Page 94 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 5

Church Traditions for a Christian Psychology

tion, June 24, 2010), have long argued for the For example, the therapist may examine ways
purposeful development of a depth of under- the new information conforms to the Christi-
standing of humans and how they live, based an worldview or perhaps how these findings
on foundational doctrines of evangelicalism can be applied within a Christian framework to
(Jones, 2006). Indeed, a hallmark of Christian Christian psychology. 2) Identifying areas for
Psychology is a firm theological foundation further study. Thus, the therapist must think
whose core element is a personal relationship more broadly about the field of psychology by
with Christ (Roberts, 1997). Merely adding determining what questions about the topic are
Bible verses and prayer to the treatment inter- still unanswered and how one might seek to find
ventions does not make a clinician a Christian the information. 3) Suggesting a more compre-
therapist. It is a well-articulated and insightful hensive pattern for reflection, action, and study.
understanding of central Christian beliefs that The final point calls for therapists to synthesize
are consistent with evangelical doctrine that new information with existing knowledge –in-
makes a counselor distinctly Christian in their cluding biblical knowledge.
approach. A firm Christian foundation, built on A holistic approach to conceptualizing the field
spiritual disciplines and philosophical discus- of psychology also demands that professionals
sions is necessary for the development of di- engage core beliefs in the reflection and evalua-
stinctly Christian counselors. tion of any given topic. However, these consi-
derations must be more than theoretical - it is
Therapeutic Tasks and Goals that are Specifi- essential that the evaluations be linked to prac-
cally Evangelical tical application.
Working through matters of faith while simul- In developing a distinctly Christian approach
taneously working with observations of the to psychology that is aimed at nurturing a
human condition demands a sophisticated ap- Christian worldview, Mitchell (2006) offers the
proach to conceptualizing psychological con- chart found in Figure I (used by permission of
structs (Johnson, 2007). A scripture-centered P. I. Mitchell, p. 3). The heart of the Christian
approach re-shapes traditional methods of care worldview is the primacy of Scripture and in-
by allowing Christ to first filter and then per- cludes various areas of the evangelical life. Note
meate all areas of understanding the human in the chart that all areas flow from Scripture as
condition (Martin, 2008). For Jones (2006), the well as influence the understanding of Scriptu-
process must also be one of “adopting, adapting, re. Mitchell (2006) asserts, “Biblical revelation
and transforming theories and models in psy- stands at the center of Christian belief and prac-
chology within a biblical Christian worldview” tice, but of course, our own particular Christi-
(p. 214-215). Jones (2009) further states that an tradition shapes how we read and under-
the process of adapting and transforming theo- stand that revelation” (p. 4). Mitchell’s holistic
ries and healing models within the framework approach to the Christian life interacting with
of a Christian worldview require the ability to scientific knowledge is essential in order to avo-
synthesize all forms of information and know- id fragmenting or compartmentalizing materi-
ledge. al –something that many Christians therapist
Mitchell (2006) asserts that the Christian world- continue to struggle with. To illustrate, when
view is directly linked to how one interprets creating a treatment plan for grief, a psycho-
and applies scientific knowledge. If the goal logist might choose to exegete select Scripture
is to produce a holistic approach in Christian passages that address the particular topic, ac-
Psychology, then practitioners must employ a companied by a time of meditation on how the
full gamut of Christian thought and experience therapist understands grief in light of their own
with the goal of remaining consistent with a lar- Christian doctrines and traditions. Additional-
ger Christian worldview. Engaging in a holistic ly, the therapist might explore the importance
approach to professional scholarship includes: of religious rituals, such as funerals, in offering
1) Pondering questions of the human conditi- comfort to those who are grieving. Finally, an
on in light of biblical and scientific knowledge. examination of how various spiritual discipli-

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