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Book Review: Psychology, theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling

Posted by Nick Roy in Theories of Counseling Wednesday, 10 March 2010 18:46 No Comments

In his Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling Mark R. McMinn stresses the importance of the use of the Christian faith in the psychological counseling. Concentrating on the practical aspect of the integration of theology, psychology and spirituality in counseling, the author gives practical examples of how these areas can be integrated in order to serve one ultimate purpose – to help people.  He uses cognitive therapy as theoretical foundation for his work. He stresses the importance of trust and understanding between the counselor and the patient in order to achieve necessary effect, especially when we speak about Christian counseling.

Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling

References

McMinn, M. (1996). Psychology, theology, and spirituality in Christian counseling. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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The Most Troubling Issues to be Addressed When Considering Death and Dying

Posted by Nick Roy in Psychotherapy Tuesday, 9 March 2010 12:48 2 Comments

Euthanasia, or “physician assisted suicide,” is a particularly troubling issue to this writer. Recently, advocates and lobbyists have changed their argument for legalizing euthanasia from suicide as a relief from pain, to suicide as an issue of personal choice. At first this seems benign, especially in a culture where personal choice is already connected to the beginning of life. However, countries that legalize euthanasia tend to adapt their policies quickly, including the Netherlands, where in the short span of seven years, the Euthanasia Act has come to include protocol for euthanizing infants (Finlay, 2009). This may not be as unusual as it sounds, since even in the text used for this class, the author cited research questioning the validity of spending large amounts of money to keep premature infants alive (Feldman, 2008).

Help For Those Addressing These Issues Personally or in Caring for a Family Member

Just like in other areas of life, the Bible can be a central focus for dealing with the issues of death and dying. A person’s relationship with God makes all the difference both in their eternal destination and in the approach a counselor should use when addressing these situations. While the Bible says that followers of Christ have nothing to fear in death (1 Corinthians 4:16-18; 5:8, New American Standard Version), it does indicate that open expressions of grief both before and after the event are appropriate (Psalm 119:28; Romans 12:15, Genesis 50, etc.). Preparation for death can also be helpful. In Scripture, parents often blessed their children as their death neared (Genesis 49), and parents today can alleviate some strain on their children by making their wishes known ahead of time (Khodyakov & Carr, 2009).

References

Feldman, R. (2008). Development across the lifespan, (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Finlay, I. (2009, May 30-June 5). The art of medicine: Dying and choosing. The Lancet, 373,        1840-1841.

Khodyakov, D., & Carr, D. (2009). The impact of late-life parental death on adult sibling relationships: Do parents’ advance directives help or hurt? Research on Aging, 31(5), 495-519.

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How To Help Someone in Middle Age Identify and Deal With the Issue of Eustress and Distress?

Posted by Nick Roy in Psychotherapy Tuesday, 9 March 2010 12:47 No Comments

Because of its affect on health, stress is a major concern for those going through middle age (Feldman, 2008). Not all stress is bad, and whether or not an external situation results in eustress (good stress) or distress (bad stress) depends entirely on how the situation is appraised by an individual. Therefore, it may not be as important to identify eustress versus distress as it is to change distress into eustress (Le Fevre, Kolt, & Matheny, 2006).

So how can an individual of middle age gain control over their distress levels by appraising a potential stressor in a positive manner? A proper perspective on who God is can help. In Christ, one can always know that “his or her coping strategies are adequate to overcome the challenge posed by the potential stressor” (Feldman, 2008, p. 450). How can one know this? Romans 8:35-39 (New American Standard Bible) is an intense list of terrible, stressful things that could happen in life, but also contains a reassurance that nothing, no matter how great, can separate a believer from the love of Christ. The expectation of this passage is not that the follower of Christ would just survive until the crisis passes, but rather that they would “overwhelmingly conquer” the situation. The Bible is replete with comfort and instruction for stressful times (1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 23, 37:1-11; 2 Corinthians 4, etc.). Research supports the theory that strong religious commitment helps alleviate the stress associated with middle adulthood (King, Cummings, & Whetstone, 2005).

