The role of a Christian Counselor in the life of a non-Christian client
Abstract
This research will majorly deal with understanding the role of a Christian Counselor in the life of a non-Christian client. Christian counseling applies various biblical teachings and doctrines to explore various social challenges facing clients. The research concentrated on the impacts of Christian counseling techniques on atheists’ perceptions towards the existence of the deities among other relevant approaches. Understanding the relationship between Christian counseling and health sciences is crucial in exploring the research topic. The study will apply quantitative data collection methods such as questionnaires and interviews to examine the research topic.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Christian counselors base their teachings and instructions on various biblical perspectives and related psychology. They share similar desires to assist individuals to overcome their varied challenges, establish unique meanings and essence in life, and to develop mental and emotional health. The integration of faith and spirituality in various counseling processes is indeed contentious. The massive paradigm shift associated with enhanced sincerity to religion and spirituality must address the increase in diversity among clients. Specifically, professional Christian counselors should comprehend and appreciate the clients’ varied spiritual perceptions (Sutton, Arnzen, & Kelly, 2016). Indeed, most non-Christian clients hold divergent worldviews and spiritual perspectives. Notably, such differences may destabilize the therapeutic relationships and mutual understandings between the Christian counselors and non-Christian customers. The corresponding focus should be on the inherent need for competence-based counseling programs to address related concerns. Christian counselors should ascertain how clients’ religious perspectives might influence their respective level of resilience among other important factors.
Notably, with an enhanced understanding of the perceived impacts of spirituality in therapeutic processes, Christian counselors might gain relevant level of competence to make rational and value-driven decisions. The primary purpose of this research proposal will be to examine the perceived role of a Christian Counselor in the life of a non-Christian client. The paper will explore the special relationship and integration of spirituality and psychotherapy during varied counseling sessions. The paper anticipates that such integrations will help in improving the general quality of clients’ care and health. The research by Sutton, Arnzen, & Kelly (2016) affirms that Christian counselors should negotiate how to work effectively with non-Christian counselors. In particular, the clients’ personal religious or spiritual perspectives should not affect the therapeutic processes. Consequently, this study intends to contribute to the existing literature on the role of Christian counselors in the life of non-Christian patients.
1.1 Research Hypothesis
Atheists in a non-religious healthcare setting that do not believe in God are more likely to convert to Christianity when counseled by a Christian Counselor.
1.2 Research Question
The primary research question of the proposed research seeks to scrutinize the inherent interactions between Christian counselors and Christian clients. Subsequently, the research will seek to respond to the following questions.
- Are atheists counseled using Christian counseling techniques in a non-religious healthcare setting more likely to believe in God?
- How should Christian counselors approach non-Christian clients?
- What is the relationship between Christian counseling and health sciences?
1.3 Research topic justification
In essence, the central role of any professional Counselor is to appraise the inherent needs of different client. The primary objective of such comprehensive assessments is to help the clients overcome some forms of personal obstacles among other related challenges. A Christian counselor should combine faith with essential principles pertinent in psychology to enhance mental health and relationships. More specifically, Christian approach to psychology should emanate from various biblical teachings to tackle life-related problems. Some of these challenges include financial stress, unemployment, marriage issues, and financial problems. Designing scripture-based guidance consistence with God’s teachings will help clients to mitigate the impacts of the stipulated predicaments. Indeed, the bible contains a life changing teachings, which entail Spirit-inspired word of God. Therefore, Christian Counselors must keep biblical principles in the forefront of counseling which can ultimately aid in evangelizing. Nevertheless, some religious fundamentalists believe that a Christian Counselor has no place in a secular counseling setting citing irrational ethical reasons and religious differences.
Chapter 2: Literature review
This chapter presents a review of literature relevant on the role of a Christian Counselor in the life of a non-Christian client among other analyses relevant to the research questions and postulated hypothesis. The chapter entails various distinct sections. The first section gives a conceptual analysis of the relationship between Christian counseling and health sciences. The second section explores whether atheists counseled using Christian counseling techniques in a non-religious healthcare setting more likely to believe in God. The last section explains how Christian counselors should approach non-Christian clients in various counseling settings and sessions.
