WIST Introduction to counseling

Lecturer: Rev. Michael Prince

1WIST: Rev. M. Prince 2014

Counseling belongs to the family of social services or guidance movement (Gladding p.4)

It comes under the umbrella of Psychology/Psychotherapy ◦ The scientific study of behavior and mental

processes.◦ Counseling is an applied social science that

helps individuals get better understanding of themselves to handle their roles & relationshipseffectively.


The application of mental health, psychological or human development principles, through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systematic interventions… (Gladding p.6)

Counseling attempts to provide encouragement and guidance for those who are facing losses, decisions, or disappointments…stimulate personality growth and development; help people cope more effectively with the problems of living, with inner conflict and with crippling emotions… (Collins 1988, p.16)


Counseling is a science and an art . It is a science because it applies techniques and procedures that are utilized in helping a person to understand their situations and employ the most adequate solutions for problem solving and life change; it is an art because it allows the therapist to use unique or own personality and experiences in assisting the client.


Christian Counseling is defined as an art and a science of applying Biblical principles to treat with clients’ issues using the rudiments of professional counseling.


• Sin is the primary focus of mankind’s dysfunction (Rom 5:12-14)

• Salvation, and transformation through counseling from the gospel is the primary solution.

• Scripture is authoritative and necessary for Christian counseling because it is God’s soul care guidebook


Psychology Focus on the mind Describe human

experiences and behaviors

Applies Logic Understand the

structure of being

Spirituality•Focus on God•Describes the

source of man•Applies Faith•Understand the

meaning (source) of being

Psychology can not deduce the meaning or morality of life while Theology/Spirituality is not equip to explore

the dynamics of personality.


Unique Assumptions – Sin is the primary cause (fall of man) of man’s deprived state and that restoration/forgiveness of God through salvation and transformation will make man ‘totally whole’.

Unique Goals – To stimulate spiritual growth by encouraging confession of sin, experience divine forgiveness and commit lives to Jesus Christ.

Collins p. 19-2010WIST: Rev. M. Prince 2014

Unique Methods – The application of prayer and faith in God are cornerstones of pastoral counseling.

Unique Counselor-Characteristics – Demonstrate personal reliance upon the same factors of salvation, transformation and a relationship with God.

Unique Giftedness

Collins p. 19-2011WIST: Rev. M. Prince 2014

Psychology Focus on the mind Describe human

experiences and behaviors

Applies Logic Understand the

structure of being

Spirituality•Focus on God•Describes the

source of man•Applies Faith•Understand the

meaning (source) of being

Psychology can not deduce the meaning or morality of life while Theology/Spirituality is not equip to explore

the dynamics of personality.



SECULAR VIEW CHRISTIAN VIEW

Improve your sense of self Reduce your sense of self Luke 9:24-26

Knowledge is from human thought True knowledge is from God 1 Cor 3:18

Getting ahead is money and power. Getting ahead is losing self Matt 6:19-21

Wide is the way of tolerance Narrow is the way to heaven Matt 7:13-14

Serve self first Serve others first Matt 21:16

Good deeds make you good Jesus makes you good 1 John 1:9

Views of counseling from two paradigms:

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“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” Col. 2:8

Is the process of helping people make important choices that affect their lives. …(Gladding p.5)


Focuses on serious problems associated with intra-psychic, internal, personal issues/conflict (p.6)


The science that systematically studies behavior and experiences


The service of assisting clients to manage their problems in living more effectively


The ability to stimulate a person to operate or behave in a selected way


Operate as an agent between the client and their personal issue


The systematic process of training and assimilation in order to confront issues


An authoritative entity that determines how a dispute is settled or apportioned 23WIST: Rev. M. Prince 2014

Guidance focuses on helping individuals choose what they value most.

Counseling focuses on helping individuals make changes.


Psychotherapy focuses on causing change Counseling focuses on assisting the person

to change They have different clients

◦ Psychotherapist – deals with neurosis (mental dysfunctions)

◦ Counselor – deals with persons with poor coping and decision making skills.


