The new christian counselor summary

Summary

The textbook Hawkins & Clinton (2015) “The New Christian Counselor” is an inspiring book that encourages and guides you through the vision and direction of Christian counseling.

Hawkins and Clinton (2015) discusses the importance of this book is to assist in actively shaping our future to respond to the Spirit in love and loyalty, honor God, and imitate Christs kindness, humility, and strength in all we do (pp6), and further states that in Christian counseling it is necessary to maintain pace with advances in research, practice, and treatment (Hawkins & Clinton, pp.6) Further section of this paper, I will be identifying eight important concepts that Hawkins & Clinton (2015) had discussed in the book.

The Cry of the Soul

Chapter one of Hawkins & Clinton (2015) discuss that listening accurately to the client is a central counseling skill, when we listen, what do we hear? (pp.7). The authors are expressing that it is vitally important to actively listen to what is being said and understand what is being said to you. If you listen clearly you can understand better what the individual is saying and how they are feeling.

Faith Matters

Chapter one of Hawkins and Clinton (2015) discuss that mental health facilities are making provisions to include spirituality in counseling context, it is further stated “ We believe that graduate counseling training programs should conduct sensitivity training to help therapists relate more effectively to religious clients.” This being said, the authors are stating that more facilities and counselors have integrated religion approach to their clients more now for religious beliefs in clients and those whom are religious. These organizations have concluded that Faith matters in therapeutic context (pp18) “Competent counselors and psychotherapists are needed to show others that God matters and he is willing and able to assist with healing” (Hawkins & Clinton 2015, pp.19).

Embracing the Revelation of Scripture

Chapter one of Hawkins & Clinton 2015 expresses that Christian counselors need to be the students of the broad scope of the biblical theology, and need to be armed with key biblical passages (pp21). Here the authors is expressing that counselors should express more biblical scriptures to their clients, scriptures that fit their needs, for example; a scripture for pain or for guidance. “The ultimate task of a Christian counselor is to be Christ’s partner” (Hawkins & Clinton 2015, pp21). People find comfort in biblical scriptures.

Multicultural Care and Advocacy

Chapter one of Hawkins and Clinton (2015) concepts have become accessible more now than in previous years. With the advancement in technology it is now possible for counselors to reach thousands of people by being informed, and to give advice to address issues globally. The advocacy mission is to be the voice for those who are unable to help themselves and advocators recognize that trauma is a special issue and an opportunity for Christians counselors to offer hope and healing (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, p.23-24).

The Complexity of Life

The most important concepts in chapter two of Hawkins and Clinton (2015) having a new appreciation for the complexity of the human experience like the way people think, the things that motivate them, and personal and professional relationships. People who attend church services throughout their life, most still have not encountered that life changing power of God’s love (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, p. 36). People are living a life of suffering, addiction, depression, and many other things that hold them in bondage. This could be, because many might not understand the need for God’s grace and the power of the gospel.

Grace and Truth Together

In chapter two the concept that is important according to Hawkins and Clinton (2015) understands human nature and its complexities, and all the problems in people lives are great with so many resources within reach no one should live in isolation. The Christian counselor counsels justice to biblical truth where sin is a factor in so many people lives, which has caused so much damage, brokenness, and disparity. Honoring God and all those who need help has to be met with something other than a simplistic approach (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, p.37).

The Emotional Dimension and the Shaping of the Soul

The most important concepts in chapter three of Hawkins and Clinton (2015) one of the goals to therapy are to perceive and process emotions and clients come for help with the idea that they need to get over negative emotions, but the only way to do that is to suppress those emotions and that only leads to an implosion or explosion of the clients emotions which can be a very dangerous situation. Having a healthy and productive view of emotions is to look at it as indicators or motivators when something is going wrong (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, p.92).

