Christ Psych Mat Review Mark

Christ Psych

MAT Review

Mark R. McMinn's Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling, published in hardcover by Tyndale House in 1996, provides an in-depth understanding of how to include the three facets identified in the title in Christian-specific counseling practices. Through the use of case studies, theoretical discussions, and references to other scholars and bodies of knowledge, McMinn provides a compelling road map to delivering counseling care that is personally relevant and backed by careful scrutiny across several disciplines. Practices for the counselor, the patient, and every Christian individual are included in detail, with their benefits and their grounding in various theories included in a manner that makes the practices themselves as well as their effects quite clear.

Concrete Response

The author's comments on forgiveness struck a deeply personal chord with me. The need to cry out for forgiveness for one's own sin is, according to the author, an essential element in truly understanding forgiveness in everyday life. A large part of my transition to faith, which came at a time of great personal strife and after a period of my life in which I had made many mistakes that contributed directly to the negativity of my situation, was through a reaching out for God's forgiveness similar to what the author describes. My own acknowledgement of my own sin and seeking -- and finding -- of forgiveness has definitely given me a personal understanding of the importance of forgiveness for individuals seeking counseling.

Reflection

At times, the advice and conclusions of the author seem to be too optimistic and idealistic -- not that optimism and idealism are bad things, but that things often work out imperfectly and/or face great resistance. How would one find the patience to persevere with the methods and practices recommended by the author here when the patient, despite their best conscious intentions and statements, does not really (at least initially) want to devote themselves to the necessary spiritual and psychological tasks necessary to achieve healing? As effective as the methods McMinn describes may be, there are doubtless many cases of extreme resistance in counseling; how can the counselor find a balance between a vigorous attempt to encourage true healing and development and the level of spiritual understanding and theological distance that is required in order to provide effective Christian counseling?

Action