Page 22 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 9

Nicolene Joubert (South Africa)
Comment to Nicolene Joubert
(South Africa)
“To What End?“ PhD in Psycho-
logy from North
West University,
South Africa (ZA)
In his article To What End? Sisemore emphasi- (1999) and MA in
ses the critical importance of defining and un- Online and Di-
derstanding the destiny we are heading towards stance Education
with clients, before attempting the challenging from Open Uni-
process of change. Change is an elusive con- versity UK (2015).
cept sought out by mental health professionals, Counselling psychologist in private practice
desired by clients and debated by followers of and founder of the Institute of Christian Psy-
Christ. chology in ZA. President of the Association
Mental health professionals claim that change of Christian Counsellors in ZA.
could be achieved by accurate diagnoses and Areas of speciality include the integration
scientifically based therapy processes. Sisemo- of Christian faith and spirituality in mental
re rightfully points out that diagnoses and psy- healthcare, trauma counselling, intercultural
chotherapy processes are irrelevant if we do not counselling and distance and online lear-
understand where change should take us. He ning.
further asserts that the primary goal of Chri-
stian counselling is to abide in Christ, ”living Former article by Nicolene you can see here:
in union and communion with him”. Further- http://emcapp.ignis.de/8/#p=50
more, Christian counsellors embody the hope
to clients to reach this destiny. This destiny
entails to be better instead of feeling better. He
proceeds to recommend adapting a secular mo-
del, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, as a tual formation. This process should lead to de-
good fit to achieve this goal. ep-seated obedience to the call for self-sacrifice
I agree with Sisemore in his assertion of the and Christ-like social action – do compassion,
primary goal of Christian counselling, but I am do love and do forgiveness. Thus, a more holi-
surprised by the introduction of Acceptance stic approach would serve the primary goal of
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in the sum- Christian counselling more effectively.
mary of the article as a method to reach this The spiritual formation process could be pro-
goal. Apart from being rooted in humanistic blematic for clients where medical issues are
thought the adapted form of ACT falls short in prominent and debilitating, leaving Christian
terms of how spiritual formation could be faci- counsellors with limited options with regards
litated. to therapy goals.
The destiny followers of Christ ought to reach The application of an adapted Acceptance and
requires a deep and profound spiritual transfor- Commitment therapy model could form part of
mation rather than a psychological therapeutic a whole-person counselling plan, but does not
process. The suggested adapted secular model provide a complete answer. The whole person
could be useful on a psychological level but it should be considered, including medical issues
does not encompass the full meaning of “abi- when setting goals. The limitations of adapted
ding in Christ”. secular models should be recognised and out-
To live life from a position of unity with Christ lined in the attempt to achieve an overarching
requires spiritual direction and spiritual forma- spiritual goal. Spiritual direction practices
tion. Spiritual direction is a process rooted in could be included to steer clients to the primary
practicing the presence of God and guides spiri- Christian counselling goal – abiding in Christ.

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