...Crabb PACO 507 Theology and Spirituality Counseling Susie N. McCoy Liberty University Dr. Max Mills Spring 2014 Comparison of Larry Crabb’s Book Effective Biblical Counseling This comparison paper will briefly evaluate Larry Crabb’s (1977) reflection, responses, and summary given in his book Effective Biblical Counseling: A Model for Helping Caring Christians Become Capable Counselors, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. This comparison will reflect on Crabb’s (1977) four approaches to integrating the Bible and counseling, and his three levels of counseling models that can be integrated into the functioning of a local church. This study will explore that one must be a caring Christian in order to become a capable counselor and that any approach to counseling that is Biblical base will be successful among a body of believers in a local church setting. Crabb (1977) stated that since effective counseling requires both a caring attitude and an understanding heart of Christian love of human functioning, than the mature believers in the local churches need to be train in counseling insights and skills (p. 14). Summary: Crabb’s Theory/Methodology In his book Crabb (1977) offered three levels of counseling to be used in the local church. The first one that should be implemented is educating the believers of the local church with the strategies and method of biblical counseling. His second level is exhortation in counseling. He defined exhortation as the requirement...
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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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...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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...Biblical Counseling: Compare and Contrast Secular Counseling Theories 1 The definition of counseling in Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary says “professional guidance of the individual by utilizing psychological methods especially in collecting case history data, using various techniques of the personal interview, and testing interests and aptitudes” (counseling. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster. Retrieved November 24, 2013, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counseling ). Each person was brought into this world with brokenness, temptations and sin. We are all a work in progress and it takes daily reliance on Christ to overcome our challenges. However, we can trust that “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6) When someone seeks out counseling it’s usually for help in dealing with pain, hurt, depression, or seeking counsel about situations in their life that need to be addressed. The intent of this paper is to compare and contrast the parallel between Dr. Larry Crabb’s biblical model of teaching in Christian counseling theories with scientific proven methods to counsel and treat individuals with these secular counseling models Cognitive- Behavior Therapy (CBT), Rogers’ Client-Centered Therapy (RCCT), and Ellis’s Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Goal of Christian Counseling When looking at the accepted counseling standards, theories...
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...Biblical Counseling vs. Secular Counseling CCOU 201-D11 LOU: Introduction to Christian Counseling Xxxxx X. XXXXXXX L33333333 Liberty University 24 April 2013 There is a need for effective biblical counseling now more than ever. As the world progresses to the stages prophesized anarchy God’s people as well as lost souls need the appropriate direction in life. Crabb clearly states in his introduction that the purpose his book, Effective Biblical Counseling, is to incorporate the principles and aspects of Christian counseling into the local churches (Crabb, 1977, p. 13). The tenets outlined in the text apply sound Biblical doctrine in conjunction with advanced psychological techniques. The intent of this paper is to enable the reader to understand that “true healing” can only be experienced through a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, but also to parallel Biblical teaching with scientifically proven methods to counsel troubled individuals effectively. Individuals seek counseling for many reasons; they may be depressed, generally not happy with their status in life, or simply need to talk to with someone. One widely practiced form of psychotherapy that focuses in the humanistic approach of treatment is Roger’s Client-Centered Therapy (RCCT) is common among clients with the above listed issues. According to psychotherapists practicing RCCT, the desired end state or goal of every client is different so in addition to displaying a concern for that person, counselors...
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...Theory Critique Two Najah Dail-Harris Liberty University Theory Critique Two Jay E. Adams the author of How to Help People change (1986) created a four step biblical approach to guiding the Christian Counseling process. Adams (1986) centers his biblical approach around the concept of change and derives his theory from Timothy 3:14-17. He believes “all Christian counselors must follow these words if they would help people change in ways that please God” (p.10). Adams (1986) also derives his Christian based theory from the Word and scripture itself. To become an effective Christian counselor, Adams (1986) believes counseling must come from the wisdom of God and the Holy Spirit. If a counselor is to impose change on a counselee one must be aware of the “change that is satisfactory to God, not merely socially good” (Adams, 1986, p.7). Adams (1986) four step biblical process includes: teaching, conviction, correction and disciplined training in righteousness. To prove effective, the process also must be done in that exact order just as the disciple Paul set out. The first step teaching involves the act of teaching counselees biblical principles for living, god’s standards for avoiding sin and teaching within the milieu. The next step conviction, involves “bringing conviction to counselees itself as a part of the ministry of word” (Adams, 1986, p108). Adam believes it important to have the counselee understand the root of their problem; which is sin and change their relationship...
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...Theory Critique Two Najah Dail-Harris Liberty University Theory Critique Two Jay E. Adams the author of How to Help People change (1986) created a four step biblical approach to guiding the Christian Counseling process. Adams (1986) centers his biblical approach around the concept of change and derives his theory from Timothy 3:14-17. He believes “all Christian counselors must follow these words if they would help people change in ways that please God” (p.10). Adams (1986) also derives his Christian based theory from the Word and scripture itself. To become an effective Christian counselor, Adams (1986) believes counseling must come from the wisdom of God and the Holy Spirit. If a counselor is to impose change on a counselee one must be aware of the “change that is satisfactory to God, not merely socially good” (Adams, 1986, p.7). Adams (1986) four step biblical process includes: teaching, conviction, correction and disciplined training in righteousness. To prove effective, the process also must be done in that exact order just as the disciple Paul set out. The first step teaching involves the act of teaching counselees biblical principles for living, god’s standards for avoiding sin and teaching within the milieu. The next step conviction, involves “bringing conviction to counselees itself as a part of the ministry of word” (Adams, 1986, p108). Adam believes it important to have the counselee understand the root of their problem; which is sin and change their relationship...