Psychology focuses on observing behavior Counseling focuses on behavior change Psychology is non-engaging Counseling is interactive and intimate Psychology focuses on the pattern of

behavior Counseling focuses on the reasons/sources

of behavior


Helping may bare the closes resemblance or comparison to counseling

Helping is the process of assisting someone in an informal and non-technical/scientific manner

Counseling provides a support system and provides technical/scientific skills

Persons will seek help based on the competence of the person they seek out to help them

Counseling is done by someone who is trained27WIST: Rev. M. Prince 2014

Motivation stimulates a person through external influence and reward

Counseling focuses on empowering the person to effect life change


Intervention is initiated by others Counseling is initiated by the person; even

if there is external motivation Intervention uses external pressures to

stimulate emotions to effect change Counseling uses personal/internal reflection

and reasoning to effect change


Coaching provides premeditated or rehearsed action for future events

Counseling addresses coping skills for present daily living

Coaching is a form of education that assist in anticipating probable future circumstances

Counseling educates persons in basis skills


Mediation involves a third-party making decisions

Counseling requires the client to reach to a point of making decisions

Mediation focuses on present issue only Counseling focuses on present issue and

provide coping skills for the future


Historical Background (Early Basis of Psychology)• Greek philosophers

• Hippocrates: Focused on how to treat mental illness• Plato (427-347BCE): Introspection and reflection—road to

knowledge; dreams and fantasies—substitute satisfactions; human condition: physical, moral and spiritual origins

• Aristotle (384-322BCE): Considered “first psychologist” used objectivity and reason to study knowledge

Socrates (469 -399 BC) : Examines thoughts and feelings; introduced the concept of introspection

• Augustine (354-430) and Aquinas (1225-1274): highlighted consciousness, self-examination, and inquiry

• Focus on Christianity during Augustine and Aquinas times limited the psychological nature of people


Historical Background • Descartes (1596-1650) and James Mill (1773-1836): Mind

a blank slate upon which ideas become generated.• Europe: First experimental psychologists studied

similarities and differences of people• E.g.,: Wundt and Galton

• 1800s in U.S.: experimental psychologists• James Cattell & G. Stanley Hall (1st president of APA)

• Williams James’ theory of philosophical pragmatism: truth and reality is continually constructed

• Testing: Binet, vocational assessment, personality tests• Mesmer (mesmerize), Charcot (hypnosis)• Psychoanalysis and Freud


Historical Background (late 1800s to 1900s)• 1892: American Psychological Association (APA)

was established.• Other schools arise:

• Pavlov (classical conditioning); Phenomenology psychology; Existentialism psychology; Gestalt psychology

• Sigmund Freud - Was convinced that patients difficulties were due to mental rather than physical problems. It was as a result of unconscious thoughts and feelings. He presented the concept of psychoanalysis and free association.


Probably influenced counseling most of all professions

Gave us the first comprehensive approaches to counseling and therapy

Tests developed by psychologist used by early vocational counselors and other counselors today

Research techniques Early development of counseling skills


• Diagnosis

• Illnesses may be organic

• Psychopharmacology


Facilitating Behavior Change Improve ability to develop healthy

relationships Enhance coping skills Promote/ Improve decision making skills Facilitating overall development of the

client


Marriage Counseling Family Counseling Career Counseling Financial Counseling Grief Counseling Substance Abuse Counseling Rehabilitative (behavioral) Counseling Mental Health Counseling


Emotional distress/displacement – unresolved issues, and using someone else's problems to over shadow own.

Vicarious Coping – Live their lives through Filling Void of Loneliness – a since of feeling

important to others Desire Power – Ability to control others


Is adjusted (have an identity)– stable and copes with personal issues

Respect and appreciate self Objective (Open to Change) – ability to be

open minded Makes chooses that are life oriented Can admit when mistakes are made Appreciate the influence of culture Sincere interest in other Possess effective interpersonal skills


What Counseling is Not!

≠It is not about giving advice≠It is not about the coercion of people into your way of thinking≠It is not about working out someone’s problem for them≠It is not telling the client what to do≠Not criticizing the client

What Counseling Is!

Providing a support base for peopleIt focuses on the needs of the clientProvides realistic tools that can be used by the client


Christian Counseling, Gray Collins, © 1988

Counseling: Theory and Practice, R. L. George & T. L. Cristiani 4th Edition © 1995

Counseling: A Comprehensive Profession, Samuel T. Gladding © 2004

Gladding, S. (2004) Counseling A Comprehensive Profession (5th ed.) Ohio

George, R., Christiani, T. (1995) Counseling Theory and Practice (4th ed.) Boston

Collins, G. (2007) Christian Counseling (3rd ed.) Nashville

Gerald Corey Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy,. 8th Edition ©2009


WIST Introduction to counseling

Spiritual

Transcript of WIST Introduction to counseling