Counseling Exam 2
2. Prayer
James 5:16
Prayer is an essential part of caring for a counselee. Aside from asking for help and hope, the counselor is able to model the hope and relationship with Jesus that they want the counselee to emulate. The counselee is also cared for by hearing the words that is interceded for them with. One can also have the counselee pray, just as they've been prayed for. This gets an early start on their homework, and walks in the model supplied for them by the counselor.
Homework/ Accountability The homework a counselor provides is tailor made for the counselee. It shows that they have been listened to. As opposed to psychological counsel, which defines the relationship as professional, this is a friendship. A friendship that excels even outside of the counseling room, as the person puts into practice their homework.
Teaching/ Exhortation Exhortation is a commanded practice in Scripture (Hebrews 3:13). It gives them hope of new things to learn about God. It provides clarity on their current problem, and solutions they can make. It steers them away from hopelessness and a hard heart, if they choose to obey the Scriptures. The counselor teaches in response to what a counselee has said and done. It does not exist in a vacuum, as a sermon or lecture might.
Open Ended Questions/ Listening The counselor should use wisdom in determining which questions to leave open ended, and which to steer to short answers for. The counselor should allow the counselee to speak as long as needful. This counselee may have been silenced or ignored in times past. It should be a comfort to the counselor that the person feels comfortable enough to speak of these things at length. The counselor's responses will come out of the listening and discernment of data. Therefore, the counselor needs patience and care. The counselee will be appreciative.
Rebuke/ Discipline A Christian is one who has been delivered from the power of sin, and is a life marked by turning from it and towards Jesus. The counselor must not excuse behavior and words. As a father should not withhold discipline from their child, the counselor must love the person they've been given authority over (Proverbs 13:24). The counselee may not like this. But they will recognize it as the counselor being responsible for their care. The counselor does this with gentleness and respect, and with a mind towards the log that may be in their own eye.
Comfort/ Hope Giving This should not be a hard thing for Christians. It is a hard thing to wrestle with, however. Giving hope requires sufficient theology, and the patience to give it out. Self control is also necessary when giving it, in the words one uses and when to give it. One can be tempted to throw platitudes at a person's problems. Such phrases as, "Just trust God!" comes to mind. Timing is important because, as with platitudes, not using words properly can disregard a person's struggle. You can have them feel like you haven't listened at all, and were too busy devising what you wanted to say. Instead, the counselor should ask lots of questions to both be informed and be ready to empathize. This helps lay them bare so that a proper salve can be administered, and so the counselor isn't digging around blindly and actually inflicting more wounds.
Homework/ Accountability The homework a counselor provides is tailor made for the counselee. It shows that they have been listened to. As opposed to psychological counsel, which defines the relationship as professional, this is a friendship. A friendship that excels even outside of the counseling room, as the person puts into practice their homework.
Teaching/ Exhortation Exhortation is a commanded practice in Scripture (Hebrews 3:13). It gives them hope of new things to learn about God. It provides clarity on their current problem, and solutions they can make. It steers them away from hopelessness and a hard heart, if they choose to obey the Scriptures. The counselor teaches in response to what a counselee has said and done. It does not exist in a vacuum, as a sermon or lecture might.
Open Ended Questions/ Listening The counselor should use wisdom in determining which questions to leave open ended, and which to steer to short answers for. The counselor should allow the counselee to speak as long as needful. This counselee may have been silenced or ignored in times past. It should be a comfort to the counselor that the person feels comfortable enough to speak of these things at length. The counselor's responses will come out of the listening and discernment of data. Therefore, the counselor needs patience and care. The counselee will be appreciative.
Rebuke/ Discipline A Christian is one who has been delivered from the power of sin, and is a life marked by turning from it and towards Jesus. The counselor must not excuse behavior and words. As a father should not withhold discipline from their child, the counselor must love the person they've been given authority over (Proverbs 13:24). The counselee may not like this. But they will recognize it as the counselor being responsible for their care. The counselor does this with gentleness and respect, and with a mind towards the log that may be in their own eye.
Comfort/ Hope Giving This should not be a hard thing for Christians. It is a hard thing to wrestle with, however. Giving hope requires sufficient theology, and the patience to give it out. Self control is also necessary when giving it, in the words one uses and when to give it. One can be tempted to throw platitudes at a person's problems. Such phrases as, "Just trust God!" comes to mind. Timing is important because, as with platitudes, not using words properly can disregard a person's struggle. You can have them feel like you haven't listened at all, and were too busy devising what you wanted to say. Instead, the counselor should ask lots of questions to both be informed and be ready to empathize. This helps lay them bare so that a proper salve can be administered, and so the counselor isn't digging around blindly and actually inflicting more wounds.
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