Page 89 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 5

Church Traditions for a Christian Psychology

Shannon Wolf (USA)
The Framework for Counseling from an Evangelical

Perspective

Discussions of religious convictions and values
have become quite commonplace over the past Shannon Wolf
few years for many Christian therapists, and a (USA) Ph.D.,
number of clinicians recognize that this issue is Licensed Pro-
often confusing for patients as they attempt to fessional Coun-
choose a good therapist. However, patients are selor, Associate
not alone in their confusion – therapists, too, Professor, Ma-
are confused about how to incorporate their ster of Arts in
cherished beliefs in the counseling room. C o un s e lin g ,
More and more Christian clinicians around the Dallas Baptist
globe are referring to themselves as Christian University.
therapists. As there is not a clear understanding
of what makes a therapist a Christian thera- shannonw@dbu.edu
pist, this term can be perplexing for the men-
tal health professional and for those seeking Enlightenment in the 17th century and cur-
treatment. The actual definition, then, is left to rently describes a diverse group of Christians
the discretion of the individual counselor. For that include numerous denominations inclu-
some, the Christian prefix simply implies that ding Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Penteco-
the therapist has a Christian worldview that stal, Charismatic, and others. The foundational
may or may not guide their professional de- convictions offer unifying commonalities while
cision-making. For others, it indicates that all still allowing for great diversity in Christian
therapeutic interventions are based on biblical thought and expression.
principles and that Scripture and prayer are Historian, David Bebbington, summarized the
used frequently during sessions. Thus, it may be core assumptions of evangelicalism in what is
best to conceptualize Christian counseling on a commonly known as a quadrilateral descripti-
continuum, where expressions of faith during on, or the four primary characteristics of the
counseling sessions vary depending upon the faith, namely: biblicism, conversionism, cru-
therapist. cicentrism, and activism, and are most helpful
Just as therapists vary in how they incorporate in providing structure for understanding evan-
matters of spirituality into treatment, clinicians gelicalism (Bebbington, 1989.) These defining
also differ in their understanding of religious convictions resist political, social and cultural
truths. One such tradition is evangelicalism. trends and have held fast through the centuries.
This article will focus on the foundational as- Biblicism
sumptions of the evangelical community and Evangelicals recognize the Bible as the ultimate
how those assumptions may influence the authority in matters of faith and life. Central to
practice of Christian Psychologists who hold this doctrine is the belief that scripture is inspi-
to those beliefs. An example of an evangelical red by God, Himself, and so is without any er-
approach to treatment is also offered. ror, making scripture trustworthy and reliable.
The foundational belief of sola scriptura, or the
Defining the Evangelical Christian sufficiency of scripture, suggests that the Bible
Originating from the Greek word, euangelion, is sufficient for knowing God and His will for
meaning “the gospel” or good news in modern life, thus scripture mediates the sovereignty of
English, evangelicalism is rooted in the Age of God to the church (Manwaring, 1985.)

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