Mark McMinn (1996) describes four types of prayer that may be used in the field of Christian counseling. Counselors may silently pray for clients during pauses in conversations, counselors may also pray for clients outside of sessions. I believe these two forms of prayer are always beneficial and should...

A counselor who is a Christian has the initial challenge to develop a powerful, personal prayer life.  Such a spiritual and prayer life, or lack thereof, will directly impact the understanding, approach, and use of prayer in counseling.  McMinn (1996) states that the use of prayer in session is not...

The following study investigates family relationships and the impacts on adolescent substance abuse. More specifically, the current study addresses the research question of whether family relationships impact adolescent substance abuse. Findings of the investigation reveal that peer relationships represent...

Use of the Bible in spiritual counseling by a Christian counselor is a given, yet the approach and tangible use of the Bible must be carefully and thoroughly considered. It cannot be used haphazardly or by selecting certain passages in a one-size-fits-all approach. Brewer (n.d.) gives four different...

According to McMinn (1996) a strong sense of self is a combination of spiritual growth and mental health that should not be compartmentalized or separated. The individual’s ability to move toward a healthy and accurate self-awareness is opposite of self-absorption: “To be healthy, we need to move...

Suffering and pain can bring about great healing and transformation (Nouwen, 1975). Opposites shed light on each other, and therefore the beauty of healing is not seen as cleary unless it is against the backdrop of painful experience. Nouwen (1975) explains: “The paradox is indeed that new life is...

In my own education and experience, Jerusalem was always stressed as imperative, yet it did not negate the significance of Athens. I don’t mean to say that these two schools were taught to me as equals. The Bible was taught as God’s Word; a filter to view the world around me. However, I was not...

Contemplating the given statement begs the question, what does “sinfully thinking” actually mean? As Entwistle (2004) unpacks in the text, human nature is affected by the Fall and therefore the statement is correct in its declaration that humanity is sinful. This will always be the true when referring...

The focus of counseling is to help a person reach their maximum potential, and to become fully functioning as a person. Using the Bible can be a source of unique insight for optimum mental health. Ask yourself this question, what can we learn from the Bible about mental health. It is full of stories...