Review_of_Article_“Interventions_That_Apply_Scripture_in_Psychotherapy”

Review of Article “Interventions That Apply Scripture in Psychotherapy” Lynda Gonsalves Liberty University Summary This article talks about what Christian Counselors may be faced with developing a treatment plan that incorporate the Bible. It also talks about different intervention approaches that Counselors can use within a therapy session with clients while applying Scripture. It states that Scripture is a great resource for Counselors to use. The journal discusses the ethical, cultural, and assessment problems to consider when using scriptural interventions. It was also said that once there is a solid ethical and spiritual evaluation rule that is followed, Scripture will be a valuable source to use. There is always a large diversity of point of views on if and when to use Scripture and also how to use in psychological sessions. The journal uses a case study of an imaginary combination collected from a number of different clients. There is also an example case study and sample scriptural interventions, for which they are six of them. These scriptural interventions are listed as Psychodynamic, psycho-educational, theo-educational, cognitive, behavioral, and affective experiential healing examples. The article is to be used as venue to bring awareness to the various types of Scripture interventions that are obtainable and to encourage the development of incorporating the “living Word of God” in Spiritual psychotherapy (Gazon, 2005). Fernando Gazon explains the case study patron as a male who have a main compliant of low self esteem, suicidal thoughts, depression, and trouble sleeping. He also goes into detail about the client’s condition and the severity of his situation from which he learned from an intake assessment. Lastly the article talks about and explains the diagnosis and each scriptural treatment and how Spirituality has become a popular topic in both secular and Christian environments (Gazon, 2005) and how beneficial it can be to clients seeking help. Interaction I became very interested in this journal after reading through the titles for the other journals; this one seemed interesting to me, especially after reading the first article “Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavior Therapy” I was also looking at several journal articles in which I decided to make this one my second journal assignment. I started reading with the anticipation of learning how interventions can us Scripture in psychotherapy. By reading this article I learned of the frequent ethical areas to think about when using scriptural intervention; imposing spiritual values on clients, going against work-setting boundaries, the dual relationship between religion and profession, having informed approval problems, and clinician proficiency issues. I also learned of the clinical appliance of Scripture and how it should consist of a good client religio-cultural evaluation, a firm therapeutic agreement, an apparent knowledgeable consent procedure, prevention of the annoyance of religious values on the client, and the continuation of intervention flexibility opposed to harshly applying Scripture Intervention. The first scriptural intervention I learned about was the Implicit Scripture Intervention; this intervention uses prayer outside of the therapy sessions and silently during sessions. Psychoeducational and Theoeducational Intervention talks about making the client aware of their emotions or traumatic experience with incorporating Biblical assertiveness to help them differentiate between the positive and negative thinking, while completing homework with Scriptures emphasizing God’s accepting and compassionate nature. With the Behavioral Intervention the Clinician used deep-breathing techniques to relax the client while having the client say a Scripture comforting to them. Cognitive Intervention uses motive and reason as a primary method to change the core irrational viewpoints, while it also uses idiosyncratic or individualized dysfunctional awareness to change the misperception (Garon, 2005). The Affective Experiential Intervention have a client deal and face with the core problems while integrating Scripture to help stabilize the clients emotional state. Application The application of the information learned to use as a Therapist, I would first thoroughly assess the client, and the circumstances that may affect them. I would collect a complete history from childhood to possible adulthood. Also I would assess their spiritual values and perspective. I would use all this information collected to analyze what type of intervention is needed and would probably use the implicit scripture intervention first to praying outside of therapy session or if needed pray silently during the sessions for my client. I would also combine the psychoeducational and theoeducational intervention to make my client aware of his/her emotions or traumatic feeling while incorporating Biblical boldness to help the client tell the difference between the negative and the positive emotion and way of thinking. I also will have the client complete some homework of reading Scriptures focusing on God’s compassionate and accommodating nature. I would also use deep-breathing techniques to calm down my client as they say a reassuring Scripture; this intervention is the Behavioral technique. I would lastly use the affective experiential technique which help my client deal and face core problems that are bothering them while integrating Scripture to help stabilize his/her emotional status. References Garzon, Fernando (2005). Interventions That Appy Scripture In Psychotherapy. Journal of Psychology and Theology, Vol. 33, No. 2, (pp. 113-121).