling is impositional. I remember saying that in my doctoral program and being pooh-poohed for saying such. Biblical counselors have been saying this for years but it is good for others to “catch up.” I think they are basically advocating a presuppositional view of counseling. There are no “brute” facts but observations that are immediately interpreted and supported by interpretations on a higher scale. Unfortunately, this chapter is quite short and not much in the area of substance as it is supposed to be about. Really, it should be entitled, The starting point of Christian counseling. Further, God is active in our day-to-day lives in the roles they list. But so much could be said beyond their few paragraphs. Next they plan to look at the process of christian counseling.

I’m getting the feeling that this is an apologetic for these two authors to stake their claim. But, it doesn’t have that much substance yet.

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