A Christian perspective of Experiential Family Therapy

Therapists are faced with challenges on what theory to use if they are to help their clients. The challenge for those who identify with the Christian faith is always on identifying a theory that can blend in well with their faith. If a therapist is to be authentic and genuine in the therapeutic approach, then the theory used must align with the therapist’s beliefs. More and more therapists are called to do a work that was previously the domain of the priest in a church setting. Carl Jung saw religion as a “system of healing for the psychic illness”. He saw the therapist role as that of a “priest” dealing with problems which “strictly speaking, belong to the Theologian”.

In his book Man’s search for meaning (1985), Viktor Frankl states that more and more a psychiatrist is approached by patients who confront him with problems that would ideally be handled by a pastor, a rabbi or a priest. They want to know the meaning of life and yet most of them will not agree to be handed over to a clergy. Dr James Beck in his article, the integration of Psychology and Theology: An enterprise out of balance, suggests that “the mental health movement grows because of a relentless demand for its services. As culture disintegrates, individual lives and marriages are crumbling forcing people to seek help”. He rightful argues that the discipline of psychology desperately needs the salt and light that trained Christian practitioners can provide for it.

In this article the writer critiques the experiential theory with a focus on Virginia Satir, in relation to a Christian world view. This critique shall focus on four areas of importance: cosmology (world view), anthropology (the nature and purpose of humans), harmatology (what is wrong with the world or psychopathology) and soteriology (how we experience healing or psychotherapy). It is submitted that experiential theory provides a strong foundation for therapists to understand their clients and enhance the therapeutic process from a theory and model that has strong ingredients and principles that can be molded to fit with Biblical principles.

Read more: http://relijournal.com/christianity/a-christian-perspective-of-experiential-family-therapy/#ixzz0xjmE1yVG