2.1 The relationship between Christian counseling and health sciences
According to Fung, et al. (2015), establishing connections between interdisciplinary studies such as health sciences, Christian counseling, and aviation requires comprehensive analyses and scrutiny. Understanding such intrinsic connections can contribute towards the general improvement of the quality of life. The research by Hesse-Biber (2016) supports that ascertaining the interconnectivity between different fields requires accurate development of unique observational thoughts. According to Sutton, Arnzen, and Kelly (2016), the concept of Christian counseling borrows strongly from various Biblical perspectives and normative insights. The research further stipulate that Christian counseling seeks to provide effective guidance on how to live and act according the regulations stipulated by God and in the Scripture. Nevertheless, convincing individuals or non-Christian to submit to the will of God is extremely hard. Therefore, Christian counseling is an exceptional psychological field that counselors can use to approach problems from Godly or Biblical perceptions. Using such Christian premonitions and ideological arguments, Christian counselors can rehabilitate individuals to follow the correct path in life. Sutton, Arnzen& Kelly (2016) opines that integrating contemporary psychiatric procedures in counseling sessions can help individuals to eliminate non-compliant or negative thoughts.
According to Ringenberg (2018), Christian counseling offers soul-care treatments based on a person’s connection with the deity. In particular, the research attest that Christian counseling can help patients to regain their respective trusts, understand their real purpose in life, and develop unique connection with God. Nevertheless, non-Christians such as atheists argue that Christian counseling is a discriminatory practice and an extreme form of contemporary form of religious brainwash. Markedly, Christian counseling is an important form of health science that can help in combating various forms of ailments. In essence, both fields of psychology study the philosophical perspectives of healthcare processes, social, and cultural aspects of human relationships with the deity and general life. In general, Christian counseling should expand their understanding of human beings through different interdisciplinary approaches.
2.2 Whether atheists counseled using Christian counseling techniques in a non-religious healthcare setting more likely to believe in God
Atheists refer to individuals who lack innate belief in the existence of the deities. Specifically, the individuals subscribe to atheism that propagates the affirmative assertion that there is no God. Helping such people with extreme denial and criticism of the metaphysical beliefs in spiritual beings is extremely challenging. Indisputably, atheists are likely to reject counseling sessions in a Christian setting (Ringenberg, 2018). Additionally, Christian counselors may struggle to convince the atheists to subscribe to the idea that God or deities exist. However, convincing the atheists depends largely on the varied arguments advanced by the Christian counselors or any other religious leader. According to Carlson & González-Prendes (2016), atheists counseled using various Christian counseling methods are likely to believe in God. In particular, incorporating Christian values and concepts in various counseling processes can help such clients to reframe their beliefs. The research further stipulates that Christian counselors can help atheists to develop personal growth and relationship with God. Besides, Taylor, Bogdan, & DeVault (2015), reiterate that Christian counselors should apply various faith-based principles and psychological instructions to help atheists on non-Christians to subscribe to Christianity or any other religious belief. The clients will progressively sharpen their respective knowledge of the Bible and understand God’s instructions on various life-related issues.
2.3 How Christian counselors should approach non-Christian clients
Helping non-Christian clients, especially those who not subscribe to faith, can be extremely challenging. Undeniably, numerous studies suggest positive correlation between religious practices and varied psychological initiatives. According to Sutton, Arnzen, & Kelly (2016), Christian counselors should focus on understanding and respecting the non-Christian beliefs and inherent ability to select the best therapeutic model. They should communicate with respect and accept the diversity in religious strengths and beliefs. The research by Carlson & González-Prendes (2016) affirms that prejudging people based on religious beliefs may sabotage the relationship between the counselor and an atheist. The research further stipulates that Christian counselors should be open to discuss their clients’ religious beliefs to develop a complete picture of their patients. Such discussions are perfect opportunities to start meaningful conversations that can ultimately result in possible conversion of atheists into the Christian faith.
Specifically, the clients can use such sessions for self-disclosure and increase their respective comfort levels. The research by Purify (2018) reiterates the important role of religion and spiritual values in strengthening various counseling processes. Nonetheless, Sutton, Arnzen, & Kelly (2016) assert that through such self-disclosure, both the Christian counselor and non-Christian client may feel comfortable incorporating basic religious discourses in the counseling settings. Through strong beliefs in religious practices, the atheist clients can develop strong connection with God and focus on the therapeutic processes. In general, the non-Christian clients should derive meaning and purpose from the counseling sessions.
Irrefutably, clients holding weak religious beliefs are less open to counseling. Therefore, Christian counselors can refer some of the clients to other religious leaders with strong background on religious teachings. According to Purify (2018), initiating relationships with the non-Christian clients can create and strengthen trust and effective support systems. Notably, such relationships will help clients to reframe their respective struggles and change their perceptions concerning Christianity. According to Taylor, Bogdan, & DeVault (2015), an analytical review of the dissonance between clients’ belies and their respective actions will result in the development of higher perspectives. Furthermore, Arnzen, & Kelly (2016), postulate that reminding the clients of the strength subscribing to Christianity will mitigate and filter some of negative thoughts.
