Introduction Secular and Christian counseling share similar ideas in how emotional and psychological struggles should be addressed; however, there are also key differences between the two. In this paper, we will review cognitive-behavioral therapy, Rogerian therapy, and rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), examining how they compare and contrast to a Christian view of counseling. By comparing and contrasting these views we will see that although some of the secular techniques are useful for biblical counseling, it is of much greater benefit to utilize biblical principles.
Goals of Counseling According to Crabb (1977), in Christian counseling there is an ultimate goal, which is spiritual maturity. A more in depth description would be, …show more content…
Secular counseling adopts many different ideas on personal needs, one of those being Freud’s power and pleasure (Crabb, 1977). This view emphasized when clients are faced with a lack of the ability to express power or pleasure they should find ways to express them (Crabb, 1977). Moreover, Freud suggested that when such needs of power and pleasure are not met it causes neurotic symptoms (Crabb, 1977). Quite the opposite, Christian counseling, specifically Crabb (1977), emphasizes the two required inputs as significance and security (Crabb, 1977). Typically, men attribute their self-worth with significance and women with security (Crabb, 1977). This view suggests emotional and behavioral issues manifest when significance and security are perceived as threatened (Crabb, …show more content…
Motivation is the desire that drives the client with a need to reach the therapeutic goals and make changes (Crabb, 1977). For secular counseling we see the major motivation to be self-actualization, which Rogers viewed as a human’s ability to reach their full potential (Kensit, 2000). Maslow’s theory suggests than until the lower more basic needs of food, security, and love are met, the higher needs of purpose and self-actualization are of little concern (Crabb, 1977). In Christian counseling, the lower and higher needs are still present and agrees in order to reach the higher needs the lower needs must be fulfilled; however, it differs by suggesting personal needs can only be met by a personal God and therefore would only allow Christians to become well-adjusted and self-actualized (Crabb, 1977). Ultimately, the difference between secular motivation and Christian motivation is the ability to meet personal physical needs without a personal God, but the inability to get past egocentricity to fulfill significance and security (Crabb,
Goals of Counseling According to Crabb (1977), in Christian counseling there is an ultimate goal, which is spiritual maturity. A more in depth description would be, …show more content…
Secular counseling adopts many different ideas on personal needs, one of those being Freud’s power and pleasure (Crabb, 1977). This view emphasized when clients are faced with a lack of the ability to express power or pleasure they should find ways to express them (Crabb, 1977). Moreover, Freud suggested that when such needs of power and pleasure are not met it causes neurotic symptoms (Crabb, 1977). Quite the opposite, Christian counseling, specifically Crabb (1977), emphasizes the two required inputs as significance and security (Crabb, 1977). Typically, men attribute their self-worth with significance and women with security (Crabb, 1977). This view suggests emotional and behavioral issues manifest when significance and security are perceived as threatened (Crabb, …show more content…
Motivation is the desire that drives the client with a need to reach the therapeutic goals and make changes (Crabb, 1977). For secular counseling we see the major motivation to be self-actualization, which Rogers viewed as a human’s ability to reach their full potential (Kensit, 2000). Maslow’s theory suggests than until the lower more basic needs of food, security, and love are met, the higher needs of purpose and self-actualization are of little concern (Crabb, 1977). In Christian counseling, the lower and higher needs are still present and agrees in order to reach the higher needs the lower needs must be fulfilled; however, it differs by suggesting personal needs can only be met by a personal God and therefore would only allow Christians to become well-adjusted and self-actualized (Crabb, 1977). Ultimately, the difference between secular motivation and Christian motivation is the ability to meet personal physical needs without a personal God, but the inability to get past egocentricity to fulfill significance and security (Crabb,