Healthy Work Paper

Christine Ashford

Ohio Christian University

PS3040 Methods of Pastoral Care and Counseling
Kenneth Daft
January 25, 2016

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Healthy Work Paper

We havent clearly and biblically thought through the purpose of biblical counseling. We
have failed to identify spiritual formation (transformation into the image of Christ) as the
ultimate goal of biblical counseling. In biblical counseling, we should be working toward
solutions: comprehensive inner life transformation. The underlying theme of salvation is Christ
having transformed us from the inside out from self-worshipping, self-sufficient, self-centered,
self-driven persons to Christ-worshipping, Christ-sufficient, Christ-centered, Christ-pursing
persons. The underlying theme of progressive sanctification is the ongoing transformation of our
inner life from the old manner of life in sin and self to the new manner of life in Christ
(Ephesians 417-24; Colossians 3:1-17).
Relating like Christ is the first mark of Christ-like character that every biblical counseling
client must cultivate (Matthew 22:34-40). Do we love like Jesus? Yes some of us do, but Jesus is
the only one that had perfect love in which I strive to be more like Jesus each day. Thinking like
Christ is the second mark of Christ-like character that every biblical counseling client must
cultivate. We want our client to see life with spiritual eyes, with faith eyes, with 20/20 spiritual
vision. Also, choosing like Christ is the third mark of Christ-like character that every biblical
counseling trainee must cultivate. Christs life mission must become our life mission (Mark
10:43-45). Feeling like Christ is the fourth mark of Christ-like character that every biblical
counseling trainee must cultivate. Emotionally, we want our client to face life honestly and to
manage their moods biblically. (http://www.rpmministries.org/2011/10/what-makes-biblicalcounseling-biblical-part-2/)

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I ask myself can all secular theories be integrated with the Scripture and the answer is no
because Biblical counseling has God-given truth which is eternal and unchangeable. In contrast
to biblical counseling, the "truth" of psychology is every changing and contradictory. Therefore,
biblical counseling is more effective that secular counseling and "Christian counseling" in which
there is an attempt to integrate psychology with the Scriptures. (http://www.biblicalcounsel.org/bcs-02.htm)
Most ministers at some time will have to make a difficult decision whether or not to
divulge something told in confidence (Bruce Petersen). Ethics also plays a significant part
because it is in the clients best interest that the counselor is ethical and accountable with how he
treats the client and the procedures or therapy that the counselor uses. Information that is
obtained from the client needs to remain confidential because it is privileged information. A
client would not feel at ease and get the most out of a therapy session if they felt the counselor
was unethical. Without healthy boundaries set when counseling individuals it has the possibility
to lead to problems especially if you dont have good ethics. Setting healthy boundaries can
prevent this from happening. Some problems that could arise is having a sexual relationship, or
even having a client that may become to have romantic feelings for you even if you dont return
them. You should always remain professional and remember your ethics. I guess my concern
about being a counselor and counseling is about the lawsuits that can take place if the client were
to accuse you of something. I do want to treat my client with the best therapy as possible without
fear of any lawsuits. But mainly using healthy boundaries and ethics, I will be able to provide the
best possible care without worrying about any kind of lawsuits.

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The basic hypothesis of person-centered therapy that I like would be "If I can provide a
certain type of relationship, the other person will discover within himself the capacity to use that
relationship for growth and change, and personal development will occur" (Rogers, 1961).
Additionally, Rogers emphasized three personal characteristics, or attributes, of the counselor
that form the core component of the therapeutic relationship:1) congruence, or genuineness; 2)
unconditional positive regard (UPR); and 3) accurate empathic understanding.
(http://web.cortland.edu/andersmd/rogers/t-c.html) Roger believe that if therapist used the three
attributes that the client would become less defensive and be able to open up, and will behave in
prosocial and constructive ways.
According to Rogers (1967), the following six conditions are necessary and sufficient for
personality changes to occur: 1. Two persons are in psychological contact. 2. The first, the client,
is in a state of incongruence, being vulnerable or anxious. 3. The second person, the therapist, is
congruent or integrated in the relationship. 4. The therapist demonstrates unconditional positive
regard (UPR) for the client. 5. The therapist demonstrates an empathic understanding of the
client's internal frame of reference and endeavors to communicate this experience to the client. 6.
The communication to the client of the therapist's empathic understanding and unconditional
positive regard (UPR) is achieved. Rogers believed that if these six conditions exist over some
time, the constructive personality change will take place. (Rogers)
In conclusion, my goal is to seek my spiritual growth and be a faithful servant for God,
and be ready when God calls me to do his will. We Minister acknowledges the churchs
responsibility to serve Gods people in whatever way He calls us to do. In being a Minister things
can easily become overwhelmed and become very stressful at times.

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Because there is so much work to do as a minister to the people and it can seems like each
member of the church wants to talk to you personally about certain issue that make be going on
in their lives. You can easily become overworked and suffer from emotional fatigue if you dont
set your personal limits in certain areas. I must always schedule daily prayers so that I will
continue to change and grow in God grace and I still have so much to learn, both from Gods
word in Scripture and from Gods world. Pastors are caretakers, a characteristic of those who
answer the call to ministry (Jim Smith). And Gods world includes all human beings including
non-Christian people. We never know who Jesus will send in our life especially in the field of
Ministry in the church.

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Reference
Archibald D. Hart, Gary L. Gulbranson & Jim Smith (1992) Mastering Pastoral Counseling
Bruce Petersen (2007) Foundations of Pastoral Care