Chapter 3: Methodology
This section examines such methods and procedures that the research will use to aggregate pertinent data and information on the role of a Christian Counselor in the life of a non-Christian client. Specifically, the chapter majorly assesses the research design, target population, sample and sampling procedures, data collection instruments, validity and reliability of the instruments, procedure for data collection, and data analysis techniques.
In essence, research design describes the plan used in the investigation research issues and obtaining specific answers to the study objective. Specifically, a design gives detailed outline of various activities that the researcher will undertake during the subsequent processes (Taylor, Bogdan, & DeVault, 2015). Consequently, the research will employ quantitative data collection method to collect pertinent information from the respondents. Quantitative method is appropriate for the research because it will allow the researcher to develop relationships between various research variables.
The sampling frame will include a list of various secular counseling facilities. Additionally, the research will also target about 10 Christian counselors working in these counseling environments. Lastly, the research will further target about 30 non-Christian clients seeking services in such settings. Furthermore, the researcher will adopt random sampling in the selection of the respondents to reduce possible bias.
The research will use questionnaires and interviews to collect various quantitative data and information from the selected group of participants. The questionnaires will provide higher level of data standardization and facilitate the execution of generalized perspectives. Similarly, the questionnaire will provide higher level of accuracy and convenience in deriving important data and information from the selected respondents. Alternatively, interviews will provide flexibility in the collection of pertinent data and information (Taylor, Bogdan, & DeVault, 2015). Moreover, the respondents will feel more confident in responding to the set of questions eliminating privacy concerns associated with other data collection methods. Lastly, interview questions are flexible, adaptive, and comparatively easy to analyze.
3.6 Data collection procedure
The study will employ a quantitative data collection method. Consequently, the researcher will issue questionnaires and interviews to the selected group of participants. The researcher will further seek permission from the selected counseling facilities and individuals to conduct research. The researcher will target participants in areas with low number of believers to gather their opinions concerning their perceptions towards Christianity. Notably, the researcher will ask participants to complete a set interview where they will respond to questions relating to embracing Christianity.
3.7 Ethical considerations and Data Analysis
The researcher will seek the consent from relevant authorities to conduct the research. In addition, researcher will ensure the privacy of the respondents engaged in the study. Lastly, the researcher will acknowledge all relevant sources of information provided by other scholars in the literature review section. The research will involve various quantitative analysis techniques in the analysis of aggregated responses.
Rationale for the current study
Undeniably, the research will establish that most of the atheists focus on the inputs made by the Christians in the society. According to Cotter (2015), societies expect Christians to intervene in situations that are challenging through praying and seeking divine attention from the Creator. However, an atheist can equally play the same roles by converting and changing their perceptions towards Christianity. This is effective when Christians counsel the non-Christians. The counseled atheists may be equally willing to share the same beliefs and spirituality as their counselors. Through the counseling sessions, a positive relationship between Christians and atheists can germinate. The atheists develop the perception that Christian counselors are committed to solving their social and spiritual problems in total. Therefore, the individuals are likely to open-up to the counselors and affirm their willingness to implement the advice offered.
Consequently, it is clear that Christian counselors should use that opportunity to help in converting atheists to Christian believers. Not only should atheists change to believers but also the Christian counselors should ensure their clients understand the importance of being believers. The counselors should emphasize that there is abundance after transforming to Christian believers (Cotter, 2015). The atheists will be in a position to seek God’s help directly without the need to seek an intermediary. Besides, the transformed atheists will act as a light to the world; in other words, the changed atheists will attract other non-Christians to the gospel. Therefore, it is upon Christians to ensure they have proper strategies to access and convince non-Christians to change.
Conclusion
The research proposal explored the perceived role of a Christian Counselor in the life of a non-Christian client. In essence, the research gave varied reasons and assumptions on whether atheists counseled using Christian counseling techniques in a non-religious healthcare setting are more likely to believe in God. The comprehensive analysis of different viewpoints explain why Christian counselors should approach non-Christian clients further strengthened the research questions. Correspondingly, the research provides an accurate overview of the relationship between Christian counseling and health sciences. Lastly using quantitative data collection methods such as questionnaires and interviews will enable the researcher to aggregate relevant data and information on the research topic.
References
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