Review of McMinn's Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling

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.

Action

After having read this book, I will make a conscious effort to obtain a greater knowledge of scripture and the ways in which it can impact day-to-day life. While I felt I had a decent understanding of scripture before, the way in which the author relates scripture to counseling practice makes it clear that there is more I could come to understand about scripture's relevance in my current life. To this end, I will make it a point to read scripture for at least twenty minutes every morning, and to spend at least ten minutes immediately following writing a reflection on the passage read.

Reference

McMinn, M. (1996). Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling.

Forest, VA: Tyndal House.