Stephen P. Greggo, Counseling and Christianity: Five Approaches, Christian Association for Psychological Studies Partnership Book. IVP Academic, 2012.
Referenced in: Pastoral Counseling, Christian Counseling
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
This is a technical volume describing the theory and practice of five different viewpoints of the relationship between counseling and Christianity. It addresses how the science of counseling interfaces with Christian theology, and how this affects the work of the counselor.
Levels of explanation approach (Thomas G. Plante) – While science, for example, may explain humanity better on the atomic or chemical level, theology best explains humanity at the spiritual level.
Integration approach (Mark R. McMinn) – The special revelation of God – God’s true Word – bears authority in determining our fundamental beliefs and practices toward all of reality and toward academic subject matter in particular. Therefore one must conduct science in a way that is shaped by Christian convictions, balancing psychology, theology, and spirituality (84)
Christian psychology approach (Diane Langberg) – The character of Christ guides the practice of the therapist and the overall helping relationship toward enhancing Christian faith. The Spirit of God and his Word must be vibrant and operational on both sides of the helping relationship for the helping to be therapeutic. (110)
Transformational Approach (Gary W. Moon) – The counselor is one who is transformed by the Spirit and other healthy relationships, and guides one through the practice of spiritual disciplines to grow in one’s relationship with God and others. (30)
Biblical Counseling Approach (Stuart W. Scott) – Christian faith is a psychology, and Christian ministry is a psychotherapy. (32) The focus of counseling is the cure of souls, which requires Christian wisdom. Other therapies are secular pastoral workers who “heal lightly the woes and wrongs of the human condition.” (33)
Publisher’s Description
What does authentic Christian counseling look like in practice?
This volume explores how five major perspectives on the interface of Christianity and psychology would each actually be applied in a clinical setting. Respected experts associated with each of the perspectives depict how to assess, conceptualize, counsel and offer aftercare to Jake, a hypothetical client with a variety of complex issues. In each case the contributors seek to explain how theory can translate into real-life counseling scenarios.
This book builds on the framework of Eric L. Johnson’s Psychology And Christianity: Five Views. These include the Levels-of-Explanation Approach, the Integration Approach, the Christian Psychology Approach, the Transformational Approach and the Biblical Counseling Approach. While Counseling and Christianity can be used independently of Johnson’s volume, the two can also function as useful companions.
Christians who counsel, both those in practice and those still in training, will be served by this volume as it strengthens the connections between theory and practice in relating our faith to the mental health disciplines. They will finally get an answer to their persistent but unanswered question: “What would that counseling view look like behind closed doors?”
About the Author
Stephen P. Greggo (Psy.D., State University of New York, Albany) is professor of counseling, training clergy and mental health counselors at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He is author of Trekking Toward Wholeness, is a licensed psychologist and maintains a long-standing association as partner and consultant with Christian Counseling Associates in Delmar, New York.
Timothy A. Sisemore (Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary) is Director of Research and Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Richmont Graduate University in Chattanooga, TN, and maintains a clinical practice at Richmont’s CBI Counseling Center. He is author of several books, the most recent being The Clinician’s Guide to Exposure Therapies for Anxiety Spectrum Disorders (New Harbinger).
Eric L. Johnson (Ph.D., Michigan State University) is trained as an academic psychologist and is Lawrence and Charlotte Hoover Professor of Pastoral Care at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He is editor of God Under Fire and the author of Foundations for Soul Care. He is an associate editor of the Journal of Psychology and Theology, the Journal of Psychology and Christianity, and the Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, and he is the director of the Society for Christian Psychology (AACC).
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