God and Psychotherapy

[newton3005]

If you encounter a problem for which there is no apparent resolution, who do you see? Do you see your Minister, or do you see a psychotherapist? Who do you think would serve you better under the circumstances?

The Minister would essentially say to ask God for His help, and to rely on your faith in God instead of your own understanding. A psychotherapist would have you talk your way to a solution, perhaps by encouraging you to speak about your past, and maybe about your relationship with your parents. He may also ask you abut dreams you’ve had, and he’ll help you determine what they mean.

A psychotherapist’s goal is to make you talk your way to a solution. He generally won’t mention God, except to gage your understanding of Him in your life. Then again, do we as believers in God through Lord Jesus really need to mention Him in every other sentence we speak? God is ingrained in us. The good works we perform are with God’s Grace and therefore can be seen as an extension of God. Under God, we wouldn’t boast of these good works, because they emanate from God, not from us. God leaves it up to us to boast of any works which don’t emanate from Him. Such works are not good, and if we perform enough of them, God will give us up as implied in Romans 1:28-31.

Some psychotherapists may risk falling under Romans 1:28-31 when they write off religion as being a function of superstition, or, in terms of what Freud, the founder of psychotherapy said, that religion was necessary in early civilization as a tool to temper man’s violent tendencies, implying that it no longer became necessary as civilization advanced.

But other psychotherapists are merely applying their trade and won’t interfere with a patient’s religious beliefs. And if those psychotherapists accomplish helping their patients to see the patient’s way to a solution to their problems, enabling them to perform works which God would authorize, are not those psychotherapists performing the works of God, particularly if they themselves have faith in Him?

Here is a corollary question: If you pray to God for a solution, what can you expect? Considering Psalms 139:14 which says “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well,” and 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which says that God has meant to equip us for every good work, God would, in His own way, reacquaint you with what He has given you to perform His Works.

From a practical standpoint, since it may already in you to come up with a solution, in the time you are consulting with God your mind is subconsciously freed up to devise a solution to your problem. Such a solution might include seeking a psychotherapist, once you realize it’s within you to solve the problem, one in which a psychotherapist could help you to think through.

Norman Vincent Peale’s, book “The Power of Positive Thinking,” relies heavily on Philippians 4:13 which says, “I can do all things through God who strengthens me.” If a psychotherapist helps a patient in that pursuit, is he not also doing God’s Work as well? And in determining which psychotherapist doesn’t object to God, are we not capable of discerning what is good, acceptable and perfect as described in Romans 12:2?

 

[seeking.IAM]

Some psychotherapists may risk falling under Romans 1:28-31 when they write off religion as being a function of superstition...

I have practiced in the field for over 30 years. I have never known a colleague who writes off the importance to a client of their religious faith. Ethical psychotherapists work hard to keep their own values and biases out of the therapy room. We respect the values of the client we are seeing and view their faith as an important part of who they are.

I work hard to ensure my clients never know about my faith practice unless they ask. For me to do otherwise, is making the session about me, not them.

 

[seeking.IAM]

I will add that pastoral counseling has its place, but there often comes a point where clergy realize they are in over their head. Smart clergy know when it's time to refer someone to therapy. Smart therapists know when to refer someone to talk to their minister.

 

[SkyWriting]

If you encounter a problem for which there is no apparent resolution, who do you see? Do you see your Minister, or do you see a psychotherapist? Who do you think would serve you better under the circumstances?

The Minister would essentially say to ask God for His help, and to rely on your faith in God instead of your own understanding. A psychotherapist would have you talk your way to a solution, perhaps by encouraging you to speak about your past, and maybe about your relationship with your parents. He may also ask you abut dreams you’ve had, and he’ll help you determine what they mean.

A psychotherapist’s goal is to make you talk your way to a solution. He generally won’t mention God, except to gage your understanding of Him in your life. Then again, do we as believers in God through Lord Jesus really need to mention Him in every other sentence we speak? God is ingrained in us. The good works we perform are with God’s Grace and therefore can be seen as an extension of God. Under God, we wouldn’t boast of these good works, because they emanate from God, not from us. God leaves it up to us to boast of any works which don’t emanate from Him. Such works are not good, and if we perform enough of them, God will give us up as implied in Romans 1:28-31.

