...Crabb and Secular Counseling: A Comparison/Contrast Paper Gerald Williamson Liberty University Crabb and Secular Counseling: A Comparison/Contrast Paper Dr. Larry Crabb is an award winning biblical counselor who happens to author a book entitled Effective Biblical Counseling. In this book, Dr. Crabb presents important points and guidelines that other counselors like him can do in order to provide advice and aide to persons who need them the most. The books contains model of counseling, which is also integrated to the church. Placing the importance of God in his model, Dr. Crabb is a firm believer that God has granted the church to be its instrument in providing support to people who are experiencing pain and tribulations. In this paper, we particularly compare and contrast Dr. Crabb’s ideas with that of scientific studies assigned for the class. More specifically, we point intersecting points there are in the areas of Christian Counseling and developing a counseling program that could be aligned with the church and religious experience. This paper also includes discussion on the similarities and differences there are on the basic concepts and strategies of Dr. Crabb and other authors from the secular counseling community. In conclusion, we note how Dr. Crabb’s Effective Biblical Counseling contains important points that are similar to the scientific studies relative to the importance of religious elements in mental health therapy as well as training counselors in order...
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...our reactions to difficult life experiences take on one of three forms: guild, resentment, or anxiety (Crabb, 1977). Furthermore Crabb (1977) believes that many of our problems in life are simply the way we interpret our experiences. People who can have positive feelings towards situations are able to cope with their problems in a healthy way. And people who negatively view their experiences are more likely to fight guilt, resentment and anxiety. This is where counselors come in, for simple problems the counselor can just be a friend they do not need to be a professional simply someone who can listen and help sort out life experiences and offer simple advice. However, for the larger problems a professional counselor is needed. Dr. Crabb wrote Effective Biblical Counseling in an attempt to bridge the gap between psychology and religion, to use the principles and theories of psychology to enhance the practice of Biblical counseling (Crabb, 1977). Christian counseling is seen separately from secular counseling because Christian counseling relies upon Biblical concepts that are not recognized or used by secular counselors. These concepts are redemption and sanctification in Christ and the role of the Holy...
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...Integrated Christian” counseling, whether people call it that or not, is also commonly found. These are good Christian people who have taken their secular degrees and training and “integrated” them with Scripture and prayer as they apply them to counseling hurting people. Many of them are very well intentioned and believe they are providing “the best of both worlds”, but they are NOT providing real, authentic Biblical counseling. They, in essence, try to “smush together” Scripture and secular psychology to help people. They try, but as we will see momentarily, (by definition) they cannot succeed. The third is authentic Biblical counseling, which relies exclusively upon the Truth and Power of God’s Word for counseling human problems as guided by God’s Holy Spirit in the Counselor’s office. As you can see, these three categories can really be reduced to only two: secular psychotherapy vs. Biblical counseling. Having “worked both sides of the street” for long periods of time, I have come to appreciate the profoundness and clarity of the differences between these two approaches to counseling hurting people. It comes down to two distinct and very important differences that separate them: 1) the source of “wisdom” for the counseling provided; 2) the respective target of counseling. The first difference really boils down to counseling provided according to “man’s best ideas on how things work” vs. “God’s best ideas on how things work”. I don’t know...
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...This section examines three words related to counseling as a means of bringing clarity to Biblical counseling expectations. The words wisdom, counsel, and wicked were closely examined using Strong‟s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Vines Concise Dictionary of the Bible, as well as a variety of online bible dictionaries and commentaries. Additionally many different translations of the Bible were consulted. These included the New American Standard, King James Version, New International Version, New English Translation, and the New Living Translation. The relatively obvious relationship between the words wisdom and counsel provide sound reasoning for their choice as words for the context of this study. However, including the word wicked in this examination requires somewhat of a brief explanation. Students of the Bible are not unfamiliar with Psalm 1:1. The Psalmist admonished his readers with clear instruction regarding the type of counsel a well adjusted and successful person must avoid when he penned the words, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked…” At first glance, and taking this verse at face value, one could assume the Psalmist is offering insight into the influence, authority, and inherent responsibility a counselor possesses. Naturally, as a student of the scriptures and the art of counseling, this leads to the question what is “the counsel of the wicked?” The obvious place to begin if there is to be an understanding with regard to the...
