Interventions_That_Apply_to_Scriptures

INTERVENTIONS THAT APPLY SCRIPTURE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY 2 Summary This article attempts to provide a connection between therapy, interventions, and scriptures. The journal offers a individual named George in a case where he is always negative about his feelings of himself, his family background, and his future in his career. The journal explains his background and how he was raised and the issues that his parents have had dealing with an abusive alcoholic father who died three years prior and a mother who suffered from depression. His family did not have a strong spiritual background and rarely went to church. George felt useless and often used this feeling as an excuse for him not excelling in life and thus experiencing a chronic depression from his childhood experiences and relationships. The author links George's state of negativity and depression to a more spiritual intervention associated with psychotherapy and to incorporate an ethical approach in the delivery. This journal also explores George's feelings of his younger years and how his past certainly has contributed to his attitude about his present state and his future. It is also discussed how implicit and explicit strategies can be used in this intervention as being helpful in George's session. There were different interventions and strategies that were put in place to help George overcome his obstacles such as deep breathing technique, and his favorite Scripture phrase he could use when he exhaled. The therapist also explored George's theology with regards to his past and to ask him questions in attempt to find evidence against his belief if any. Other experiments includes inner healing by prayer which consists of " a range of journey INTERVENTIONS THAT APPLY SCRIPTURE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY 3 back" (Garzon, 2005 ) methods to help him to reveal personal or family issues in the past that might be a factor of his negativity in his present state. Interaction This article is appropriate in determining other factors to utilize when participating in therapy interventions. This article is useful in developing ways that we as therapist can incorporate spirituality in our line of profession. Interesting enough, the article provides helpful ways in and examples of how to explore George's background through scripture, inner healing and prayer. It is most certain that this type of intervention through the Bible can definitely help in making our faith a lot stronger than what it is. This will help us to satisfy our spiritual need consistently through what God says and how to relate past, current, and future relationships and problems that we may incur and incorporate them through ideas, exercises and strategies beneficial to our spiritual side. This article is interesting to me because of its' ability of not just focusing on a more traditional approach of therapy but also a Spiritual approach as well. A traditional approach can be one dimensional to a client in coping with their feelings. We should be able to develop other strategies and to introduce new ideas to our clients in relation to their feelings. This article presents alternative ways in interacting and applying methods of use for clients to use to help them to heal. The use of Scripture is a excellent idea in coming to understand ones' emotional conflicts and also how to resolve them. The methods that were used in this article were very interesting because of the challenge that George has in undoing this negative INTERVENTIONS THAT APPLY SCRIPTURE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY 4 emotion based off his negative family background. For George to understand his own feelings he had to come to grips with his past and understand that his current feelings stem from his past. Application I would apply this article to my practice such as a substance abuse by looking at the particular clients' background first. I would make sure that I was totally ethical in any approach especially clinical applications of Scriptures and careful not to pose my own values and beliefs on the client. I would ask the client about their own faith and belief and I would assure them that that the interventions being use are flexible in that it compromises the client in their own feelings and situations. I think this is a good starting point for any type of therapist client interaction. This approach can tell a great deal about the events that ultimately lead the client to therapy, why they feel and act the way they do, and the results of their actions. I would assess potential stressors in their life and obstacles that they have had to overcome. Once this has been discussed I would apply the spirituality side of it in explaining what God says about substance abuse. Based off of how spiritual the client is, I would potentially have the client discuss how they think substance abuse plays a role in their lives and what God says about the human body. I would develop strategies and interventions that would help them control certain urges for them to utilize whenever they feel the need pollute their bodies. Since substance abuse is a difficult action to stop, I would first ask how familiar they are with Scriptures that edify them INTERVENTIONS THAT APPLY SCRIPTURE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY 5 and also promote encouragement. One in particular that I would suggest is, "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us." (Phil 4:13) If this client is in agreement I would have them say this out loud or quietly whenever the sudden urges take place or when they suffer from withdrawal symptoms. This action could benefit them in helping them become clean and sober again and incorporating spirituality could also help with future problems that they will encounter and also bring them closer to God.   INTERVENTIONS THAT APPLY SCRIPTURE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY 6 References Garzon, F., (2005). Interventions that apply scripture in psychotherapy. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 33 (2), 113-121.