July 5, 2007 · 10:39 am

Christian Counselor as Ethicist


In chapter 8 of Christian Counseling: An Introduction, Maloney and Augsbuger take on the issues of ethics. But they are not focusing on professional ethics codes of conduct. Morality and ethics play a part in every counseling session. They remind the reader that “value-free” therapy is not possible
and authenticity without pursuit of ideals is unwise. They see the focus on “effectiveness” as
shortsighted when it ignores values and ends.

The Christian counselor however should not attempt to obligate the counselee to particular set of morals. Instead of being prescriptive (focusing on the “oughts” or boundaries of acceptable behavior), the counselor ought to be illuminative (pointing out the reality of desires, choices, etc.). To make their point about the value of illumination, they re-tell the story of Carl Rogers’ response to a woman’s request to help her stop feeling guilty for wanting to have sex outside of marriage. The woman admits her conscience accuses her. Rogers says, “You want to go against your conscience and still feel good about it? That sounds like a pretty tall order to me.”  

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July 3, 2007 · 5:00 am

God’s faithfulness despite our fear


A friend brought a verse to my attention the other day and so I’ve been running with this thought for the last few days: fear and faithlessness does not thwart God’s plans for his people.

Here’s the verse: Exodus 6:9 (prior to this parathetical comment Moses has been receiving and reporting God’s promise to deliver the Israelites from their enslavement. He has just reminded them that he will keep his promise he swore to Abraham to give them the land of Canaan):

Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.

What do you expect next? Continue reading →

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Filed under Anxiety, Biblical Reflection

July 2, 2007 · 2:04 pm

Science Monday: Coping Style and PTSD and Complicated Grief


Just got the latest issue of Journal of Counseling Psychology (2007:54, 3, pp 344-350). In it Kimberly Schnider and her professor, Jon Elhai, and Matt Gray have examined the relationship between coping style (skills) and the severity of PTSD and/or complicated grief (CG). To study this relationship they surveyed 123 college students who had experienced an unexpected death of a close loved one. They hypothesized that active coping skills would serve students better than avoidant ones.

So, what did they find? Continue reading →

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June 29, 2007 · 1:44 pm

Fun Friday!


Should be grading today (and will be in a minute) but spent the morning biking with my 9 year old. One of the best things I’ve done recently is to buy a bike–actually 2 for the price of one on craigslist. Sam and I have been biking most mornings before I go to work. Today, we explored some woods trails, complete with logs to jump, burms to bump, streams to cross, and branches to duck. There are two adjoining cemetaries near our house and the space between them is where we found the woods. We found some woods trails and explored several today. Saw about a dozen deer this morning. Other mornings we have seen raccoon and fox pups. I didn’t know we had that much wildlife so near our suburban home. Best of all, I’ve spied some loaded raspberry and blackberry bushes. In just a few weeks, we’ll be eating some berries if I can get there first!

Actually, best of all, I’ve had great times with my son. He’s just as interested in riding as I am. Last Saturday as we were pulling out of the driveway we had this conversation:

Sam: Oh dad, last night I prayed the prayer last night.
Dad: What prayer?
Sam: You know, the prayer where I ask Jesus to come in my heart.
Dad: (nearly falls off bike). You did? That’s great. Why did you decide to do that?
Sam: [duh] Because I want Jesus to come into my heart. I prayed the prayer we learned at VBS this week [recites prayer].
Dad: When did you pray it?
Sam: When I was reading in bed…

Well you can imagine that this rather matter of fact conversation didn’t express my joy and excitement for him. So, we did our ride and at lunch time I remembered to tell my wife, who of course had the right response–tears of joy.

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June 28, 2007 · 6:07 pm

Christian Counseling: Collaboration and Referral


After a brief hiatus I return to reviewing Malony and Augsburger’s book, Christian Counseling: An Introduction. Chapter 7 begins with the assertion that the lone ranger Christian counselor is problematic. “First, totally private practice is not a responsible, trustworthy way to offer counseling…[and] second, the counselor’s theology is inadequate.” (69). Rather Christian counseling ought to be practiced in community (with pastors, supervisors, psychiatry, laity, etc. involved). The authors then go into the many reasons one needs to refer. However, they do not merely mean refer to other mental health providers. No, they also want to see counselor referring to spiritual directors, pastors, and other wise Christians when appropriate.

But can’t a counselor also provide spiritual care? Continue reading →

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June 26, 2007 · 8:57 pm

Serious Mental Illness and faith: what to do?


Had a meeting today with two people from UPENN (one a prof) who are working to break down barriers for those with Serious mental illness (SMI). They have found that folks with SMI are quite likely to acknowledge spiritual or religious beliefs and identity. And yet, these folks say there are two serious roadblocks for finding support. First, the church does not seem particularly open to folks with SMI. Second, mental health professionals are either unsupportive or downright negative about the faith/beliefs of those with SMI.

Actually, the UPENN folks said they had more hope that the church would be open to developing policies and systems for supporting the mentally ill than they had hope in influencing the mental health professionals that paying attention to one’s faith is an essential part of their healing and rehabilitation.

One of the church’s challenges is that they need to develop strategies for the long haul. If the church is going to do well with someone with bipolar or schizophrenia, then they need to realize how best to pace the response. I think some churches are willing to throw lots of resources at the person in an effort to try to solve the problem. And if the person is not progressing as they had hoped, then the interest in helping dies off. Hence you have folks with SMI making serial connections with the churches in their area.

Any thoughts on what a helpful church strategy to help someone with SMI be a key member of the community? What kinds of help should the church offer for the long haul?

I suppose we ought to start with making it okay to admit struggles with mental illness…

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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 23, 2007 · 5:37 am

Living in a state of denial


My roof leaks. I’ve been up on it twice in the past week (scared to death I might add) but can’t find where the water is getting in. I squirt a little caulk here and there just for good measure. Redoing the roof is very expensive so I avoid that option. The bucket in the closet is effective in catching the drips and keeping them out of our first floor ceiling. And then it doesn’t rain for a bit and I blithely go about my day having forgotten that I have a problem…until the next rain and I hold my breath. Maybe it won’t leak this time.

Sounds a little like some counselees. They recognize there is a problem. They make a quick attempt to fix it. The cheap version (talk to a friend, go to one counseling session, etc.) doesn’t solve the problem but the more expensive one (ongoing therapy) seems prohibitive. Anyway, the problem seemed to go away a bit, so the counselee puts the problem on the back burner and then is surprised with the problems return a bit later.

Maybe a tarp would work but I’m too proud for that. So, the bucket remains for now until I can’t live with the dripping anymore.

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June 22, 2007 · 10:37 pm

I’m still here…but grading


Sorry for the hiatus but Monday is the last class of the school year and I’m over my head in grading papers. No one to blame by myself. Looking forward to July to post some things that have been on my mind but unable to get out…

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June 18, 2007 · 12:12 pm

Science Monday: Sexual attraction in the counselor’s office


Today’s ethics class is going to cover the area of misconduct. Unfortunately, misconduct means here the illicit sexual contact between the counselor and counselee. In 2004, sexual misconduct played a role in 35% of complaints to the APA committee on ethics (2005 American Psychologist, 60:5, p. 526). How are pastoral counselors doing on this matter? Continue reading →

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Filed under Abuse, counseling science, sexuality