Page 19 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 9

am not sure our forebears would have separated a dentist may hope that you have shiny, white,
the two (problems and growth) the way the me- healthy teeth, sometimes his or her goal is only
dical model forces us to do. to fill a cavity.) Yet even in this, the context is
Most models of counseling from the secular that God would not have us be afraid and that
field, buying into the diagnostic model, see the the challenge of overcoming this anxiety is an
goals of therapy as removing the pathological opportunity to grow in faith and communion
process that yields the diagnosis. Thus, you can with God. The only need for a diagnosis in this
be “normal” but not necessarily lead a meaning- case is if I want to be paid by an insurance com-
ful and fulfilled life. The goal is simply no longer pany.
to meet diagnostic criteria of and of the DSM or
ICD categories. As a result, much professional What Would Christian Goals for Counseling
counseling distinguishes itself from spiritual Look Like?
direction – particularly as licensure and third
party reimbursement facilitate the former but We have looked at the current models of secu-
not the latter. Even the reimbursement system lar counseling that are often adapted by Chri-
is thus built on the medical model in contradi- stian counselors and see how these may often
stinction to traditional Christian soul care. The just be secular goals (with “secular” meaning
latter is built on the view of the person as a rede- “of the time” and thus without an eye to eter-
emed sinner who by the power of the Holy Spi- nity) pursued by utilizing Christian techniques.
rit is seeking to grow in union and communion If we are willing to step back from the medical
with Christ (Johnson, 2007). model to get a broader perspective, we may de-
velop counseling goals that fit more neatly with
One other aspect of a Christian view of persons the building of God’s kingdom. Let me stress,
is that are made to be in relationship. Rooted in though, that there is still some place for some
the comment of Genesis 2:18 that it is not good aspects of a medical model and I am not de-
for man to be alone and in the importance of nying the interface of the physical and the psy-
the Trinitarian nature of God, Christians hold chological, but my view is that this is a subset of
that life is to be one of relationship – to God, to a larger Christian worldview.
spouse, and to the body of Christ, the church.
This contrasts dramatically with the individua- We have already hinted at the primary goal of
listic approaches of the diagnostic models built the Christian life: living in union and com-
on humanism. Christian counseling, for in- munion with him (Johnson, 2007), or to use a
stance, would support persevering to work out more directly biblical phrase, abiding in Christ
marital problems whereas often other models (John 15:4). To do so will require a life focused
will advocate for divorce as in the best interests on self-denial as we become slaves to righteous-
of the individual escaping the discomfort of the ness (Romans 6:17-18), serving the kingdom of
relationship. Christian counseling will also va- God rather than ourselves. (Yet this is a joyful
lue the church community as a resource to the service for which we were created prior to sin.)
struggling person. I know of one church who It will include utilizing spiritual gifts and dra-
made it a policy that when a pastor was counse- wing from the other gifts present in the com-
ling a family, that another family in the congre- munity of Christ, the church.
gation was assigned to support and encourage Sin is a threat to this vision, as it promotes love
the one that faced challenges. of others, forgivingness, grace, and sacrifice, not
values often shared in secular models. Christian
Allow me to end this section with a caveat. counseling will see sin as a hindrance to union
Some reasons for counseling are simple and with Christ and therefore never see affirming it
rather straightforward. If someone comes to me as a goal in counseling.
that is afraid to speak in public but otherwise
is doing well, then my mission may only be to Such a model of Christian psychology and
help the person speak in public. (After all, while counseling will also avoid the trap of seeing all

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