How are Faith and Spirituality used in Pastoral Counselling?
In Christian-based therapy and pastoral counselling, faith and spirituality are integrated in a multifaceted way, blending evidence-based psychology with a Christian worldview to foster holistic well-being. The goal is to help individuals find a deeper sense of meaning, purpose, and hope throughout their healing process, leading to "holistic Christian flourishing".
Here are the key ways faith and spirituality are used:
Welcoming Prayer
Prayer is a welcome and permitted part of sessions if the client desires it. This applies to all counsellors, including psychologists, relationship counsellors, and spiritual counsellors. It is invited for clients to engage in, both within and outside of sessions, if they wish. The team at Life to the Full can also model prayer for clients, demonstrating how to genuinely bring prayers and petitions to God, focusing on praying for God Himself rather than just for outcomes.
Purposeful Use of Scripture
Scripture is utilised not by taking out-of-context Bible verses to apply them unhelpfully, but by tapping into theological "paradigms". This involves exploring fundamental concepts such as:
◦ Identity: What the scriptures say about who the individual is.
◦ Character of God: Understanding God as a loving Heavenly Father versus a tyrant or someone out to get them. The aim is to uncover what clients are functionally believing in their heart, which may differ from their confessional theology (what they claim to believe). This allows for honest exploration of anger or beliefs about God punishing them, without condemnation.
◦ Worldview: Examining what a client believes about the world and how this impacts their relationships and perception of suffering. This helps to unpick unhelpful beliefs and replace them with a more biblical understanding.
Understanding Suffering within a Redemptive Story
The integration of faith helps clients view their suffering, hardship, and relational difficulties not as mere random events, but as part of a "redemptive story". This approach doesn't deny the reality of hardship but instils a belief in hope because "God is good," which is often what individuals need most. It provides a powerful "counter voice" to anxiety and stress.
Holistic View of the Individual
Christian therapy operates on the understanding that individuals are "whole people, heart, soul, mind and strength". This acknowledges that struggles can stem from spiritual, mental, or emotional issues, often in combination, requiring a comprehensive approach. Even biological factors like "misfiring neural pathways in the brain" and "chemical imbalances" for conditions like clinical anxiety are recognised, indicating that psychological disorders are not solely a result of a "lack of wisdom".
Spiritual Disciplines and Christian Meditation
Christian meditation is viewed as a biblical idea, a "very important corrective to our modern age". It is not about emptying the mind for its own sake, but "emptying to always to refill with what is good and noble and pure". It provides an opportunity to slow down thought patterns, challenge inconsistencies with biblical truths, and reorient the "pathways of our brain through thought". Practices may include stretching exercises accompanied by Bible verses and Christian songs, or simply prolonged prayer. It encourages focused attention on God to know Him on a deeper level and discern His will. This practice can also be "quite confronting" as busyness often serves as a self-medication from underlying issues, but facing these hurts allows for them to be brought "before the Lord".
Ready to take this important step?
Contact Life to the Full today to learn more and schedule your sessions.