Faith based counseling

The Pros & Cons of aFAITH-BASED COUNSELING CENTER
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A Lunch & Learn presentation
Argosy University / Sarasota, FL
29 July 2011
Harry Morgan, PhD

WHAT IS FAITH-BASED COUNSELING?
Faith-Based Counseling is an approach to therapy in which the insights of theology and spirituality are integrated with the principles of modern behavioral science to help individuals, couples, families, groups and institutions achieve wholeness and health.

How is faith-based counseling different from other modalities of counseling?
Holistic approach
Beliefs are fundamental to effecting change
Beliefs Thoughts Desires Emotions
Behavior

Holistic Approach
Views an individual as having , at least:
a body
a soul
a spirit
Views an individual as created in the image of God

What is the soul?
Psychology
Psychopathy
Psychotherapy
psyche = soul, mind, spirit
logos = word, dissertation, science of

“The cure of a part should not be attempted without the treatment of the whole, and no attempt should be made to cure the body without a soul.”
Socrates, 400 B.C.E.

“The deeper one’s thought penetrate in the field of psychotherapy, the closer one comes to the realm of theology… The fundamental questions with which psychotherapy ends can only be answered with theology.” (Rollo May, 1967, page 218).

It is not the experience of life, but the experience of the cross that makes one a worthy hearer of confessions. The most experienced psychologist or observer of human nature knows infinitely less of the human heart the simplest Christian who lives beneath the cross of Jesus. The greatest psychological insight,ability, and
Bonhoeffer
experience cannot grasp this one thing: what sin is. Worldly wisdom knows what distress and weakness and failure are, but it does not know the godlessness of men. And so it also does not know that man is destroyed only by his sin and can be healed only by forgiveness. Only the Christian knows this. In the presence of a psychiatrist, I can only be a sick man; in the presence of the Christian brother, I can dare to be a sinner.

WHY DO PEOPLE SEEK LICENSED
FAITH-BASED COUNSELORS?
92% of the US population is affiliated with religion
96% profess a belief in God or a universal spirit
Psychotherapy(Shafranske, 1996)

What are the pros of faith-based counseling?
Provides hope
Provides forgiveness (mercy & grace)
Integrates religious beliefs into life’s circumstances
Appeals to a population seeking spiritual counseling

May appear exclusive to a religious population
May appear less professional and scholarly
May appear provincial, especially if associated with a religious organization or denomination
May appear restrictive and judgmental
Nonprofit religious organizations (501©(3) have many additional requirements
What are the cons of faith-based counseling?

You can contact Dr. Morgan at:
Biblical Counseling Center
825 4th Street West
Palmetto, FL 34221
941-729-6600
Sanctitas@aol.com
www.TRUTHtransforms.com

Faith based counseling

by James Goodbrad on Aug 04, 2011

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Faith based counseling — Presentation Transcript