Intro to counseling note 1

1. Class Notes #1
Rev. Michael Prince MA.
WIST Introduction to Counseling © 2013

2. 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.

3. Counseling denotes a professional relationship
between a trained counselor and a client…to
understand and clarify their views of their life
space…and through resolution of problems of
and emotional or interpersonal nature (George,
Cristiani p. 2)
Counseling refers to the application of mental
health, psychological or human development
principles, through cognitive, affective,
behavioral or systematic intervention (Gladding
p. 6)

4. 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)

5. Christian Counseling may be defined as an art and a
science of applying Biblical principles to treat clients’
issues with the use of all the rudiments of professional
counseling. Class Definition (2010)
Christian counseling draws upon psychology and
Christian teaching. It is an effort to combine
professional counseling with Christian or other religious
perspectives or approaches: “integration.”
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_counseling)
Christian Counseling may be defined as an art and a
science of applying Biblical principles to treat clients’
issues with the use of all the rudiments of professional
counseling.

6. 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

7. Triune
God
Self Others
A Four-Dimensional
Relational Model
Material Universe

8. Spiritual
Ethical
Psychosocial
Biological
{
Soul
Body/Brain
Biological
Psychosocial
Ethical
Spiritual

10. 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.
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 – As believers we demonstrate
the characteristics of God and equipped by God.
Collins p. 19-20

11. 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.

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

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

15. The science that
systematically
studies behavior
and experiences

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

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

18. Operate as an
agent between the
client and their
personal issue

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

20. An authoritative
entity that
determines how a
dispute is settled or
apportioned

21. Guidance focuses on helping individuals
choose what they value most.
Counseling focuses on helping
individuals make changes.

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 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
trained

25. Motivation stimulates a person through
external influence and reward
Counseling focuses on empowering the
person to effect life change

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. The actions of people are as a result of
basic desires and needs.
Basic Needs
›Love
›Acceptance/Belonging
›Companionship/Support
›Identity and Direction (who am I?)

30. If needs are not fulfilled people become
dysfunctional .
A dysfunction is the level of distress or impaired
functioning experienced by the individual…from
which the atypical behavior displayed varies from
the culturally expected norm. (http://healthmad.com/mental-
health/variance-in-psychological-dysfunction/)

31. Low Self-Esteem
Poor Judgment Skills
Dependency
Mistrust/Rejection
Isolation
 Anxiety/Double Mindedness
Anger
Suspicion
Resentment
Loneliness
Frustration
Depressed

32. S.A.L.T. stands for stressed, angry, lonely, and tired/
threatened
The effect of an issue/problem on a person’s life:
•View of Self
•Choices
•Response to situations
•View of Others
•Expectations
•Relationships
•Functioning
•Health

34. Public
(Superficial) Self
Private (Hidden)
Self

35. Extravert
(Open)
More is revealed
than hidden
Introvert (Closed)
More is hidden
than revealed

38. Positive Motives
•Is adjusted (have an identity)–
copes with personal issues
•Respect and appreciate self
•Objective (Open to Change) –
ability to be open minded
•Makes life oriented chooses
•Can admit to mistakes
•Appreciate the influence of
culture
•Sincere interest in other
•Effective interpersonal skills
Negative Motives
•Emotional distress/displacement
– unresolved issues, and using
someone else's problems to over
shadow own.
•Vicarious Coping – Live their lives
through others
•Filling Void of Loneliness – a
since of feeling important to
others
•Desire Power – Ability to control
others
•Need to Rescue – The counselor
places self as the rescuer
(personal healing)

39. Goals of CounselingGoals of Counseling
•Facilitating Behavior Change
•Improve ability to develop healthy
relationships
•Enhance coping skills
•Promote/ Improve decision making
skills
•Facilitating overall development of
the client
•Clients to develop a Christian/moral
base (salvation and transformation)

40. Remedial
›Functional Impairment
Preventive
›Anticipate and Accommodate
Enhancement
›Human Potential

41. 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 people
It focuses on the
needs of the client
Provides realistic
tools that can be used
by the client

42. Caught = the condition (sinfulness)
Restore = the mission (heart transformed)
Gently = the attitude/character (do no
harm)
Watch = the protection (watch self &
ministry); see also I Tim. 4:16
Carry = daily goal (help bear burdens in
personal relationships with people)

43. The PREACH principle for development:
− Physical
− Resources
− Emotional
− Action
− Conceptual
− Historical

44. •Marriage Counseling
•Family Counseling
•Career Counseling
•Financial Counseling
•Grief Counseling
•Substance Abuse
Counseling
•Rehabilitative
(behavioral) Counseling
•Mental Health
Counseling
Psychoanalytic Therapy
Adlerian Therapy
Existential Therapy
Person-centered
Therapy
Gestalt Therapy
Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral
Reality Therapy
•HIV/STI Counseling
•Pastoral Counseling

45. Survey conducted among pastors:

46. In the Church
(Counselor: Pastor)
In an Agency
(Counselor: Professional)
·The counselor may only be trained
within a Biblical context, which will
be used in guiding the counseling
process.
·Most persons who are counseled by
this person are members of the
church/constituency.
·Church counselors generally have
personal contact with persons before
the initiation of counseling.
·Persons gravitate towards the church
counselor because of relationship.
·The counselor has received formal
training in understanding behavior
and approaches to counseling.
·There is no defined demographic
(grouping) that comes for counseling
at the agency.
·Agency counselors do not have any
previous contact with clients before
counseling.
·People gravitate towards the agency
counselor because of reputation.

47. In the Church
(Counselor: Pastor)
In an Agency
(Counselor: Professional)
·The church counselor may have the
ability to enhance the story of the
client from sources outside the
counseling relationship.
·The church counselor generally has
direct contact with persons close to
the person coming for counseling.
·The church counselor may be
engaged in counseling persons close
or related to the person.
·Church counseling is used to guide a
person morally/spiritually.
·The agency counselor relies totally
upon the story of the client during
the counseling relationship.
·The agency counselor does not have
any contact with persons close to the
client; except by consent.
·The agency counselor can not cross
reference independent counseling
relationships; except for couples,
family and group counseling.
·Agency counseling is used to explore
choices.

48. Gladding, S. (2004) Counseling A Comprehensive
Profession (5
th
ed.) Ohio
George, R., Christiani, T. (1995) Counseling Theory
and Practice (4
th
ed.) Boston
Collins, G. (2007) Christian Counseling (3
rd
ed.)
Nashville