HSCO 506 Discussion Board Forum 1 with Replies

HSCO 506 Discussion Board ForuHSCO 506 Discussion Board Forum 1 with Replies Discussion Question: Your human services counseling clients will come to you suffering at one level or another. Our lectures for the last two weeks, and both the course texts, all discuss the concept of suffering and factors guiding how to counsel those who are suffering. In fact, a careful reading of the Reading & Study materials indicates numerous concepts and principles that could apply in counseling those who are hurting. 1. As you counsel your hurting clients, what you say to them will be guided by your own beliefs about the role of suffering in human experience (part of your own “theoretical map” as discussed in the lecture). Considering the numerous points that were made in the course, make a list of at least 5 concepts (“questions to ask myself as I counsel those who are suffering. . . “) that you found particularly helpful, insightful, unique, or had not thought about before. What guidelines would you particularly emphasize as you counsel hurting people? The five concepts you list should be based on the course materials, so make sure you cite the source you use. 2. Then consider the following scenario. What suggestions from the course materials would you want to apply to this hurting client? Why did you choose those suggestions as most important? Scenario You work primarily for an adoption agency but on some evenings, you volunteer your time at your church’s free counseling clinic. Your client in that setting, Jamie, was recently divorced, and expresses that she “has no direction” in life. She feels very rejected and alone. She often cries in session and in her latest session, lashed out at you, her therapist, since she was “not feeling better.” She questioned whether you were really helping her since she is still “feeling all this pain.” She left asking, “Why can’t you help remove this needless suffering?” When you are dealing with hurting individuals, you realize “People are broken, and broken people are restored in the context of a healing relationship” (McMinn, 2011). The great thing about Christian counseling is that God brings us out of our brokenness and draws us into a closer relationship with him (McMinn, 2011). Having trials and tribulations will always be a part of our lives. Romans 5:3-4 (KJV) states “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience, and experience, hope”. As a counselor, we have to help our clients understand we are there for them, and we will help them survive any suffering they are going through. According to McMinn (2011) “when people cometo a counselor for help, they should be given thorough and accurate information about the proposed counseling procedures, should be informed of alternative treatment approaches, and should sign a written consent form”. A Christian counselor is expected to follow biblical standards when dealing with a client. The job entails complete honestly and understanding. A Christian counselor is supposed to help cease all suffering of the client. The five concepts that have great understanding to emphasize on would be: 1. Warmth One of the most important things to do is to welcome Jamie with open arms. As a Christian counselor, you want her to feel welcome and able to be open, honest, and be able to express herself. By being welcoming to Jamie, she is more likely to be open and have better communication skills. Proving warmth or comfort in any negative situation will help the client feel important and superior to their problems. 2. Trust In order to help Jamie continue to open up and share information, I will need to build a trusting relationship with her. In Proverbs 3:5 (KJV) the bible teaches us “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”. Within the sessions Jamie and I will seek God together for the situation she is going through. Trusting in God will also help Jamie learn and understand patience for the process she will make when everything is said and done. Alongside trust also comes policies and procedures. Jamie needs to fully understand that I will not share any information she provides to me outside of our sessions. 3. Listening Once I have listened to the history of Jamie, we will begin to work the process. Listening is important because it allows her to know that I heard her and I understand what she is telling me. 4. Strategy In order for Jamie to become a better her, there has to be processes in place. Jamie has to first understand where she is at compared to where she wants to be. There needs to be avision. The role of the counselor is to help the client find the best-fit strategy to a comprehensive, focused plan that stimulates motivation (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015). During this process we will bring Jamie closer to God. While Jamie is dealing with the aftermath of divorce, Jamie needs to be able to understand James 1:177 (KJV) “Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variable, neither shadow of turning”. The goal will be to help Jamie learn to appreciate all that she has and all that will come including new love. 5. Healing At the end of assisting Jamie, she will need to gain some sort of healing. Her lashing out is signs of built up pain that needs to be released properly. At the end of the process I will refer Jamie to Jeremiah 32:17 (KJV) which states “Ah Lord God! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee”. Jamie has to fully understand that God has her right where he wants her and it will then be reiterated again that “we often think of brokenness and neediness as bad, but the gift of pain draws us into community with God and one another” (McMinn, 2011). References: Brewer, G., & Peters, C. (n.d.). COUN 506 Week Four, Lecture One: Multi-tasking in Christian counseling. [PowerPoint]. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Online. Brewer, G., & Peters, C. (n.d.). COUN 506 Week Four, Lecture Two: METAMORPH integrative counseling grid. [PowerPoint]. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Online. Hawkins, R., & Clinton, T. (2015). The new Christian counselor: A fresh biblical and transformational approach. Eugene, Oregon McMinn, M. R. (2011). Psychology, theology, and spirituality in Christian counseling (Rev. ed.). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House.m 1 with Replies