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I think research into “vertical” as opposed to “horizontal”
forgiveness will be important (seeing oneself as forgiven
by God as opposed to being forgiving toward others), as
well as attitudes toward sin, the role of Christian commu-
nity, and others.

To sum, I will comment on the three categories of bene-
fits they cite at the end (section 3.2). Individual Ameri-
can therapists who are Christian would do well to follow
the lead of the Swiss in looking at outcome and the role
of religious and spiritual intervention in it. This would
promote an understanding of what is really helpful to
the patients and provide better care. Clinics, too, would
profit from a greater commitment to assessment. Appa-
rently Switzerland has added laws on this, and Americans
should expect similar standards to be forthcoming here.
Finally, I have focused on this most, but the basic science
of seeing how religion helps and sometimes hurts in psy-
chiatric distress is important. Positive versus negative
religious coping can facilitate change or make matters
worse. We need to understand this better in order to use
it more wisely. I am most grateful for the leadership of
these authors in setting examples for us and establishing
protocols for assessment from which we all can learn.

Bibliography
American Psychological Association Counsel of Representatives.
(2007). Resolution onreligious,religion-based and/or religion-derived
prejudice. Retrieved from ttp://www.apa.org/about/policy/religious-
discrimination.pdf.
Plante, T.G. (2012). A levels of explanation approach. S.P. Greggo &
T.A. Sisemore Eds.),Counseling and Christianity: Five approaches (pp.
60-83). Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Academic.
Sisemore, T. A., Arbuckle, M., Killian, M., Mortellaro, E., Swanson,
M., Fisher, R., &McGinnis,J. (2010). Grace and Christian Psychology
– Part 1: Preliminary Measurement, Relationships, and Implications
for Practice. Edification: The Transdisciplinary Journal of Psychology,
4, 57-63.

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