Sin as Addiction

Chapter one of Hawkins and Clinton (2015) concept is not all addictions are sin, but all sin has a destructive quality of addiction. No matter what degree of influences all sin numbs the moral senses through tolerance and everyone is responsible for their own actions no matter what the contributing factors may be understood by Christian counselors. Sin is irrational and will destroy hopes, dreams, relationships, and families; sin is equal to addiction and will lead to a form of slavery-being a slave to the sin and addiction (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, p.140-141).

Analysis

Hawkins and Clinton (2015) integration approach in Christian counseling has taken huge steps in establishing credible clinical outcomes of faith based counseling. Christian counselors are finding the more productive therapy techniques for Christian counseling like Biblically informed and empirically supported therapies that is producing better treatment that is related to Judeo Christian theology which will treat many different clinical issues (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, p.23).

Hawkins and Clinton approach represents the model applied integration-using integrative principles for the benefit of others, and public and personal integration for personhood of the counselor, because this book is about helping counselors gain a better understanding into faith based counseling. This will allow Christian counselors the opportunity to better serve their clients. Hawkins and Clinton would not identify psychological issues apart from spiritual, because the book is about building on the whole aspects of faith based counseling to include God, and client in order to create an better assessment in which to provide the best care for every client (Brewer and Peters, HSCO, Week One, Lecture Two).

Psychological theory and research is important to Hawkins & Clinton approach, because Christian counselors believe in the Scriptures and that God word is Truth! God has the power to transform life as we believe in the Scriptures. We are conduits of God’s power, his reason, his love, his hurt, and faith for when times are tough and faith is being tested God is there (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, p.43).

Application

As a professional counselor working with many clients with mental illnesses, substance abuse issues, dysfunctional and abusive relationships it is my job to assess each client to be able to adequately work with them. The very first thing I would do is take an assessment of the client, the use of Clinical Assessment and Subjective and Objective Assessment would be useful in order to analyze the clients problems and better understand them and assist the client with an accurate treatment plan that best fits them. Hawkins & Clinton (2015) discuss that counseling, like medicine, begins with accurate assessment, “you can’t treat what you don’t see, and can’t treat properly what you don’t see accurately” (Hawkins & Clinton 2015, pp244-246).

I would also apply “The Cry of the Soul” method, listening accurately to the client (Hawkins & Clinton 2015, pp.7). This is an essential skill it allows you to actively hear and understand what your client is saying and what is going on with them inside and out. When you actively listen you can better understand the emotions and hear the pain, fear, happiness and sadness in the client. Hawkins & Clinton 2015 explains that “when we listen, what do we hear? (pp.7). If we actively listen we can be able to hear tension, fear, violence and more in an individual’s voice and body actions.

As we had moved on from assessments and evaluating the client as a Christian counselor I would offer “The Process of Christian Counseling” Hawkins & Clinton 2015 expresses that the goals and process of counseling – trusting God to change thoughts ,behaviors, and emotions- are thoroughly grounded in the Bible (pp.46). This process I would use with a client with reading some scriptures as it helps to calm the body and soul. Another process I would use is the “Three Biblical Antidotes to Anxiety “Paul reveals three crucial antidotes to fear drenched anxiety. The first antidote is prayer- entreating, God to deliver help, encouragement, and resources. The second antidote is to refocus our thought on things that are good, true, and worthy of our focus. The third antidote is imitative learning – this is to follow our mentors, leaders and others in the godly community, learn and serve as a strong antidote to obsessive, anxious thoughts ( Hawkins & Clinton 2015, pp.47-48).

References

Hawkins, R., & Clinton, T. (2015). The new Christian counselor: A fresh biblical and transformational approach. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers.

Brewer, G., & Peters, C. (n.d.). HSCO 506 Week One, Lecture Two: Five models for interdisciplinary integration. [PowerPoint]. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Online

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Running head: HAWKINS & CLINTON CHRISTIAN COUNSELING BOOK

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Hawkins & Clinton Christian Counseling Book Review

Beverly Johnson

Liberty University

Running head: HAWKINS & CLINTON CHRISTIAN COUNSELING BOOK

REVIEW

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