Journal Article Review Behavioral Therapy with the Use of Scripture and Prayer

JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW

Behavioral Therapy with the Use of Scripture and Prayer: Journal Article Review

Journal Article 1

Summary

The first article that I elected to focus on is titled, Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, by Siang-Yang Tan. The said article appears on a peer-reviewed journal by the name, Journal of Psychology and Christianity. It could, thus, be deemed a credible resource. It is important to note, from the onset, that the present article largely concerns itself with the proper utilization of not only prayer, but also scripture in cognitive behavioral therapy. In case, therefore, this is an article about the embrace and deployment of a largely Christian approach in CBT. It is clear from this particular resource that in the realm of Christian CBT, scripture and prayer can be effectively utilized or deployed in an ethical manner. This is particularly the case in therapy settings where consent has been sought from the clients involved for the utilization of the approach. The discussion makes it clear that indeed, Christian CBT could be practiced in an effective manner by Christian therapists. However, for this to be possible, the said deployment of Christian CBT ought to be rooted in biblical doctrine and specifically anchored in the teachings of Christ. It would be prudent to note that as the author observes, “the appropriate and ethical use of Scripture or the Bible in the Christian CBT by a prayerful therapist can be of significant help to Christian clients who seriously take the Bible to be the inspired Word of God…” (p. 108). Towards this end, the author is categorical that there is need to ensure or see to it that that orientations not rooted in biblical teachings (such as sinful or erroneous thoughts) are addressed in therapy. In this case, as the author further points out, the focus ought to be on ensuring that such orientations are addressed in a sensitive and compassionate manner.

Reflection

This is a rather informative piece about the most appropriate way to deploy CBT that is firmly rooted in Christian ideals. I am of the opinion that this is an instrumental article owing to the fact that it focuses on one of the most prominent psychotherapeutic interventions/treatments in the realm of mental health. As a matter of fact, as the author of the present resource points out, CBT is an intervention that has impressive empirical support.

Over the last few decades, great progress has been made in efforts to further promote the efficacy of CBT. This is where CBT that is spiritually or religiously oriented comes in. According to the author of this particular article, the core component of Christian CBT happens to be the utilization or use of prayers as well as scriptures. It is important to note that in some instances, clients could demand or be in favor of therapy that is firmly rooted in their Christian beliefs or compatible with the said beliefs. In such scenarios, the relevance of being well-versed with the ethical application of scriptures and prayer in CBT cannot be overstated. It is amazing to come across an article that addressed this very need.

I found the various aspects of the Christian approach to CBT that the author presents in the article to be particularly practical and potentially helpful in diverse scenarios. This is more so the case in relation to inner healing prayers. However, as is the case with all other psychotherapeutic treatments, informed consent happens to be a rather important factor. To a large extent, informed consent has got to do with ensuring that a client is aware of not only the benefits, but also the risks, downsides and presence of other available alternatives to a specific approach. This is done to ensure that the client can make a well-informed on whether to participate.

Applications

It is important to note that as the author of the present text points out, based on his own experiences, Christian CBT could be deployed in a wide range of scenarios. To be more specific, some of the problems that the author has in the past sought to address using the approach are inclusive of; bipolar disorder, depression, adjustment disorder, familial and marital problems, anger management issues, stress, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, phobias, etc. On this basis, it is clear that I could apply the approach to a wide range of problems in need of therapeutic intervention.

Major depressive disorder happens to be one of the mental health illnesses that is rather common. It is also a serious disorder owing to the fact that it negatively affects daily functioning. I am confident that in seeking to reign in the symptom associated with the condition, Christian CBT – as has been highlighted in the present article - could be an instrumental treatment approach.

As a clinician, I would seek to first ensure that the client offers their informed consent in relation to the deployment of this particular approach. Next, in as far as the use of Scriptures is concerned, I would seek to clearly identify the objectives I would want to achieve with the utilization of Christian CBT. The author of the present article points out that this could be accomplished by, amongst other things, highlighting the issues that could get in the way of accomplishing the goals of this kind of therapy, and identifying the various ways through which the intervention could be misinterpreted by the client. From this point onwards, I could make use of the scriptures to not only guide and clarify, but to also correct and comfort. There would also be need to incorporate inner healing prayer with specific calls to the Almighty to provide guidance and lasting solutions.

Journal Article 2

Summary

The second journal article that I concerned myself with is titled, Interventions that Apply Scripture in Psychotherapy, by Fernando Garzon. The said article appeared in a journal titled, Journal of Psychology and Theology. To begin with, it is important to note that as the author of the present article observes from the onset, in some instances, the incorporation of the Bible in the relevant treatment components could be challenging for Christian therapists and their Christian clients. It is on this basis that the author sets about to highlight some of the strategies that Christian therapists could make use of on this front. Some of the approaches that have been presented herein are inclusive of; behavioral, cognitive, as well as theoeducational, psychoeducational and psychodynamic approaches.

In seeking to demonstrate just how therapeutic methodologies could make use of Scriptures in diverse ways, the author of the article highlights various sample techniques. In so doing, he utilizes a case by a client named George. This particular client presents with symptoms consistent with chronic depression. Being a deeply religious person, a decision is made to explore his religious assets so as to further accelerate his treatment and recovery. It should be noted that the author in this case also demonstrates the need for informed constant prior to the deployment of any intervention therapy rooted in Scriptures. In the final analysis, it is clear from the present discussion that the relevance of Scripture as a meaningful resource to be relied upon by therapists cannot be overstated. However, as the author of the present journal article points out, the inherent benefits can only be attained if there are efforts made to adhere to the various religio-cultural as well as ethical standards. These efforts have been explored at length using the fictional case presented.

Reflection

I am in agreement with the author’s assertion that the scriptures have an inherent ability to heal. This healing power comes from the message of hope and from the revelation that the troubles and challenges that we face on this planet are temporary. It is on this basis that Christian therapy remains a potent tool to deploy in the treatment of mental health issues. It therefore follows that as the author of the present article observes, we must continually ask ourselves how well we are versed with the biblical message and how well we are equipped to deploy it in therapeutic settings.

It should, however, be noted that there is no single best way (the proverbial holy grail) of applying the scriptures to mental health issues. For this reason, I find that there is a lot to be learnt from the fictional case of George. This is more so the case given that the author has in this scenario opted to present several intervention strategies. George, as it has already been pointed out elsewhere in this text, has been diagnosed with chronic depression. What I found most intriguing in this case is the deployment of both behavioral and psychoeducational approaches. From a psychoeducational perspective, the need to further improve his handling of emotions using the scriptures has been highlighted. In this case, George is assigned homework that involves exploring several assigned passages in the Bible. The said passages relate to, amongst other things, the need for emotional awareness. Jesus Christ himself demonstrated emotional awareness on multiple occasions. There are plenty of passages that could benefit George. On the other hand, I also learnt that some of the presenting symptoms could be addressed via the application of behavioral strategies that are firmly rooted in Christian teachings. George’s anxiety symptoms are addressed using a combination of deep breathing relaxation and a supportive scriptural phrase to promote efficacy and compliance.

Applications

In a hypothetical scenario, Client A – a 27 year old - has an alcohol addiction problem. He drinks heavily and has lost interest in some of the activities he previously enjoyed to engage in. The client has been diagnosed with Alcohol Use Disorder. Client A has been unable to find a job since he completed his undergraduate studies in Commerce. At present, he lives with his mother. The client identifies as Christian. He has been brought up in a Christian family setting and appears well-versed on biblical matters.