Pastors as Counselors
By Harry Jay
()
About this ebook
Religion & Spirituality - Pastors as Counselors weaves
its way through the intricate world of counseling specifically
as it pertains to licensed ministers and pastors. Living in a
litigious society, pastors providing counseling services are
quickly becoming a thing of the past. A pastor attempting to
counsel a parishioner is subject to the same rules and laws as
licensed and trained counselors. In an attempt to bring pastors
into the real world, Religion & Spirituality - Pastors as Counselors
outlines what a pastor must do to be compliant as well as teaches
the various types of the most common mental maladies that they will
face. Every pastor should have this book as a part of their personal
library. Religion & Spirituality - Pastors as Counselors is not
a book on spiritualism and in fact it is a book of spirituality vs
religion. It delineates what are the differences in religions and
speaks about religion spirituality.
Harry Jay
Dr. Harry Jay is Director of Research for AppliedMindSciences.com, a mental health and mind research group of Applied Web Info, and is the author of over 100 books and research papers as a behavioral scientist. In his 31-year career, Dr. Harry Jay has contributed many new mental health treatment treatments and protocols using some of the new advances he has discovered in Energy Psychology. He specializes in addictions of all kinds, sexual abuse, child predation and gender relationships. He is also a board member to ePubWealth.com and serves on the science committee assisting non-fiction science writers in book publishing and promotion. As a leading behavioral scientist, he provides profiling services to the company's ForensicsNation.com unit as well as criminal psychology research to aid in identifying and apprehending child predators and cyber-criminals of all kinds. He resides in Southern Utah and enjoys the outdoors, fishing and photography.
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Pastors as Counselors - Harry Jay
star001 Dedication
I want to tell you a story. Not too long ago a little 8-year old boy named Nathan Caldwell came up to me and said, When I grow up, I want to be just like you, sir.
As little as ten years ago, I would have swelled up with pride and told him, You can young man. Just be ruthless in business, think only of making money and achieving power, treat people like they were expendable garbage and you too can be just like me.
But I didn't tell him this.
This is what I said, Nathan, you do not want to be like any man. What you want to be is a child of God, walking hand-in-hand with Him to discover His plan for your life and obeying only what God commands you to do. You want to learn to sacrifice yourself for the sake of others and learn to love with great humility. If you do this, God will bless you completely and you will have a joyful life. Son, you want to be just like Jesus!
Nathan had been handed a very sad set of circumstances at a very early age. His mother had been a drug addict and Nathan was born a crack baby
. No one knows who his father is because his mother was also a prostitute to pay for her habit.
I will always thank God that He found Nathan's mother and saved her prior to her death. The ravages from the drugs she ingested had done too much damage to her body and she succumbed to heart failure when Nathan was only four years old. Nathan now lives in an orphanage.
We all have the choice of following the world or following God. We, at Theolegions believe in prevention as well as treatment. To teach and lead young people to God is not an easy task. How do you compete with money, sex, drugs, and all the other lustful sins? It seems like an insurmountable task but it isn't.
We have a not-so-secret weapon here at Theolegions. It is the very Word of God. If God be for us, who can be against us? Nathan may have lost his mother, but now God is his Father and as the bible says, When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up
(Psalms 27:10).
This manual is dedicated to Nathan Caldwell, a little guy with a very big heart for God. It is too easy for young people to fall in love with the world. It is the goal of Theolegions to teach them the ways of God and show them the destructive paths that await them if they choose poorly.
As pastors, we are more than just witnesses and messengers. Many of you have been forced into a counselor’s role and this role feels alien to you. Throw the legal repercussions into the mix and many churches have simply decided not to provide counseling services. This manual is to assist you in become effective counselors.
May God bless all of you in your saintly endeavors!
To every bird God provides a worm. He just doesn’t throw it into the nest.
star001 1. Introduction
1.1 I would like to take this time to welcome you aboard a new exciting adventure. Our program always generates a high level of interest and participation by offering quality addiction prevention protocols based on sound Christian doctrine with experience that dates back to 1982. The purpose of this manual is to teach you about counseling and how to spot and counsel people in need. The second half of the manual discusses male/female realities and how they perceive each other. It is also our desire to explain the various programs Theolegions offers. Pay close attention to the information in this manual and you too can succeed in developing a nose
for spotting and counseling people in need. So let’s begin…are you ready?
Let’s first take a look at the differences between secular and non-secular counseling, practitioners, orientations, modalities, and protocols. And then let’s take a look at the differences in treatments. Here we go…
Striking the Perfect Match
Pairing the Mental Healthcare Provider with the Patient
Theolegions is a non-secular counseling ministry made up of Christian Counselors that provides its services without charge. I am asked many times about the term non-secular,
and also about the difference between secular and non-secular treatment orientations, modalities, protocols and providers. I will attempt to articulate in this article most of the substantial differences as well as provide information of the counseling realm in general.