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...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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...PAPER: EFFECTIVE BIBLICAL COUNSELING: A MODEL FOR HELPING CARING CHRISTIANS BECOME CAPABLE COUNSELORS BY LARRY CRABB A PAPER SUBMITTED TO DR. JOHNNY BAKER IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE PACO 507 D01 BY BEN CURTIS BARKLEY SUNDAY, MARCH 30, 2014 I. SUMMARY 1. Primary goal (What is the desired outcome?) The primary goal of the author is to allow people to be free to worship and serve God better. In short the author wants to show the reader how to move from the mindset of “I want to be happy,” to a mindset of trying to be more like Christ (Crabb, 22). 2. Development of problems and personal need (How do the issues come about?) The author states that people have two primary needs. These needs are significance and security with secondary being acquired needs. Acquired needs are those that meet a primary need (Crabb, 112). The problem rises to the surface when any of these needs are not met. The author states there are three types of obstacles that interfere with achieving a chosen goal. They are Unreachable Goals, External Circumstances, and Fear of Failure (Crabb, 125). 3. Biblical integration (How much of the Bible is used in this methodology?) The author clearly states that anything that is anti-God in methodology should be rejected. However, there are different types of approaches, “separate but equal (where psychology and biblical teaching are equivalent);” “tossed salad (where a little of each of psychology and biblical teaching...
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...I: Goal of Christian Counseling Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” The scripture goes on to say that “he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of the water, that brings forth his fruit in his season.” The scripture speaks of the power of wise counsel. It shows us that wise counsel will cause us to prosper and bear fruit. Also, wise counsel will give the ability to create stability in our lives. In this essay one will be able to understand the difference between worldly or secular counsel verses bible counseling based upon biblical principles. There are many similarities between the two types of counsel, but there are also equal differences. To begin, biblical counsel starts with underlining the importance of having the mind of Christ. (Philippians 2:5) Not only is it important to renew our minds so that we can begin to develop the mind of Christ but as we think Christ-like our lives become Christ-like and we receive the heart of God. The difference between biblical counsel and secular counsel starts with the way that one is trained to think. Joyce Meyers once said that “every battle begins in the mind”. If we can have a renewed mind then we can have a successful life. According to Crabb our goal as Christians should be to respond biblical to every situation. (Pg...
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...Summary Dr. Crabb ‘s model integrates theology and psychology and refers to it as, “Spoiling the Egyptians (Crabb, 1977). His approach geared more to sound biblical principles and doctrine. I researched “Spoiling the Egyptians”, as to, I was curious about the scripture base. Spoiling the Egyptians refers to Exodus 12:40-42, as God watched over the Israelites as they went through the wilderness, and crossed over in the promise land. When the Israelites were hungry, God fed the manna. He spoiled them by giving them what they needed to be sustained. Up to a certain point, Dr. Crabb looked at psychology and theology going hand in hand with psychology being the basis of theology. In other words, you can’t use one without the other. Dr. Crabb suggests that our reaction to difficult life experiences take one of three forms: guilt, resentment, or anxiety (Crabb, 1977). I would have to agree. Most non-believers believe that their life misfortunes are a result of something they did and therefore, take on the guilt and resentment, which in turn causes anxiety and initiates the need for counseling from secular counselors. Dr. Crabb doesn’t totally disregard secular counseling, in fact he suggest that Christian counselors should evaluate the world’s counseling model against biblical principles and doctrine. Dr. Hawkins model of counseling is centered on five circles that show self and everything that shapes us into who we are. Dr. Hawkins model seems to be centered on a circle which represents...
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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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...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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...A Study Comparison of Biblical Counseling with Secular Counseling Theories Demetrius E. Hurt Liberty University CCOU 201 A Study Comparison of Biblical Counseling with Secular Counseling Theories In the world today issues surrounding mental illness are in the forefront of our healthcare systems, legal systems, social circles and yes, even in our churches. Though each of the aforementioned systems takes a different approach on how to tackle the problem of mental illness, one thing is for sure-the need for more qualified counselors is on the rise. Luckily, the counseling profession has grown and employs theories from the secular world as well as the religious world. Though the strategies and treatment goals may be different, both groups of counseling professionals work diligently to support those suffering from mental illness and bring them into a sense of well-being. To that end, the author of this paper will examine the theories and ideologies of both groups of counseling professionals, examine therapeutic remedies that are alike between the two and how they differ in the way they interact with clients and mental illness. The Goal of Christian Counseling The goal of any counseling professional is to assist the client with identifying skills and tools that will help them to achieve mental well-being. Each counselor no doubt uses a multifaceted approach with a wide menu of therapeutic options to achieve this goal. However, the Christian Counselor not only seeks...
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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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