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Models of Christian Counseling, Coaching,

and Pastoral CareBy Robert H. Munson, ThD

Celia P. Munson, M.Div., CC/PCBukal Life Care, 2014

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It is Kind of Confusing...

● There are so many different terms for the care that may be provided for Christians in need.

● Some methods “claim” they are Christian while they claim others are “not”

● Some methods “claim” to be Biblical while they claim others are “not”

THERE IS NO WAY WE WILL FIGURE THIS ALL OUT IN A COUPLE OF HOURS... BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET A START ON UNDERSTANDING SOME OF THIS.

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STRATEGY FOR THIS PRESENTATION

Divide PASTORAL CARE into two categories: models of Christian COUNSELING (More on repair/ recovery)

and models of Christian COACHING (more on directed growth)

“Kintsugi” Art

Topiary

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What is Pastoral Care?

• Pastor: A Latin word meaning “shepherd”• Related to pastus meaning “feeding”• A shepherd sees to the feeding, well being, and

growth of the flock– Pastoral Care: To be concerned for and give watchful

attention (feeding, well being, and growth) for the “flock.” (See Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34)

– Also known as pastoral counseling, pastoral psychology, and spiritual care.

– Gregory the Great, Cyprian,Tertullian, John Chrysostom, Ambrose, Augustine, Bonaventure, Thomas Aquinas, Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Bucer, More, Herbert, Burnet, Baxter, etc.

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Pastoral Care

Even though pastoral care refers to the care provided by the pastor/shepherd for his/her flock (church or parish family), some forms of care are not considered part of pastoral care.

Ministry areas that are not classically considered pastoral care include evangelism, preaching, sacraments, and social ministry.

<Note: Pastoral Care is NOT care for one's pastor.>

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Types of Historical Pastoral Care

Historically speaking, certain tasks of the pastor/ presbyter/ bishop were seen as “pastoral care” and some not. Ones that are identified as:

• Seward Hiltner (1958). Healing, Guiding, Sustaining

• Clebsch and Jaeckle (1964). Healing, Guiding, Sustaining, Reconciling

• Howard Clinebell (1966). Healing, Guiding, Sustaining, Reconciling, Nurturing.

• Andrew Lester (1995). Healing, Guiding, Sustaining, Reconciling, Liberating.

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The Scope of Pastoral Care

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Philosophy of Primary Pastoral Care

–Client Oriented. The client defines the needs, desires, and agenda. Ministry of Presence. Ministry of Silence. –Support and Comfort-Focused. Not

focused on changing the client, in belief or action. TRY to understand and empathize.

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Philosophy of Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care can be divided into two broad categories:

● Historical Pastoral Care: Rooted in the Church with its roles defined in the first 1900 years of the church. Tends to be more theological and historical in its methods.

● Clinical Pastoral Care: Rooted in the 20th century. Incorporates more psychological innovations.

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Clinical Pastoral CareRev.Anton Boisen, father of the

Clinical Pastoral Education/ Training movement in the 1920s. He saw the need for pastoral care in mental hospitals after being a patient there himself. He placed theological students in supervised contact with patients in mental hospitals.

He gave strong emphasis on the role of theology in pastoral care. FAITH and MENTAL HEALTH--

THEOLOGY and PSYCHOLOGY

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Clinical Pastoral Care

General Traits:● Its focus has been in chaplaincy environments:

hospitals, jails, hospices, atbp. More recently, there has been growing focus in churches, parishes, communities.

● Clinical Pastoral Care tends to focus more on psychological principles than theological principles... but it depends on the practitioner.

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Christian Counseling

Many of the forms of counseling can be understood in terms of four quadrants.

1. They may be identified in whether they focus more on theology or more on psychology.

2. They may be identified in whether they seek to integrate theology and psychology more, or tend to keep the two separate.

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Psychology and Theology

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Levels of Explanation Model

Affiliated groups: Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS); The Journal of Psychology and Christianity; Fuller Seminary School of Psychology

Basic premise: Psychology deals with psychological and natural problems in human behavior and relationships. The Bible looks at spiritual problems and our relationship with God. As such they are separate disciplines that deal with unrelated problems.

<Note: Descriptions of the four major models here are based generally on Timothy Keller's article “Four Models of Counseling in Pastoral Ministry”>

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Levels of Explanation Model

“The rich fabric of the total picture given to us in Scripture brings to mind the similarly rich complexity of the total picture of human nature given to us through the scientific endeavor today. Both emphasize the complexity of human nature, the need to understand and study it from many diverse aspects or perspectives, and the need to recognize that human nature is a unity – a unity now in this present life and, by the grace of God, a unity in the life to come.” -David Myers and Malcolm Jeeves

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Integration Model

Affiliated Groups: Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University, La Mirada, CA; American Association

of Christian Counselors; Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, MS.

Basic premise: Psychology and biblical theology are both looking at the same thing—human nature. Two different tools to study human beings, “general revelation” and “special revelation.” They give priority to the Bible when there is conflict, but may give science priority in common practice.

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Integration Model

Built off of the concept, “The Unity of Truth.” That is, “All truth is God's truth.”

Thus, if psychological principles are not seen to be contradictory to God's Word, one should be open to the possibility that they are true.

Some are “weak integrationists” while others are “strong integrationists”

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Christian Psychology Model

Affiliated Group: Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO

Basic premise: The Bible/Theology critiques psychology at a foundational level. Foundationally, theology dominates, but psychological techniques may be brought in as part of the therapy. In practice, tends to be counselor driven rather than theory-driven.