The realm of counseling can be bewildering to the layman. I want to introduce you to something we at Theolegions consider to be of paramount importance: relief versus cure. Our goal is ALWAYS to counsel a patient to a cure. Relief provides only a temporary band-aid and unless the underlying belief system that causes the problem is addressed properly, changed or removed, it is an exercise in futility to counsel. So let’s begin by defining both secular and non-secular counseling professionals.
Non-Secular Mental Health Providers
Christian Counselors ~ Many professionals who describe him/herself as a Christian Counselor
may or may not have had professional training in psychology or mental health counseling. Quite possibly this is because many of them believe that secular orientation is seriously flawed and at best fraudulent. This belief centers on the fact that the Judo-Christian bible teaches that man is incapable of curing himself and that the human mind is beyond redemption. To become a Christian is to receive a new mind – the mind of Christ. Christian Counselors believe that a person’s emotional and life difficulties are the result of incorrect belief systems, specifically as it pertains to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Christian Counselors assert that if you re-order your life according to the principles in the Bible and are obedient to these principles, your psychological problems will be solved because you are not using your old mind but your new mind of Christ. Christian Counselors are strongly oriented toward evangelical Christian values. But Christians Counselors go much deeper than this defining belief. In the opinion of this author, the Holy Bible is the best and most complete psychology text ever written. Who knows better than the One who created the human mind about how it works, functions, and learns? Counseling involves imparting knowledge and understanding, but no amount of counseling will achieve its goal unless the person being counseled accepts what is taught as truth. In other words, CHOICE is paramount and excuses are not. Christianity is not so much a religion as it is a life style. It requires belief; but then it requires you to live like you believe. But when you think of it, aren’t we all living like we believe? Consciously or subconsciously we are doing exactly that. So a Christian Counselor concentrates specifically on non-secular modalities and protocols that lead a person to Truth and in return, a new belief system is imparted that provides the new born-again Christian with a new mind. We will discuss protocols and modalities in just a moment…
Certified Pastoral Counselors ~ This type of counseling professional is a secularly trained professional psychotherapist employing both secular and non-secular modalities and protocols. Furthermore, they also have a graduate degree in theology but not necessarily in Christian theology. This dual training enables them to address both your spiritual and emotional needs. However, this important distinction causes me great consternation. The Holy Bible states rather emphatically that oil and water do not mix. In other words, secular psychotherapy and Christian values simply do not mix. You cannot have one foot in the world and one foot in the Word of God so to speak. Secular beliefs center on the understanding that man CAN cure him/herself. The Holy Bible makes it perfectly clear that man is incapable of doing this so it is impossible for this type of professional to blend both the psychotherapy and Christianity together. In faiths other than Christianity, this type of counseling works well since only Christianity believes that man is incapable of curing himself. All other faiths believe that man IS at the center of his existence and not God. Pastoral Counselors are certified by AAPC after lengthy training and experience. They do not impose any religious beliefs on you, but are trained to understand your spiritual journey as well as your emotional difficulties. Generally they are equally supportive to persons who are Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, New Age, or any other spiritual tradition. Non-Christian religions bring self
back into the picture and practice subjective rather than objective truth. Only Christianity practices objective truth!
Spiritual Director ~ For those people who would like to do some work on spirituality with a separate person or guide then a Spiritual Director is the person you seek. Spiritual direction is an ancient practice that grew out of the monastic tradition. Spiritual directors are trained to be companions to you on your spiritual journey. They do not impose beliefs on you, but will help you develop a spiritual path, by working with you on prayer, meditation, and study. Spiritual directors do not claim to be able to help you with psychological difficulties (unless they also happen to be trained psychotherapists); they would refer you to a psychotherapist for help with those issues. Like psychotherapists, they are not necessarily trained in any specific religion but strive for tolerance and spiritual neutrality. My comments above pertain here too. Spiritual Directors are not necessarily trained in Christian values or any other faith-based tenets. Only God cures; any other faith is seriously flawed. Our experiences in counseling demonstrate this to be true. All three non-secular type counselors can be very beneficial to a patient if what they teach and counsel is God-based and nothing else.
Secular Mental Health Providers
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers or L.I.C.S.W.s ~ have a master's degree in social work (MSW) and additional supervised experiences. Social Workers are trained in psychotherapy and social work techniques. Generally, social work professionals provide counseling to individuals, couples, families and groups directed toward specific goals. Social workers who work in private agencies or independent practice must hold state licenses.
Behavioral scientists ~ may have a Ph.D., Psy.D, or Ed.D degree, all of which are doctoral level credentials. Behavioral scientists have received extensive training in research or in clinical psychology, with additional supervised experiences after they receive their degree. Behavioral scientists may also have training in psychological and/or neuropsychological testing. Behavioral scientists are state-licensed. There is a term being bantered about today in the non-secular field called a Christian Behavioral scientist.
I am not comfortable with this term because once again it attempts to blend the secular with the non-secular and this simply cannot work.
