Personal character and motivations of the counselor are what distinguishes a Christian from a non Christian approach in counseling (Buford, 1997).  The Holy Spirit is the one who gives Christians their character and their motivations when they submit and invite Him into their lives in and out of their counseling office. 

When a Christian counselor opens their session with prayer and invites the Holy Spirit into their office they have the Counselor of all counselors present (John 14:26, New International Version).  It is not them counseling but God working through their Spirit. The very words of wisdom the clinician speaks are words the Holy Spirit says through them. Changed hearts and renewed minds are God’s desires and this can only be accomplished by the help of the Holy Spirit. This good work first began in the counselor themselves and they now are called to glorify the Lord by reflecting his nature through their own lives.

The Spirit of Truth reveals what God the Father wants revealed in their sessions and gives direction and guidance by providing Words of Truth from the Bible. The counselor does not rely on his wisdom but the wisdom given by God through the Holy Spirit.

 The counselor is able to express the very essence of God to their clients because the Holy Spirit produces in them the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness (Galatians 5:22).  When the client expresses doubt and is not sure how they can get through their times of troubles the Christian counselor can share that the Holy Spirit is there for them and they can do all things thru Christ who gives them strength (Philippians 4:13).  They don’t have to walk the path they are on alone and the “Comfortor” is close at hand and will provide the hope and peace they need.  

Bufford, R. K.  (1997)  Consecrated counseling: Reflections on the distinctives of Christian counseling.  Journal of Psychology and Theology, 25, 111-122.

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3/30/09

Here is a post I made for my fellow students and I wanted to save and share it with whomever is supposed to see it : )

Would you please do me a big favor? For the next 5 to 10 minutes clear your mind and tune out any noise or anything that would distract you and listen and read some thoughts that I want to share. I do not believe they are MY thoughts but thoughts from above!!

Now, that I have your attention, or do I? Did you just “think” who does she think she is, saying she is writing thoughts from God? Well, if you did “think” that, push it aside and be open to what you are about to read please. This message is one that could literally change you, if you will simply allow it to. Resistance is something we learned in theories and this is not a time to resist but to be open to a message.

This morning when I got up, I began to read the “Screwtape letters”, by CS Lewis, you know the guy who wrote the Narnia movies? I remember someone telling me he was once an atheist and later converted. I had no idea what the book was about I knew the title threw me for a loop and I “thought” that’s a weird name for a book!!! However, as I began to read the preface, I was delighted with what it said. These letters are written from a “retired devil” to a “younger devil” that has just started working on his first “patient”. The psychology of temptation is presented to the reader from the “devils” point of view. Richard Gilman who wrote the preface said, “Lewis’s books…helped make Christianity available to me; in particular they served as a very useful antidote to conventionally pious and intellectually flaccid spiritual writings through which I had been picking my way with distaste. One thing that impressed me was his insistence that religion was no panacea, that it wouldn’t automatically make a person “feel better”… He says foolish preachers always telling you how much Christianity will help you and how good it is for society, have actually led you to forget that Christianity is not a patent medicine…..he goes on to say that one is or becomes religious not because of religions usefulness but because of its truth” (Lewis, 1988, p. viii).

Screwtape, the elder devil gives the advice to get patients to “believe this, not because it is true but for some other reason, that’s the game.” He also urges the young devil nephew to not wake the “patients” reason because once it is awake who can forsee the results?” (p.2).

So here, a truth presented to me in the opening pages of a book with a title that makes a person wonder aloud.  It mentions a person’s reason or reasoning, thinking, analyzing, and how about this one “critical thinking”. Before I started graduate school, I did not even understand what it meant but I will be the first to admit that I thought critically all the time. I could meet someone, size him or her up, and tell you within 5 minutes what was “wrong” with him or her. However, I found out that is not what it means in grad school : ) Thinking critically from my understanding means not believing something just because someone else says it is true. When reading things or listening to someone a critical thinker analyzes and evaluates what is being said to determine if it is true or false and then goes one step further and questions why they believe it is true or false and tries to learn something new from someone else’s perspective.  

So now, you understand what it is…I began this morning by critically thinking about random thoughts floating through my head. I was organizing some books on a bookshelf to make room for ones I had ordered off the recommended reading list and started to question why do you believe that. I questioned where did that belief come from. I picked up a book called “How to know God”, I flipped it open and there it was confirming everything I just wrote. On the page in front of my very eyes were these words, “If you take any issue facing you, your present attitudes will be a clue to your deeper beliefs, and belief is where the real change must occur. A belief lies close to the soul. It is like a microchip that keeps sending out the same signal over and over, making the same interpretation of reality until you are ready to pullout the old chip and install a new one” (Chopra, 2000, p. 199).