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Christian Psychology Model

“For the Christian psychologist, integration involves a recognition of the ultimate authority of the Bible, a willingness to learn what God has allowed humans to discover through psychology and other fields of knowledge, and a desire to determine how both scriptural truths and psychological data can enable us better to understand and help people.” -Gary R.. Collins

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Biblical (Nouthetic) Counseling Model

Affiliated Groups: National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC); Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF)

Basic premise: A high level of distrust of modern psychology and psychological methodology. Psychological insights should be used with extreme caution. The older approach, formulated by Jay Adams, put great emphasis on behavioral change and the adoption of patterns of biblical living. Much emphasis on sin, repentance, and redemption.

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Biblical (Nouthetic) Counseling Model

“Nouthetic Counseling helps by confronting sin, praying for encouraging repentance, renewing the mind, identifying idols, pointing them to the sufficient Scriptures. Lastly, Nouthetic counseling helps to battle against the current Christian counseling movement that seeks to rename sin, omit sorrow/repentance, remain man-centered and felt needs oriented.”

-www.calebcounseling.org

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Coaching. How is it different from Counseling?

● In coaching, there is commonly not the presumption of “illness” in the client/coachee. Counseling more about healing... coaching more about growth. Coaching is commonly more directive than counseling.

● Counseling often more past oriented... coaching more present and future. Counseling is more on feeling... coaching is more on results.

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Coaching

Coaching is... “the art and practice of guiding a person or group from where they are to a greater competence and fulfillment they desire.” -Gary R. Collins

God, through the Holy Spirit, initiates change, the coachee discovers change through action, experience and motivation. Coaches help facilitate that process.

Types include: Mentoring, Discipling (group / intentional one-on-one), Christian Life Coaching, Spiritual Direction

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Discipling versus MentoringDiscipleship Mentoring

Models Paul with Timothy Barnabas and John Mark

Primary basis of interchange

Content Relationship

Type of role Teaching new spiritual truths Caring for and helping a person in all aspects of life.

Whose agenda?

Discipler's agenda (spiritual disciplines)

Protege's agenda (goals/problems)

Training? Training and mastery of spiritual disciplines

Practical life experience relevant to the protege

Chemistry? Respect Repect and personal chemistry

Essential message

To mature spiritually, here is what you need to know, do, or become

How can I help you get where you are going?

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Christian Life Coaching

● Think of it like Mentoring... except perhaps more systematized, focused, and time-bound.

● The life coach helps the coachee identify areas of growth (spiritual, behavioral, or otherwise), come up with strategies and plans to grow, and then assist the coachee with accountability, evaluation, and adjustment.

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Spiritual Direction

Spiritual Direction is quite a bit like Christian Life Coaching. However, its scope is generally more narrow as it focuses on developing a deeper relationship with God.

While the work that spiritual directors do with their directees vary... much of the work tends to be in areas of prayer, meditation, and ritual.

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Coaching Types

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What to Use?

Concern Treatment

I Relationship with God, prayer and prayer problems, spiritual practices, discernment regarding spiritual experiences, spiritual emergencies

Spiritual Direction

II Issues involving the meaning and purpose of life, discernment regarding major life decisions, issues involving self-development.

Spiritual Direction, Pastoral Care/Counseling

III Moral/ethical issues involving oneself; moral and/or ethical issues involving relationships; moral and/or ethical issues involving work or social justice

Philosophical Counseling (limited)

IV Losses/grieving, relational conflicts, work, family, self imbalances, work/school problems, failed expectations, mild to moderate symptoms or impairment.

Pastoral Counseling

V Moderate to severe symptoms or impairments, characterological or personality-disordered behavior, addictions, sequelae of early life trauma

Psychological Counseling, Psychotherapy

-Source: Len Sperry

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So What is Best?

● Use what you believe is right before God and in the best interest of your client, coachee, directee.

● Remember theology is the intersection of revelation and culture... so a relevant theology without psychology is probably not possible.

● Remember to be humble (none of us know all truth) and remember God is the true healer.

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References“Pastoral Care in Historical Perspectives,” Book. by Clebsch and Jaekle, 1964.

“Care of Souls in the Classic Tradition,” Book. by Thomas Oden

“Skillful Shepherds: An Introduction to Pastoral Theology,” Book, by Derek J. Tidball.

“Preface to Pastoral Theology,” Book. by Seward Hiltner, 1958.

“Types of Pastoral Care and Counseling,” Book. by Howard Clinebell, 1966.

“Hope in Pastoral Care & Counseling,” Book. by Andrew Lester, 1995.

“The Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling,” Book. by Rodney J. Hunter, Ed.,

“Six Functions of Pastoral Care,” Internet Resource, by Jan Corbett-Jones.

“Four Models of Counseling in Pastoral Ministry,” Article. By Timothy Keller,

“Reviews from History of Pastoral Care,” Celia Munson, 2014

“Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide” by Gary R. Collins, 2007.

“Transforming Self and Community” by Len Sperry, 2005.

“Integrating Spiritual Direction Functions in the Practice of Psychotherapy” by Len Sperry, 2005.

Vriend, Gillian. Lecture notes “Coach, Counsel, Change” (May 2014, Baguio City, Philippines)

Biehl, Bobb. “Mentoring: Confidence in Finding a Mentor and Becoming One” (1997)

Comparing the Five Views Christians Take to Psychology, Eric Johnson, ppt