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...Christian Counseling attempts to provide encouragement and guidance for those who are facing losses, decisions, or disappointments. Counseling can stimulate personality growth and development, help people cope more effectively with the problems of living, with inner conflict, and with crippling emotions, assist individuals, family members, and married couples to resolve interpersonal tensions or relate effectively to one another and assist persons whose life patterns are self-defeating and causing unhappiness. The Christian counselor seeks to bring people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to help them find forgiveness and relief from the crippling effects of sin and guilt. Therapist Characteristics A Christian counselor has beliefs about the attributes of God, the nature of human beings, the authority of Scripture, the reality of sin, the forgiveness of God and the hope for the future. The counselor seeks to help counselees change behavior, attitudes, values, faulty thinking and/or perceptions. We attempt to teach skills, including social skills, to encourage recognitions and expression of emotion, to give support in times of need, to teach responsibility, to instill insight, to guide as decisions are made, to help counselees mobilize inner and environmental resources in times of crisis, to teach problem-solving skills, and to increase counselee competence. The Christian counselor also seeks to stimulate spiritual growth, encourage confession of sin and...
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...Name: John M. Mwangi Course Name: Depression and Anxiety Course Number: BC 504 Assignment Number: 2 Audio Number: Project Number: Date of seminar (if applicable): Course instructor for seminar (if applicable): Location of seminar (if applicable): **The Assignment Number, Audio Number (if applicable), and Project Number (if applicable) must be accurate in order to process the lesson and record the grade. The correct information is stated in the Course Study Guide. --------------------------------------------------------------- SECULAR AND BIBLICAL APPROACHES TO DEPRESSIVE AND ANXIOUS PROBLEMS Table of Contents: * Introduction * Dysthymia * Diagnosis * Combined efficiency * Different Views * Sufficient and insufficient of medicine * Conclusion * Bibliography A comparison of the effectiveness of medical vs.non-medical treatments for any of the mood disorders or anxiety disorders listed in the DSM-IV-TR Introduction In order to understand the person that God created am going to use an analogy of a computer in comparison with the human being. Computer has two important sides; the outer part or the monitor and the inner part or the central processing unit (CPU). The Bible teaches us that man is a duplex being with two distinct aspects of a body or the outer person and the spirit or the inner person. The outer person is what everyone looks at all the time and people judge by looking at the outer side and identifies us...
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...LIBERTY UNIVERSITY COMPARISON PAPER #2 EFFECTIVE BIBLICAL COUNSELING DAVID POWLISON, M.DIV., PH.D. A PAPER SUBMITTED TO REV. DR. MARIO GARCIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE PACO 507 LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY BY JOHN M. SIMMS PHOENIX, ARIZONA JULY 04, 2013 Table of Contents Introduction.........................................................................................................................2 Summary of Material………………………………...........................................................3 Practical Application…………………………....................................................................7 Works Cited……………………………………………………………………….............8 Introduction – Goal of Biblical Counseling David Powlison has developed a biblical theology of biblical counseling with the foundation of this counseling style being the Bible as God’s authoritative word. Powlison believes that the Bible is sufficient to provide the basic framework for the counselor in addressing every problem in any area of life. Powlison is quoted as saying, “it becomes clearer and clearer that Scripture is about counseling: diagnostic categories, causal explanations of behavior and emotion, interpretation of external sufferings and influences, definitions of workable solutions, character of the counselor, goals for the counseling process…These are all matters to which God speaks directly, specifically, and frequently. He calls us to listen...
