4 MAT Review McMinn

Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality
Samuel Bland
Liberty University
COUN 506

Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling by Mark McMinn.
Summary
In his book Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling, Mark McMinn (2011) provides his readers with a book “to investigate the frontier of intra-disciplinary integration” (p. 9). McMinn (2011) provides his readers with the appropriate actions and interventions Christian counselors should taken with their client when faced with the religious challenges in counseling. Throughout his book McMinn (2011) expresses that one’s spiritual discipline is as important to how well effective intra-disciplinary integration is accomplished as biblical and theological foundations are. After establishing the background of his book McMinn (2011) begins to discuss several theological topics related to intra-disciplinary integration. The first theological them McMinn (2011) discusses is prayer. Despite the fact that many students are not adequately trained in theology or possess the necessary spiritual discipline to effectively integrate prayer into counseling, McMinn (2011) believes that prayer is essential to achieve mental and spiritual health. McMinn (2011) also mentions the ethical issues a counselor may come across when using prayer with their clients. McMinn (2011) then offers his readers with several techniques to incorporate prayer into their practice. With each technique that McMinn (2011) describes he also mentions the risk that exist if misused by individuals who have failed to be properly trained in each technique. McMinn (2011) then focuses his reader’s attention to the use of Scripture in counseling. As with prayer, if a counselor is not properly trained in the use of Scripture it can also be ineffective and posses a risk to client. McMinn (2011) points out that the Christian counselor should be cautious when choosing Scripture and mentions that the Scripture should be uniform with the theory that is chosen. To effectively integrate Scripture in counseling, McMinn (2011) suggest that counselors should possess the ability to determine if the techniques they use are found in Scripture, suggested or varying. McMinn (2011) goes along to discuss several issues that have the ability to accept a client’s spirituality and mind. These issues include; sin, redemption, forgiveness and confession. McMinn (2011) believes that sin is personal and universal. According to McMinn (2011) we are all sinners and sin is an essential part of counseling is to address the sinful nature of one’s client. A successful counselor has the ability to identify the sin and determine how to challenge with therapeutic methods (McMinn, 2011). When discussing the importance of confession, McMinn (2011) mentions that an essential portion of handling sin is confessing to it. McMinn (2011) suggest that the goal of a Christian counselor is to guide their client they accomplish forgiveness while accepting responsibility for their sins. The last two phases that McMinn (2011) mentions are forgiveness and redemption. To achieve spiritual and mental health one must recognize and understand that God offers forgiveness to all humans and one must be able to achieve the same level of forgiveness. Forgiveness does not mean that one must attempt to absolve the actions of others. According to McMinn (2011) at the core of humility is forgiveness. McMinn (2011) concludes by expression his opinion that closely related to forgiveness and confession is redemption. On their way to redemption clients must progress through their trials and tribulation. There are no alternate routes to achieve healing and to accomplish healing one must confront their weaknesses and sins while discovering Christ (McMinn, 2011).
Concrete Response Forgiveness has always been a characteristic that I have struggled with. Reminiscing my childhood tends to lead to the vivid images of my mother buying drugs, doing drugs and under the influence of drugs. When I was five-years-old my father chose to divorce my mother due to her drug problem and the problems it had caused my family. I remember blaming myself for her choice to use drugs and neglect my family. As I grew older the blame that I had put on myself had shifted to my mother. I begin to become upset and unsettled with my mother. This moment in my life was a major contributor to the growth of my spiritual and mental health. My father was making his transition into the church as a leader and my faith and relationship with Christ began to grow stronger as a result. My father, noticing my struggle, began to teach me about forgiveness and how it relates to spirituality. My father’s words, “your mother is a child of God and as children of God we all make mistakes, but we must be quick to forgive. Remember, God forgave us.” When reading McMinn’s content about forgiveness it immediately triggered the childhood memories of my mother. It reminded me of the process it took to achieve the healthy relationship that my mother and I share today. Although my father was unsuccessful to heal his marriage with my mother, he was able to forgive her. He ended his relationship with my mother, but he was persistent to see that my relationship with my mother be healthy by leading me to confess my struggle with forgiveness, ultimately leading to my redemption.
Reflection
To open his book McMinn (2011) clearly states that the purpose of his book is to provide a resource for individuals who want investigate the frontier of intra-disciplinary integration.
McMinn (2011) achieves this by providing important information that supports future Christian counselors in their quest to successfully implement intra-disciplinary integration. Due to theological and Scriptural ignorance, McMinn’s (2011) attention to theological foundations and his detailed descriptions about using Scripture were exceptionally accommodating. Without any education about theology and the lack of knowledge about how to interpret Scripture, many people obtain their knowledge solely from their religious traditions. As a result, Christianity has become simple and lacks extreme thoroughness. Due to this there exist a high possibility of counselors misusing prayer and Scripture. The encouragement by McMinn (2011) to possess this knowledge is imperative. Before practicing prayer and incorporating Scripture into counseling, one must be knowledgable of the Scripture and theological theories. Frequented in his book, McMinn (2011) refers to several individuals who support the idea of thoughtful spirituality. Rather that having the word of God as their basis, these individuals referenced promote their own personal feelings and experiences. These mentioned individual’s feelings and experiences come from Catholicism and Eastern traditions. Their belief is that one must have a clear mind before they are able to gain a greater experience of God. These practices mentioned by McMinn (2011) should come from Scripture and any other practices that come from outside sources should be ignored. Thoughtful spirituality lacks support by Scripture and Christians should refrain from using it. Rather, Christians should do what is necessary to become well informed in the word of God.
Action
Thanks to McMinn (2011) I have gained important and useful knowledge about effective intra-disciplinary integration. I have gained useful information that will allow me to effectively counsel my clients and that will also allow me to effectively handle my personal problems. Along with gaining priceless information about theological foundations and explaining Scripture, I have also learned that advising others of the importance of possessing a sound spiritual discipline is absolutely necessary. As well as thoughtful spirituality there exist several other ways to gain a extremely thorough spiritual discipline. I now understand that surrounding to God is important to an individual who is experiencing trials and tribulations. One who may be experiencing trials and tribulations must also understand the importance of devoting serious time to God. This time that we spend with God will strengthen our relationship with him and also assist us in handling any psychological and spiritual problems that we may encounter. I have discovered that practicing these concepts is especially difficult. I have found that it is much easier to advise these concepts than it is to practice them myself. Not only will I advise others to schedule devotional time, to dedicate themselves to living by the Scripture and to pray regularly, but I will also work on practicing these task myself.

References
McMinn, M. R. (2011). Psychology, theology, and spirituality in Christian counseling (Rev. ed.). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House.