References

Feldman, R. S. (2008). Development across the lifespan, (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ:           Pearson Prentice Hall.

King, D. E.  Cummings, D., & Whetstone, L. (2005). Attendance at religious services and            subsequent mental health in middle age women. International Journal of Psychiatry in             Medicine, 35(3), 287-297.

Le Fevre, M., Kolt, G. S., & Matheny, J. (2006). Eustress, distress, and their interpretation in        primary and secondary occupational stress management interventions: Which way first?            Journal of Managerial Psychology, 21(6), 547.

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How Today’s Society Has Influenced or Changed the Concept of the Social Clock in Early Adulthood

Posted by Nick Roy in Pychology of Childhood Tuesday, 9 March 2010 12:45 No Comments

Even a cursory view of statistics of the lifestyles of young adults of the 1960’s as compared to today in the U.S. reveals just how much the concept of the social clock has changed. For instance, in 1960, marrying couples were usually younger than 21 for women and 23 for men. In 2004, those ages were 25 and 27, respectively. In 1960, only five percent of adults cohabitated, but in 2004, 32 percent were living together as unmarried couples. These percentages repeat themselves for the number of children born out of wedlock during these years (Popenoe & Whitehead, 2004). These changes in societal expectations have altered the order and timing of events in today’s social clock, especially for women.  According to psychologist Ravenna Helson, today’s woman even has more than one social clock to choose from (Feldman, 2008).

A Biblical Basis for the Concept of the Social Clock

The Bible does speak to the passage of time throughout the lifespan (Psalm 90:10, 139:16, New American Standard Bible), even stating that there are instances when certain life events are appropriate (Ecclesiastes 3:1, Genesis 2:24), but it does not list specific ages or orders for life events, except in the cases of circumcision (Genesis 17:12, Leviticus 12:3, Luke 2:21), priestly responsibilities (Numbers 4), and marriage preceding childbirth (1 Thessalonians 4:3,4). Given the ages of antediluvian peoples at death (Genesis 5), versus the expected lifespan in David’s time (Psalm 90:10) and beyond, it would seem that social clocks underwent tremendous change during the time frame of the writing of the Bible.

References

Feldman, R. S. (2008). Development across the life span. Upper Saddle River, NJ:  Pearson Prentice Hall.

Popenoe, D., & Whitehead, B. D. (2004). The state of our unions, 2004. Piscataway, NJ: The

National Marriage Project.

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The Two Most Meaningful Issues to be Addressed in Adolescence

Posted by Nick Roy in Pychology of Childhood Tuesday, 9 March 2010 12:42 No Comments

The two most meaningful issues to be addressed in adolescence are intertwined. An adolescent’s relationship with God and his or her ability to apply biblical principles to daily life are crucial. As in every stage of the lifespan, eternal destination is of utmost importance. 1 Peter 1:3 says that God has given all that is needed for life and godliness. This means that as complex and confusing as an adolescent’s life can be, the answers to the questions that arise are all found in the pages of Scripture and through a relationship with God.

Consider some of the issues listed in this week’s assignment. God’s Word has much to say about peer group affiliation (Proverbs 17:9, 17, 22, 24-26; 22:21; 23:20; 24:1; 25:6), autonomy (Genesis 2:24; Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1- 3; Colossians 1:3), substance abuse (Proverbs 23:20, 29-35; Isaiah 5:11-12, 22; Romans 13:13, 14; Galatians 5: 19-25; Ephesians 5:18), suicidal ideations (Genesis 1:27; Job 3, 6:8-11; Romans 8:35-39), and sexuality (Leviticus 18; Deuteronomy 22:3; Song of Solomon; Romans 1:26,27). The overall scope of Scripture can help an adolescent develop a true sense of self, the value God places on each person, and the responsibilities human beings have toward one another. A relationship with God can give purpose and meaning to life, especially during this time of “major changes in the ways in which individuals must deal with the world” (Feldman, 2008, pg. 408).

