Reading Log for Week 8, Pastoral Counseling

Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide (Building Multicultural Competence)

The counselor should develop awareness of his or her own cultural values and biases (p. 103)

Reminiscent of overall, Counselor preparedness, however, most importance when it comes to this discussion.

Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide (Building Multicultural Competence)

I’m curious about how you feel about counseling with someone who is white? (p. 108)

Excellent question. Could be very disarming and introductory, laying groundwork for a conducive relationship.

Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide (Chapter 38: Crises)

Briefly defined, a crisis is a turning point that usually cannot be avoided. (p. 746)

This definition demands an examination of how one approaches factors out of their own control. Discovery of locus control becomes paramount.

Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide (Chapter 38: Crises)

Since people in crisis often feel confused and helpless, they tend to be more open to receiving outside help, including the help that comes from rescue workers, from counselors, and from God. (p. 746)

Opportunity knocks for God’s representative.

Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide (The Bible and Crisis Types)

Hebrews 11 summarizes both crises that had happy endings and those that resulted in torture, suffering, and death. (p. 747)

Not all crises have happy endings. However, all crises have origination in the power of a loving God who is guiding the events of our present universe.

Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide (The Bible and Crisis Types)

For some people, the crisis that brings them to counseling is the one that comes as the most recent in a series of stressful changes and losses. (p. 747)

What about others? Could it be that others having somehow survived by self-imposed coping mechanisms, or misguided interpretations of strong theologies of God reliance, are finally reaching a point of realization that external help is needed even after decades have passed?

Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide (The Bible and Crisis Types)

crises can be learning experiences that mold character, teach us about God and his resources, and stimulate growth. (p. 749)

Back to the discussion of: opportunity.

Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide (The Effects of Crises)

Preventing people from moving when something terrible happens, that’s one of the things that makes a trauma a trauma (p. 750)

How amazing that bureaucracy, even an attempt at providing a master plan, can slow down healing, recovery, and restoration.

Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide (Crisis Intervention)

In all crises, but especially in times of permanent change, it helps if people are surrounded by sincere, concerned, supportive, praying friends who are available to assist whenever and however they are needed. (p. 754)

I appreciate the sweeping generalization of these words.

Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide (Resilience)

resilience. This is the human capacity to cope effectively, adapt, maintain equilibrium, and even thrive (p. 757)

“This too shall pass” is a familiar and sometimes too flippant response. However, with relation to resilience, it is very true.

Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide (Chapter 39: Trauma, Terror, and Terrorism)

terrorism is “(a) the use of force or violence (b) by individuals or groups (c) that is directed toward civilian populations (d) and intended to instill fear (e) as a means of coercing individuals or groups to change their political or social positions (p. 763)

Broad definition of terrorism

Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide (The Bible and Terror)

The events that occurred in the Garden of Eden led to the first human experience of trauma. (p. 764)

This results in a trauma-informed reality experienced by the human race.

Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide (The Psychological Effects of Terrorism, Terror, and Trauma)

Inner-city children did not show long-term increases in post-traumatic psychological symptoms, perhaps because many of them cope every day with crime and violence, so there may have been some kind of stress inoculation. (p. 765)

Fascinating terminology. Stress inoculation due to daily coping with crime and violence.

Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide (Conclusions About Trauma, Terror, and Terrorism)

Terror, natural disasters, trauma, and other intense stress can be highly disruptive, but in time the resilient human body can recover and go on. (p. 778)

Instilling hope by knowing the power of resilience.