COUN 506 Discussion Board Week 8-Reply 2

The below assignment has been written by another student. Please read it very carefully and reply to it by providing 200 words, apa format, at least 2 or 3 citations in addition to course textbook. When you reply to classmates, comment on the validity of their approaches, point out any weaknesses or flaws in the approach, ask for clarification, suggest alternatives, etc. Your work should be original. Entwistle, D. N. (2010). Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity (2nd ed.). Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock. McMinn, M. R. (2011). Psychology, theology, and spirituality in Christian counseling (Rev. ed.). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House.

A sensitive Christian counselor must not automatically and quickly confront obvious sin in the life of the counselee. According to McMinn (2011) sin is part of mankind due to original Sin and this sin goes to the root of one’s being which directly impacts one’s relationship with God. Confronting someone’s sin is not just about addressing a certain behavior but a much deeper heart issue that requires the work of the Holy Spirit and transformation in the life of the client. This is not an issue that should be taken lightly and develops over time through a trusting, empathetic, and hospitable therapeutic relationship. McMinn (2011) mentions four perspectives to confronting sin which are silence, pondering, questioning, and direct censure. I think counselors may overlook the benefits and usage of silence in confronting sin even though this is beneficial and allows the client to “work out their feelings of guilt and questions of blame on their own” (McMinn, 2011, p.167). Counselors may feel uncomfortable with the silence and feel that they need to say something to direct the conversation or ‘help’ the client along but in reality silence may be just what the client needs. In the specific case study of Jean, I think the counselor needs to use great caution in confronting sin in her life. This woman has clearly faced varying degrees of abuse and mental instability along with condemnation from Christians who should have unconditionally loved and embraced her. Jean has never had a consistent Christ-like relationship modeled in her life, sadly even from a pastor and his wife. This is a time where the therapeutic relationship of the counselor is more important than ever. Jean does not need to be told of her sins, her lifestyle, or the bad decisions she has made but instead she needs the loving embrace, trust, and acceptance from the counselor. I am not saying the counselor accepts Jean’s sin but she needs to love an accept Jean and allow God to address the sin in her life. Jean needs to discover the healing that can come from a relationship with God modeled by the counselor. I believe in the case of Jean, the silent approach to confronting her sin may be effective. It sounds to me as if Jean is aware of bad decisions she has made and doesn’t need to be told. The pondering approach may also be beneficial to help Jean find clarification and may help uncover emotions and connections due to abuse she experienced as a child that led to her teenage and adult decisions that resulted in bad consequences. I don’t think there is a best time to confront Jean’s sin but would be a gradual part of the healing process through the counseling sessions and as the therapeutic relationship strengthened and Jean felt more and more comfortable and safe sharing her thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Breana K