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Spirit is our Counselor for our personal life and concept of dependent responsibility can be hel-
professional life. When we are si�ng in a coun- pful as you are discussing the responsibility of
seling room and are overwhelmed as a client the client in the counseling process. Dependent
tells us about a horrific trauma they have endu- responsibility emphasizes that Chris�ans have
red, the Holy Spirit comforts and guides us in the responsibility to be obedient to God’s
how to help the person si�ng in front of us. Word, but we cannot do it on our own and
Feeling overwhelmed is a signal that we need must be dependent on the enabling power of
to turn to the Holy Spirit for guidance. the Holy Spirit (Bridges, 2007, p. 41). Knowing
that the Holy Spirit is working in one’s life and
For a client to make an informed decision regar- the person is not on his own brings hope. Secu-
ding counseling, it is important that the client lar counseling can be beneficial but Chris�an
know that you are a Chris�an. But not everyo- counseling can be transforma�ve as the Holy
ne who comes to you is Chris�an or desires Spirit empowers and transforms us.
bringing faith into sessions. During the intake it
is important to ask if the person is open to spi- Spiritual disciplines can be assigned as home-
ritual interven�ons, and if they are not, this is work with the Chris�an client but must be done
respected, and counseling is similar to secular ethically It is important the counselor work wi-
counseling. Even when we are counseling thin the client’s tradi�on. Respect the client
someone who is not a Chris�an, we need to and do not impose your religious values on the
seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance for the session client. Encourage the client to connect to a reli-
which begins with pray before you meet the gious community and be careful not to under-
person for the session. Ethically we must ad- mine the authority of the client’s religious lea-
dress the issue that has brought the person to ders (Richard & Bergin, 1997). Remember to
counseling. However, as we meet clients where treat the whole person, if the person came for
they are, the clients may realize that we care counseling do not just use spiritual disciplines
about them and then be more open to talking (Tan, 2004). The purpose of prac�cing spiritual
about spiritual concerns. But even if we do not disciplines needs to be explained. Spiritual dis-
get to address spiritual issues during counse- ciplines draw us closer to God and as we draw
ling, we can pray for the person and hopefully closer to God, we experience love, joy, peace,
the person perceived the counseling was hel- pa�ence, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
pful, had a posi�ve experience with a Chris�an gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22) and hope
and may later be open to hearing the gospel (Rom. 5:1-5). They help the client to be sensi�-
from someone else. ve to the Holy Spirit’s presence and guidance.
Finally, the client needs to desire to draw close
Many Chris�an clients are seeking a Chris�an to God and not just stop experiencing nega�ve
counselor who will address not only psycholo- emo�ons. The Holy Spirit plays an important
gical issues but also spiritual issues. With these role in Chris�an counseling by guiding the
clients the Chris�an counselor can be more counselor as he counsels, giving hope and
open about the workings of the Holy Spirit in enabling the client to change.
the life of the client and in the counseling pro-
cess. Many come to counseling discouraged be- References
Bridges, J. (2007). Respectable sins: Confron�ng the sins we
cause they have been dealing with their issue tolerate. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
for a while. One of the first things that a coun- Grudem, W. (1994). Systema�c theology: An introduc�on to
selor must do is establish that there is hope in biblical doctrine. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
dealing with the problem and that hope is ba- Richards, P.S. & Bergin, A.E. (1997). A spiritual strategy for
counseling and psychotherapy. Washington, DC: American
sed on God. While counselors cannot promise a Psychological Associa�on.
specific outcome, they can promise clients that Tan, S.Y. (2022). Counseling and psychotherapy: A Chris�an
the Holy Spirit is with them and will guide and perspec�ve (2 ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
nd
comfort them. The Holy Spirit is even interce- Tan, S.Y. (2004). Spiritual direc�on and psychotherapy: Ethical
ding for them as they may not know how to issues in Moon, G.W. and Benner D.G. (Eds), (2004). Spiritual
pray in a par�cular situa�on (Rom. 8:26). The direc�on and the care of souls. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity
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