Page 175 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 8

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Counsel that is Christian
Counselors in the Christian tradition assist those aspiring to answer
God’s invitation. Such mental health professionals and pastors hear cli-
ents while simultaneously listening for the Holy Spirit. Our helping mi-
nistry operates in the awareness of the reality of theodrama. We imagine
the unique manner, the specific role and the Christ-revealing action that
a client as a divinely loved person is attracted to represent. The hope is
to prepare the client as performer to enjoy the esteem of the Father by
imitating the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit. Counselors strive to
clarify how this person can be authentic in the consistent imitation of
Jesus Christ.

This perspective returns us to the closing words of Step 1 by Lorgus who
stated that psychotherapy is a life-supporting process to enable clients to
return to self, God and other people. In our efforts as therapists, pastoral
counselors or spiritual directors, we routinely apply this understanding
of a person in a narrative-ethical sense. This is a means of guiding per-
sons as manifested in their distinct personality to maximize dispositio-
nal traits, realize personal goals and develop the next chapter in their
ongoing life narrative. 4

Further, Christian-oriented practitioners realize that our clinical dia-
logue is conducted without losing a vision of the metaphysical-onto-
logical reality that establishes personhood. This applies whether con-
5
templating a mental health syndrome, a bioethical decision, a relational
entanglement, or a development adjustment in life direction. Persons
transcend a lifetime. This view runs counter to the broad cultural climate
pervading the United States where autonomy is exalted, the individual
self is supreme and spirituality is self-construed. The client’s worldview
and cultural perspective is forthrightly respected, so wisdom governs our
tongue. The reality of a Christian theological perspective is kept alive
in our affection for the Lord and keeps our view of the person active in
our mind. Humans are persons who dependently image our Creator. The
outward display of convictions indicates his place in our hearts. Our vo-
cational calling as persons is to be servants who bear his name and bring
him honor.

Let the conversation continue.

4 Dan P. McAdams, The Art and Science of Personality Development. (New York, NY:
Guilford Press, 2015).
5 Michael S. Horton, “Image and office: Human personhood and the Covenant” in R.
Lints, M. S. Horton & M. R. Talbot (eds.) Personal identity in theological perspective
(Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2006, pp 178-203).

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