Several studies concur that adolescents who hold “religious” values are less likely to participate in delinquent behavior (Petts, 2009; Milot and Ludden, 2009), and be involved in substance abuse (Milot and Ludden, 2009; Berg, C. Choi, W. S., Kaur, H., Ahluwalia, J. S., 2009). These same adolescents are more likely to demonstrate high scholastic motivation and achievement (Milot and Ludden, 2009) and higher degrees of hope, joviality, psychological acceptance and mindfulness (Heaven, P. C. L., Ciarrochi, J., 2007).

References

Berg, C., Choi, W. S., Kaur, H., Nollen, N., Ahluwalia, J. S. (2009). The roles of parenting,          church attendance, and depression in adolescent smoking. Journal of Community Health, 34(1), 56-64.

Feldman, R. S. (2008). Development across the life span. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson

Prentice Hall.

Heaven, P. C. L., Ciarriochi, J. (2007). Personality and religious values among adolescents: A       three-wave longitudinal analysis. British Journal of Psychology, 98(4), 681.

Milot, A. S., Ludden, A. B. (2009). The effects of religion and gender on well-being, substance   abuse, and academic engagement among rural adolescents. Youth and Society, 40(3), 403.

Petts, R. J. (2009). Family and religious characteristics’ influence on delinquency trajectories        from adolescence to young adulthood. American Sociological Review, 74(3), 463-484.

The two most meaningful issues to be addressed in adolescence are intertwined. An adolescent’s relationship with God and his or her ability to apply biblical principles to daily life are crucial. As in every stage of the lifespan, eternal destination is of utmost importance. 1 Peter 1:3 says that God has given all that is needed for life and godliness. This means that as complex and confusing as an adolescent’s life can be, the answers to the questions that arise are all found in the pages of Scripture and through a relationship with God.

Consider some of the issues listed in this week’s assignment. God’s Word has much to say about peer group affiliation (Proverbs 17:9, 17, 22, 24-26; 22:21; 23:20; 24:1; 25:6), autonomy (Genesis 2:24; Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1- 3; Colossians 1:3), substance abuse (Proverbs 23:20, 29-35; Isaiah 5:11-12, 22; Romans 13:13, 14; Galatians 5: 19-25; Ephesians 5:18), suicidal ideations (Genesis 1:27; Job 3, 6:8-11; Romans 8:35-39), and sexuality (Leviticus 18; Deuteronomy 22:3; Song of Solomon; Romans 1:26,27). The overall scope of Scripture can help an adolescent develop a true sense of self, the value God places on each person, and the responsibilities human beings have toward one another. A relationship with God can give purpose and meaning to life, especially during this time of “major changes in the ways in which individuals must deal with the world” (Feldman, 2008, pg. 408).

Several studies concur that adolescents who hold “religious” values are less likely to participate in delinquent behavior (Petts, 2009; Milot and Ludden, 2009), and be involved in substance abuse (Milot and Ludden, 2009; Berg, C. Choi, W. S., Kaur, H., Ahluwalia, J. S., 2009). These same adolescents are more likely to demonstrate high scholastic motivation and achievement (Milot and Ludden, 2009) and higher degrees of hope, joviality, psychological acceptance and mindfulness (Heaven, P. C. L., Ciarrochi, J., 2007).

References

Berg, C., Choi, W. S., Kaur, H., Nollen, N., Ahluwalia, J. S. (2009). The roles of parenting, church attendance, and depression in adolescent smoking. Journal of Community Health, 34(1), 56-64.

Feldman, R. S. (2008). Development across the life span. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson

Prentice Hall.

Heaven, P. C. L., Ciarriochi, J. (2007). Personality and religious values among adolescents: A three-wave longitudinal analysis. British Journal of Psychology, 98(4), 681.

Milot, A. S., Ludden, A. B. (2009). The effects of religion and gender on well-being, substance abuse, and academic engagement among rural adolescents. Youth and Society, 40(3), 403.

Petts, R. J. (2009). Family and religious characteristics’ influence on delinquency trajectories from adolescence to young adulthood. American Sociological Review, 74(3), 463-484.

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