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...Counseling Theory Paper Cherish Stokely Liberty University Abstract This counseling theory paper combines different aspects of various counseling theories and puts them into one unified theory. This new theory takes in account my personal beliefs and worldview. This theory is not permanent, but is put together to allow direction for future counseling sessions. Although each client has a unique situation, this theory can be a basis on how a counselor would start the interaction between herself and the client. This paper outlines philosophical assumptions, which includes how man is inherently evil, but there is still hope for growth. The next section will then discuss the model of personality, which talks about how man develops. This section combines counseling theories such as Gestalt and behavior therapy. The next two sections discuss psychological health and abnormality. This section looks at how a client will be able to set himself free from symptoms that are harming the client. The next section will conclude by talking about psychotherapy and how a counselor should look at the role of the counselor and client while using certain techniques. This paper will conclude with a discussion of the assignment. Overall, this theory could be used in a Christian or secular setting and is based off of personal beliefs. Counseling Theory Paper Each counseling theory includes various strengths that can be used in a counseling session. Since a counselor should make known that each...
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...Biblical Worldview Introduction Christian psychology and Christian counseling may appear contradictory at first. They take into account various perspectives of counseling to include biblical principles and modern psychology or the so-called secular psychology. Humanistic psychology believers have stated that mankind is the highest standard of all morality and truth. They, therefore, reject faith, the bible, and the supernatural. Christian psychology is man’s way of understanding and repairing their spiritual side synonymously with their real world issue. If we stayed true to the real meaning of psychology, for example in Greek, the word psyche means the study of man’s soul. It is only Christianity that has a clear insight of the spiritual realm. Example one The term healing means bringing the person into a proper relationship with the mental, spiritual and physical laws of God. Humans are formed in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and must, therefore, recognize the significance of spiritual healing. As a counselor, it is important to note that God is a person; this teaching is well inculcated into Christianity. Our very own personhood is related to God’s personhood. It will help me to change how I think of other human persons, get a proper understanding of what it means to be human and my thoughts on personhood. To properly understand human personhood, I must note that God himself is the premier person; he is the chief and first exemplar of personhood. Understanding God...
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...are often attributed to depression. It is estimated that 6.7 percent of Americans who are over the age of 18 suffer at some point from depression in any given year.[1] Christians are not immune to depression or its affects. Pastors and Christian counselors often meet people who face depression for a variety of reasons, up to and including sin. Inside of the Christian circle there are many different views and methods on handling depression. Some view depression as an illness, and say that it is something that cannot be controlled by the person who is experiencing it. Others say that depression is always the result of some type of sin guilt, and that the person who experiencing depression has a need in one way or another to release this sin and ask for forgiveness. Even as it relates to hardship or things that are out of the counselee’s control, proponents of this view say that the depressed person did or does not trust God and reacted to the problem in a sinful way, and therefore is depressed because of their failure to handle things in a Godly way. Christians who have this view for the most part are not attempting to be harsh, but in most cases are...
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...Servant-Leadership Theory from a Socially Constructed World View and a Biblical World View Mark J. Dixon Jr. Liberty University Abstract Servant-Leadership Theory has been a progressive theory in which much study has been done. Robert Greenleaf began using the term servant leadership to encourage leaders to first want to serve. There are two different world views discussed in this research paper that will shed light into what it takes to be a servant leader and how it can be successful if there is a full understanding of the theory present. There is the secular and the biblical world view in which differences in the two are identified. Servant-Leadership is meant to be more than just a way to see positive outcomes in a business, but it also transfers into effecting people’s lives. An attempt to enhance understanding and the question trying to be answered here is what separates the secular view of Servant-Leadership Theory from the Biblical worldview. This paper examines the characteristics and goals of servant-leadership though both worldviews to give a better understanding of servant-leadership theory. Keywords: servant-leadership, characteristics, biblical, secular Servant-Leadership Theory from a Socially Constructed World View and a Biblical World View There has been much attention given to leadership theories since the introduction of Servant-Leadership Theory by Robert Greenleaf in 1970. Greenleaf’s intent for servant-leadership is to help not only the leader...
