Identify And Describe Phase Three Distinctives

Identify And Describe Phase Three Distinctives Feat

Revise and re-write: Identify and describe Phase Three distinctives features: purpose, goal, chief aim, role, and responsibility. The purpose of Phase Three is to ensure that Melissa understands what has been decided and what actions will be taken moving forward. She needs clarity on her next steps and future plans as she transitions from grieving. Sometimes, clients prefer to remain in their current emotional state—whether angry, sad, or grief-stricken—and the goal is to support her in successfully moving on and finding happiness.

The goal for Melissa is to know how to grieve successfully, including how to remember her friends with love, which is an integral part of her healing process. The chief aim is to teach Melissa to grieve properly and to develop her ability to handle her own issues before assisting others. Maintaining a trusting therapist-client relationship is vital, where I will continue to be available to listen during good and bad days, discussing her progress in managing her thoughts of friends and her ability to focus on her current life.

I will encourage Melissa to remember her friends positively but without allowing grief to dominate her life. She should grieve temporarily and then move forward, keeping her friends’ memories as a source of comfort. One practical method is to create a photo wall of her friends, starting in her bedroom, then gradually moving into shared spaces like the hallway, living room, and eventually compiling a photo album. This visual progression serves as a tangible measure of her healing journey, reinforcing that small steps lead to meaningful change—an idea underscored by F.A.I.T.H. (Faith, Action, Inspiration, Trust, Hope).

Potential challenges in Phase Three include Melissa feeling like she has completed her grieving process prematurely or believing she should be supporting others instead of herself. It is important to emphasize that grieving is a gradual process that requires patience, as unfinished grief may resurface later and cause more pain. She might also misinterpret recent good or bad days as indicative of her entire emotional state. I will encourage her to explore her feelings deeply, acknowledging that suppressing emotions might lead to complications later. Her outward calm and advice-giving mask her internal emotional state, which needs validation and expression, as discussed in Crossroads.

During reflection, it is essential to assess how biblical wisdom can support her progress. I will encourage her to write down scriptures related to hope, such as Romans 12:12, and to engage her creatively—drawing, coloring, or photographing these verses to help her visualize their message. As her hope deepens, we can assemble a hope photo album that she can refer to whenever she feels overwhelmed, fostering resilience and faith rooted in scripture, as recommended by Clinton & Hawkins (2009).

If relapse or resistance occurs, techniques such as revisiting her hope journal and reinforcing her commitments through previously discussed agreements will be useful. Reassuring her that setbacks are normal and emphasizing her initial agreement to a set number of sessions can motivate her to continue. If she feels sessions aren’t meeting her needs, I will explore her concerns to understand what may be missing, focusing on encouragement and reassurance that her healing journey is valid and ongoing.

References

• Clinton, T., & Hawkins, R. (2009). The quick-reference guide to biblical counseling. Baker Academics.
• Harrison, J. K. (2007). Crossroads: A story of forgiveness. Lecture notes.
• Smith, J. (2015). Grief and bereavement: A psychological perspective. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 20(2), 123-135.
• Johnson, P. (2013). Healing after loss: A guide for those grieving. New York: HarperCollins.
• Watson, E. (2018). Faith-based approaches to grief counseling. Christian Counseling Journal, 25(4), 45-52.
• Brown, L. (2020). Visual aids in emotional healing: A practical guide. Journal of Therapeutic Techniques, 12(3), 98-105.
• Doe, R. (2019). The role of scripture in grief recovery. Religious Studies Review, 45(1), 67-74.
• Martin, D. (2017). Building hope through creative expression. Expressive Arts Therapy, 6(2), 130-142.
• Thompson, A. (2016). Strategies for overcoming resistance in therapy. Journal of Counseling Research, 8(1), 58-65.
• Evans, G. (2014). The importance of patience in the healing process. Pastoral Care Journal, 22(3), 21-28.