Some psychotherapists may risk falling under Romans 1:28-31 when they write off religion as being a function of superstition, or, in terms of what Freud, the founder of psychotherapy said, that religion was necessary in early civilization as a tool to temper man’s violent tendencies, implying that it no longer became necessary as civilization advanced.

But other psychotherapists are merely applying their trade and won’t interfere with a patient’s religious beliefs. And if those psychotherapists accomplish helping their patients to see the patient’s way to a solution to their problems, enabling them to perform works which God would authorize, are not those psychotherapists performing the works of God, particularly if they themselves have faith in Him?

Here is a corollary question: If you pray to God for a solution, what can you expect? Considering Psalms 139:14 which says “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well,” and 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which says that God has meant to equip us for every good work, God would, in His own way, reacquaint you with what He has given you to perform His Works.

From a practical standpoint, since it may already in you to come up with a solution, in the time you are consulting with God your mind is subconsciously freed up to devise a solution to your problem. Such a solution might include seeking a psychotherapist, once you realize it’s within you to solve the problem, one in which a psychotherapist could help you to think through.

Norman Vincent Peale’s, book “The Power of Positive Thinking,” relies heavily on Philippians 4:13 which says, “I can do all things through God who strengthens me.” If a psychotherapist helps a patient in that pursuit, is he not also doing God’s Work as well? And in determining which psychotherapist doesn’t object to God, are we not capable of discerning what is good, acceptable and perfect as described in Romans 12:2?

Most often the issue will resolve itself, in time.

 

[BPPLEE]

If you encounter a problem for which there is no apparent resolution, who do you see? Do you see your Minister, or do you see a psychotherapist? Who do you think would serve you better under the circumstances?

The Minister would essentially say to ask God for His help, and to rely on your faith in God instead of your own understanding. A psychotherapist would have you talk your way to a solution, perhaps by encouraging you to speak about your past, and maybe about your relationship with your parents. He may also ask you abut dreams you’ve had, and he’ll help you determine what they mean.

A psychotherapist’s goal is to make you talk your way to a solution. He generally won’t mention God, except to gage your understanding of Him in your life. Then again, do we as believers in God through Lord Jesus really need to mention Him in every other sentence we speak? God is ingrained in us. The good works we perform are with God’s Grace and therefore can be seen as an extension of God. Under God, we wouldn’t boast of these good works, because they emanate from God, not from us. God leaves it up to us to boast of any works which don’t emanate from Him. Such works are not good, and if we perform enough of them, God will give us up as implied in Romans 1:28-31.

Some psychotherapists may risk falling under Romans 1:28-31 when they write off religion as being a function of superstition, or, in terms of what Freud, the founder of psychotherapy said, that religion was necessary in early civilization as a tool to temper man’s violent tendencies, implying that it no longer became necessary as civilization advanced.

But other psychotherapists are merely applying their trade and won’t interfere with a patient’s religious beliefs. And if those psychotherapists accomplish helping their patients to see the patient’s way to a solution to their problems, enabling them to perform works which God would authorize, are not those psychotherapists performing the works of God, particularly if they themselves have faith in Him?

Here is a corollary question: If you pray to God for a solution, what can you expect? Considering Psalms 139:14 which says “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well,” and 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which says that God has meant to equip us for every good work, God would, in His own way, reacquaint you with what He has given you to perform His Works.

From a practical standpoint, since it may already in you to come up with a solution, in the time you are consulting with God your mind is subconsciously freed up to devise a solution to your problem. Such a solution might include seeking a psychotherapist, once you realize it’s within you to solve the problem, one in which a psychotherapist could help you to think through.

Norman Vincent Peale’s, book “The Power of Positive Thinking,” relies heavily on Philippians 4:13 which says, “I can do all things through God who strengthens me.” If a psychotherapist helps a patient in that pursuit, is he not also doing God’s Work as well? And in determining which psychotherapist doesn’t object to God, are we not capable of discerning what is good, acceptable and perfect as described in Romans 12:2?

They both have their place. You don't have to choose one over the other