Psychiatric Nurse Mental Health Clinical Specialists (CSs) ~ are Registered Nurses with additional special education in mental health care. These advanced practice nurses may offer mental health care, which includes evaluative, diagnostic, consultative and therapeutic procedures as well as prescribing medications. Psychiatric Nurse Mental Health Clinical Specialists must hold a master's degree in mental health nursing, meet the registered nursing criteria for advanced practice and receive its authorization. These advanced practice nurses are also certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Psychiatrists (M.D., D.O.) ~ are licensed medical doctors who have chosen psychiatry as their residency, or specialization. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication and often practice some form of psychotherapy. Psychiatrists may be Board certified in psychiatry and/or child psychiatry. Licensing is provided by each state and professional conduct is monitored by each state licensing board.
Licensed Mental Health Counselors or L.M.H.C.s ~ hold a master's degree from a graduate program in the field. They may render mental health care services to individuals, families or groups. L.M.H.C.s use therapeutic techniques to define goals and develop treatment plans aimed toward prevention, treatment and resolution of mental and emotional dysfunction. Mental Health Counselors are licensed by each state, which also monitors professional conduct.
Psychotherapist ~ is a general term and any of the mental health providers described above may also be called a psychotherapist. Some psychotherapists may also be a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or a Pastoral Counselor.
Orientations
Let’s talk about orientation or the specific type of therapy a secular counselor practices. Non-secular counselors do practice secular orientations with the exception of Christian Counselors described above. Once again, the reason for this is: 1. Most Christian Counselors are not trained in any of the following orientations, and 2. Most do not believe that any of the following actually work to affect a cure, although they do believe that the following can provide relief.
Behavioral Therapy ~ Behavioral approaches use learning theory to create changes in behavior. The goal of behavioral therapy is the unlearning of unwanted behaviors (thoughts and feelings can be regarded as behaviors) and learning of desired behaviors in their place. Maladaptive behaviors are weakened and adaptive behaviors are strengthened incrementally through reinforcements until a stable behavior change has occurred.
Cognitive Therapy ~ A cognitive approach to therapy seeks to alter maladaptive thought patterns, such as overgeneralization or wishful thinking. This approach emphasizes rationality and a positive outlook. It is most often used for anxiety and depression.
Existential Therapy ~ Existential therapy deals with some of the major issues in our existence, such as the meaning of life and mortality. It focuses upon taking responsibility for our own choices and creating meaning and purpose in our lives. It is used most often for people who are coping with issues of death and dying.
Psychoanalytic Therapy ~ This is the orientation founded by Sigmund Freud. A therapist using this orientation seeks to help the patient understand how the forces at work in their unconscious affect their conscious life with the idea that once the patient consciously understands these forces, they will be able to make choices about their lives rather than being at the whim of these unknown forces. This type of therapy involves frequent meetings and may continue for years. Therapists say little, but rather guide the patient in finding meaning in their own dreams, free associations and other expressions of unconscious material.
Psychodynamic Therapy ~ This approach is based upon psychoanalysis; however, it allows for mixing of orientations, is shorter in duration and practitioners are more communicative than psychoanalysts.
Eclectic Therapy ~ Eclectic simply means that the therapist picks and chooses from a variety of orientations according to what works best for the patient.
Modalities
Both secular and non-secular counselors of all types practice the following modalities without exception.
Individual Therapy ~ This modality involves one-on-one work between patient and therapist. It allows the patient to have the full attention of the therapist, but is limited in that it does not allow the therapist an opportunity to observe the patient within social or family relationships.
Family Therapy ~ This approach is most useful when it is necessary to work on dynamics within the family group.
Group Therapy ~ Group therapy generally involves anywhere from three to fifteen patients. It offers patients the opportunity to give and receive group support in coping with their particular issues as well as to observe how they interact in group settings. It may also be a less expensive alternative to individual therapy.
Couple's Therapy ~ This type of therapy is geared towards married couples and those in significant other situations who desire to improve their functioning as a couple.
Protocols
The word protocol
seems to confuse most people. Many counselors – for lack of a better term - refer to a protocol as a treatment plan but this is not completely true. In actuality, a protocol involves the treatment plan but more specifically it is an outline for treatment as well as a concise plan of attack regarding various issues affecting patients.
What is a Protocol? It is a written framework of procedures and principles to follow in a given situation (treatment procedures). For situations such as, abuse and neglect situations, it helps to provide people with cues or red flags
to potential dangers and harms. It also becomes a guide for action - helping people to know what they should do in order to respond to a suspected case of abuse or neglect. In short, it is a quasi-business plan of attack or framework for action against a plethora of mental health issues.
Purpose of Protocols ~ Protocols serve several important purposes. They are intended to help the counseled person and establish a framework for action. They stress the need of creating a supportive, non- judgmental rapport with the counseled person as the first step towards successful intervention. Protocols can guide people's actions in helping and treating, so that