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Editorial

Editorial

For a qualified counselling or therapy conversation, we have probably all
learnt to observe our client, to note his verbal and also his non-verbal mes-
sages, and in this way to let ourselves be led through the conversation. Is
this all that we need? Certainly not.
In order to lead the conversation, to open up new topics, or to introduce
an exercise, regardless of which school of therapy we align ourselves with,
the need is for specialist knowledge, competence in field, and experience
in therapy. A portion of self-control is needed as well in avoiding favourite
topics, resisting time pressure, and working through one’s own transfe-
rence processes.
In a Christian psychology, the question arises not only of how deeply our werner.may@ignis.de
concepts and techniques are permeated by the gospel, but also of what role is
played by the Holy Spirit in the encounter with those coming for counselling.
In seeking an answer to this, I personally found help in the doctrine of the threefold inspiration of Holy
Scripture, that is, of its prophetic, didactic and poetic inspiration.
Certain parts of the Bible, such as the prophetic books, are prophetically inspired; that is, the writer
was aware of hearing God in some way. Didactic inspiration, on the other hand, means that our careful
research and writing can be inspired by the Spirit of God, as Luke tells us in the third verse of the first
chapter. Finally, poetic inspiration, as in the case of the Psalms, for example, and of the Proverbs, means
that our creative, crafted writings and actions can certainly also be influenced by the Holy Spirit.
It is on these fundamental levels, whether directly or indirectly, that the Holy Spirit will also lead us
in our actions in Christian psychology, be it in therapy, counselling, or in other fields of application,
especially when we ask Him to do so.
My thanks go to the authors and commentators in this edition for sharing with us their reflections on
the working question, “Who is leading me when I practice Christian Psychology?”

Yours, Werner May

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