Counseling
Abstracts
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Models of
Integration in Counseling: a Critical Review |
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The process of doing integration of psychology and theology is more
complex than has been assumed. While H. Richard Niebuhr's book on Christ and Culture
has been generally followed by most authors, it neither proposes a method for doing
integration nor does it take adequate account of broader philosophical approaches to doing
integration. This article will critique most of the integration efforts over the past
twenty years focusing on what we can learn in five areas and will indicate some of
the problems with what has been done.
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A New Model for Integration in
Counseling |
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First, the Bible must be examined to construct a biblical world view.
This world view will provide the starting point and the base from which to interpret
facts. Since we hold it to be true that truth discerned from any source is from God
and will therefore be compatible with any other true statement, historical experience can
be taken as a data base alongside scripture (remembering, of course, that the actual data
is the historical event, not someone's record or account of the event). Thus, the
Christian integrator has two valid data bases: the propositions (words) of the Bible and
the facts of experience. From these bases a world view can be constructed. From
these bases the integrator can also define issues. Sometimes the historical events will
seem important and felt issues can be defined and studied, using both data bases. In other
cases the Bible will cast an attitude, action or practice in an important light and these
issues can be examined using both data bases. As each issues is fully examined in
this back and forth process, a theory can be articulated which will provide useful
information for application to life situations so that the issues under discussion can be
resolved by living according to God's plan and desires for us. Eventually, when many
issues have been thus examined and various theories developed, it will be possible to
discern the common elements in the theories and a general field theory (a system) can be
defined.