Is this not a true statement? Does it sound anything like what Larry Crabb said in the book we just read? Does it sound eerily similar to his “tape recorder” idea? Yes, I do believe it does! : ) So now, if I shared with you that it was written by a “new age guru” named Deepak Chopra would you cringe and say I can’t read what he writes because I am not “supposed” to read new age material because it goes against my “belief system”? The question I want to ask is, who installed that memory chip or better yet who programmed it?  

I work with a Christian woman who is like an angel from God in my life and I mentioned a title of a “new age” book and she said “oh Debra, don’t read that, it is not good to read new age stuff.” I listened, added that message to my memory chip, and started “believing” it. I stopped reading new age material and was “scared” that if I did, some evil spirit would try to possess my mind. However, I also have to admit that new age books helped get me where I am today. I have been a seeker my entire life and I learned a lot by reading ALL kinds of books! But true wisdom really came when I began to read God’s Word! 

So why does all this matter? The point that I want to make and have you consider is why do you believe as you do? Who programmed your microchip and have you ever stopped and pondered the question…Why do I believe that? Could there be truth in another belief that you or I just have not been exposed to yet? Have you asked yourself, why am I in this class? How about this one…why have I read all the way to this line that this crazy woman Debra wrote? Did you ask yourself, could this message be from up above? Or am I going to choose to believe she is just some whacko who is spilling her last marbles out on this blackboard : ). You have a choice in what you believe or do not believe. Remember that from one of the counseling theories?  We all have a choice or free will to believe what we want and act the way we choose to act.

When we surround ourselves or perhaps are surrounded by people who God wants around us, it gives each and every one of us the opportunity to THINK differently and it can help us to question, why does that person believe what they believe. However, you can also choose to think negative thoughts and push someone away who “thinks” radically different than you do…it is again your choice. I must thank Tracy Gillyard, Lauri Franquet and John Hershman, three fellow classmates for helping me see something in a new light. God placed you right where you are supposed to be…in my life : ) I truly believe God places people in all of our lives for really good reasons and if we are open minded and willing to think critically we can learn, grow and move further along the path to higher learning.

So with that said, I encourage everyone to be open to “critical thinking”, question why you believe what you believe, question where the belief came from and be open to the possibility that Truth can be something other than what you currently “believe as your Truth”.

Blessings to you as you continue on the journey of being all God wants you to be! 

All the Glory, Honor and Praise go to Him!

Debra ><>

Chopra, D. (2000). How to know God:The souls journey into the mystery of mysteries. New York,

Harmony Books.

Kapha

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/21/12.cfm

Kaphas are sensuous, strong, calm, soft-spoken and forgiving. They tend to have well-developed bodies with big but not prominent bones. Hair is plentiful, usually dark and wavy or curly. Kaphas frequently have oily complexions and large, soulful eyes. Of all of the doshas, kaphas have the most trouble keeping their weight proportionate. Vatas worry and fidget themselves skinny. Pittas burn off the pounds with their fiery energy. But sweet, self-satisfied kaphas can turn into couch potatoes who kick back and pack on the pounds.

At their best, kaphas are wise, relaxed, tolerant and loyal. Connected to the elements of earth and water, kaphas are usually well-grounded, fluid and able to accept changes. Down-to-earth and good-humored, they can make wonderful friends and excellent hosts. But when their energy goes out of whack, kaphas become greedy, possessive and selfish. While their tendency to live in the present is advantageous to their spiritual development, their deep, abiding attachments to people and things can be obstacles on the spiritual path.

Kapha energy dominates in winter and early spring, and some of the diseases kaphas are most vulnerable to are associated with those seasons. Kaphas can be more susceptible to colds and flus, sinusitis and headaches. Kaphas frequently suffer seasonal allergies. Their metabolisms can be sluggish, making them feel tired, gain weight easily and retain water.

The good news for kaphas is that if they eat sensibly and exercise regularly, their natural strength and endurance give them an advantage for living long, healthy lives. A good kapha diet emphasizes pungent, bitter and astringent foods. Kaphas can safely use plenty of spices but are advised to stay away from sweet foods and follow a low-fat diet.