An exploratory study into the use of Christian spirituality in counselling

© 2012 Vivien Ruth McPhersonA growth in popularity of Christian counselling (Buri 1990; Garzon, Worthington et al. 2009; McMinn 2010) and use of Christian spirituality in psychology (Richards 2010) highlights the need for more research exploring the effectiveness of Christian counselling (Pargament 1999; Koenig 2007; Pargament 2007; Rice 2009; Richards 2010). In order to explore the unique role of Christian spirituality and how it impacts on mental health, a grounded theory approach has been used to research how counsellor-client relationships, counselling methodology and faith in a supernatural God have influenced Christian counselling outcomes and client satisfaction. Clients and counsellors were categorised according to their counselling methodology: pastoral care, Christian psychology, Christian (prayer) Ministry, and Biblical counselling – all categories suggested by McMinn et al (2010). A fifth category combining Christian psychology and prayer ministry was added as this was prevalent amongst the participant responses received. Themes around the influence of love and authority in impacting mental health and of healing by the Holy Spirit emerged from participant comments. Client participants indicated that they trusted Christian counsellors more than secular counsellors, partly because they both held the same Christian world view and also because they believed the counsellor considered the will of God within the sessions. Counsellor participants demonstrated that they use both secular and spiritual therapies. A hierarchical organizational chart inspired by Attride-Stirling’s (2001) networking approach, unraveled a thematic pathway to sustained mental and emotional health. This pathway began with clients first having their immediate needs met and experiencing Christian love from their counsellor. They began to feel they have value to God and to realise that God loves them. As this belief is appropriated in their lives they increasingly were able to overcome their mental and emotional problems and came to seek out truth from the Bible and to submit to its teachings in a gradual process called sanctification. An hypothesis has emerged from the ordering of these themes that suggests: “Spirituality as used in Christian counselling supports sustained improvement in mental and emotional health.