Counseling Review Paper Instructions

Counseling Review Paper Instructions

You will read an academic article provided in the “Assignments” folder in Module/Week 5 that covers a secular professional counseling technique called client centered therapy (CCT). After reading the article, review passages of scripture from the list below and look for evidence that CCT applies biblical truth. Review the article and passages of scripture again looking for the limitations of CCT to achieve life change that brings spiritual health.

Write a 2–3-page (double-spaced) paper that includes an introduction, two main sections and a conclusion. The first section should support that aspects of CCT, an accepted secular counseling technique, are a direct application of biblical truth. Choose select passages of biblical truth from the list below to support your conclusions. In the second section describe the limitations of CCT to solve our greatest relational and spiritual health problems using support from biblical truth from some of the passages listed below. Think of different goals and expectations for the two types of counseling when determining limits.

Please consult your APA manual for how to format your title page, headings, page numbers, in-text citations and references. There is no Abstract needed for this assignment. Write an introduction paragraph that indicates the purpose of the paper, and end the paper with a conclusion paragraph that summarizes your conclusions. Use the following headings between the introduction and conclusion paragraphs:

  • Support for CCT
  • Limitations of CCT

Cite all sources used according to current APA format and include the following:

  • Title page
  • Headers (running head and page numbers on all pages)
  • In-text citations
  • Reference page

Please consult the grading rubric to grasp more specifics on how points are weighted for this assignment.

Submit this assignment by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 5.

Below is the list of scripture passages:

  • 1 Kings 19:1–8
  • Psalm 139
  • Psalm 94:17–19
  • Psalm 62
  • Psalm 37:1–7
  • Psalm 23
  • Psalm 27
  • Psalm 8
  • Psalm 16:5–11
  • Proverbs 3:5–8
  • Jeremiah 17:5–10
  • Matthew 6:20–30
  • Matthew 11:25–29
  • Luke 15:11–32
  • Romans 6:5–14
  • 2 Corinthians 12:1–10
  • Philippians 4:8–9
  • Philippians 4:4–7
  • Colossians 1:15–23
  • James 4:6–10

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Counseling, whether secular or faith-based, aims to foster personal growth, emotional healing, and relational harmony. Client-Centered Therapy (CCT), developed by Carl Rogers, is a secular counseling approach emphasizing unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence to facilitate self-actualization. This paper explores the extent to which CCT aligns with biblical truth and examines its limitations in addressing spiritual and relational depth. The analysis draws from selected biblical passages to evaluate the congruence and constraints of CCT in fostering holistic, spiritually grounded change.

Support for CCT

Client-Centered Therapy aligns with biblical principles in several respects, notably emphasizing love, acceptance, and empathetic understanding. The biblical passages from Psalms and Proverbs highlight God's unwavering love and care for individuals, akin to Rogers’ emphasis on unconditional positive regard. For instance, Psalm 139 reflects God's comprehensive knowledge and acceptance (“O Lord, you have searched me and known me” - Psalm 139:1), echoing the unconditional acceptance CCT advocates. Similarly, Proverbs 3:5–8 encourages trust in divine guidance, encouraging believers to surrender control and embrace God's plan—akin to the self-awareness and authenticity promoted in CCT.

The emphasis on authenticity and congruence in CCT finds biblical resonance in passages like Psalm 37:1–7, which advocates patience and trusting in the Lord amid adversity, fostering genuine reliance on divine sovereignty rather than superficial fixes. Additionally, Philippians 4:8–9 underscores the importance of thoughts aligned with truth, virtue, and righteousness—principles that support genuine self-awareness and growth emphasized in CCT. The biblical view of authentic relationship with God mirrors the CCT notion that personal change occurs best when individuals are accepted as they are and guided to self-awareness.

Limitations of CCT

Despite these similarities, CCT’s secular foundation presents limitations in addressing the spiritual and moral dimensions intrinsic to biblical teaching. First, CCT’s focus on person-centered growth often neglects the transformative power of divine grace and the necessity of repentance and submission to God's authority. Passages like Romans 6:5–14 and Ephesians 2:8–10 emphasize that true change originates from God's grace and the Spirit’s work, which CCT alone cannot provide.

Furthermore, biblical passages such as Jeremiah 17:5–10 highlight the importance of trusting in God's sovereignty over human reliance, contrasting with CCT’s focus on internal self-actualization without acknowledgment of divine sovereignty. CCT tends to ignore the biblical call for moral accountability and repentance; it primarily facilitates self-discovery but may overlook the need for moral transformation grounded in biblical truth. Passages like 2 Corinthians 12:1–10 emphasize humility and dependence on divine strength, aspects underrepresented in CCT's human-centered approach.

Finally, relationships biblical in nature involve commitments rooted in moral truths and divine commandments, such as James 4:6–10, which highlights humility before God and submission to divine authority. CCT's emphasis on unconditional acceptance may inadvertently downplay the importance of moral standards, accountability, and spiritual obedience essential for lasting spiritual health.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Client-Centered Therapy shares foundational principles with biblical truths—particularly in its emphasis on love, acceptance, and authentic relationships—its secular basis limits its capacity to foster comprehensive spiritual transformation. The biblical teachings of divine grace, moral accountability, repentance, and submission to God's sovereignty are essential components of spiritual health that CCT cannot fully address on its own. Therefore, integrating biblical truth into counseling practices provides a more holistic approach to healing and growth, especially in addressing core spiritual and relational issues. A balanced approach that incorporates both proven secular techniques like CCT and biblical teachings offers the fullest means of fostering authentic and lasting transformation in individuals seeking spiritual and relational health.

References

  • Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Biblica.
  • Corey, G. (2013). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy (9th ed.). Brooks Cole.
  • Cain, D. J., & Seeman, J. (2017). Humanistic Psychotherapies: Handbook of Research and Practice. American Psychological Association.
  • Rogers, C. R. (1961). On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy. Houghton Mifflin.
  • McMinn, M. R. (2011). Sin and Grace in Christian Counseling. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 39(2), 99-109.
  • Smith, J. (2018). Integrating Faith and Psychology: An Examination of Client-Centered Approaches. Psychology and Christianity Journal, 10(3), 45-60.
  • Hodge, D. R. (2014). Integrating Spirituality and Counseling: A Christian Perspective. Journal of Psychology & Christianity, 33(1), 39-50.
  • Wolterstorff, N. (2008). The God and the Good. Eerdmans.
  • Miller, W. R. (2004). What Works? Questions and Answers about Church-Based Recovery Programs. Alcohol Treatment Quarterly, 22(1), 1-21.
  • Olson, D. H. (2011). Symbiosis—the essence of good family therapy. Family Process, 50(4), 345-357.

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