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...Family Counseling Approach: Structural Model Jennifer Tankard Liberty University Abstract Structural family therapist takes an approach to therapy that seeks to help the entire family rather than looking at the family member that has a presenting problem. Healthy families have a healthy balance within the family subset when clearly defined roles are present. Structural family therapy was developed by Salvador Minuchin and a team of researchers from New York. The techniques of the theory are centered on creating a healthy relationship among family members. Structural family therapist looks at creating a healthy partnership with each member of the family to help the family find a solution to their problem. Structural family therapy can be integrated with a biblical worldview. Counseling from a Christian perspective will help families understand God’s design for the family, and understand the role of each member as stated in scripture. Christian counselors using an integrative approach to structural therapy will be able to help families see the biblical roles that God has set for the husband/father, wife/mother and the children/siblings to develop a functional family. Keywords: Theory, intervention, psychosomatic, integration, structural therapy, dysfunction, family. Part I Introduction Everyone has a family. Each family is different in how the system functions. A family is defined in many different ways. Some consist of the traditional definition of father, mother...
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...Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary A Paper Submitted to Dr. Marcus Tanner, LMFTA in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course, Theology and Spirituality in Counseling PACO 507 - D05 Name of Student: John Santiago Student ID: L24473755 Class: PACO 507-D05 LUO Instructor’s Name: Dr. Marcus Tanner, LMFTA Date Submitted: 03/20/2014 Summary Dr. Crabb’s book “Effective Biblical Counseling: a Model for Helping Caring Christians Become Capable Counselors,” (Crabb, 1997), breaks problematic areas up into two categories. The first categories are those resulting from natural or physical causes. The second is composed mostly of problem that are essentially moral. It has been said by some and demeaned by others that Dr. Crabb has a somewhat unique approach to counseling. His Biblical counseling explained in his afore mentioned book and his first book, Basic Principles of Biblical Counseling, extols upon the basic parts and theories of his system, along with many changes in theology and he places an emphasis on his belief that, “. . . the most basic problem of every human being is his separation from God, a gulf made necessary by the fact that God is holy and we are not" (p. 17). Primary Goal: (What is the desired outcome?). Crabb first describes for us what he terms as; “Separate but equal” approach (Crabb, 1977). This approach representitive of those who would believe through Christ, “scripture deals with the spiritual and...
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...Running head: COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Abstract Counseling has been in existence from the beginning of time. From Jethro to Freud, therapists and philosophers have been seeking insight into the core of human nature and cognitions. Cognitive-Behavioral therapy (CBT) recognizes that faulty cognitions and beliefs affect the behaviors of individuals. One method of cognitive-behavior therapy, reality therapy, incorporates the concepts of free choice and personal responsibility that are taught both in Scripture and Dr. William Glasser’s choice theory. Other aspects of CBT, such as cognitive restructuring and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), also work towards eliminating negativistic attitudes of clients in exchange for more effective and realistic methods for interpreting the situations experienced in daily life. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy It is suggested that an individual’s personality is a complex system of cognition, emotion, will, physiology, and spirituality. Hawkins proposes nine aspects of the human self to be active influences on one’s personality: “body, cognition, feelings, volition, human spirit, Holy Spirit, sin/flesh/SAS, temporal systems, and spiritual systems (Hawkins COUN507_BO1_200920). Each therapist individually determines what factors they believe to make up a person’s being. Larry Crabb views humans as involving both the physical and spiritual aspects of man. Man’s...
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...Defining Secular and Biblical Worldviews Helen M. Pombert Liberty University Defining Secular and Biblical Worldviews I. Defining a Secular Worldview The term worldview was formulated between 1855 and 1860, with many scholars believing that it arrived approximately 1858. The term is derived from the German word “Welt-anschauung”. According to Ergun Caner, this is a union of two German words: (1) welt, the word for world; and (2) anschauung, the word for perception. Several online dictionaries have various definitions for worldview. The Free Dictionary by Farley defines worldview as (1) The overall perspective from which one sees and interprets the world; (2) A collection of beliefs about life and the universe held by an individual or a group. The website www.asa3.org/ASA/education/views/index.html defines worldview as a theory of the world, used for living in the world. It also calls it a mental model of reality – a framework of ideas and attitudes about the world, ourselves, and life, a comprehensive system of beliefs – with answers for a wide range of questions. Other sources have called worldview a perspective, collection of beliefs, a theory about life, an interpretation of life, presuppositions or assumptions about life. There are as many definitions as there are people. Thus, worldview can be described as belief, perception, idea, model, attitude, answers to questions, etc. Freethesaurus.net also uses some of the following synonyms to describe...
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