Chartering into the territory of new discoveries of learning through investigation requires prudence along with a unique formula to aid one towards achieving set expectations. Formulas are used by scientists for experimentation, by contractors for building, and by authors for piecing novels together. In the field of modern psychology, the generic rule of thumb for basic therapeutic approaches relies upon boosting an element or elements of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs while relieving anxiety and depressive feelings. The basic pictorial pyramid pattern of Maslow’s theory consists of physiological, safety, belonging, self-esteem, and self-actualization, with the intention of identifying shared characteristics of humanity through a single lens. With this in mind it raises the question, does the ideology behind Maslow’s theory uphold to the position of Christianity through Biblical teaching? The intention of this essay is to define and examine the model of the secular professional counseling technique called client-centered therapy from the Christian perspective.
Support for CCT—–
To begin with, the model of client-centered therapy can be defined as, “the relaxed treatment approach on the part of the counselor with the counselee playing a managerial type role.”(Client-Centered Therapy The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology 124) With attention strictly focused on the duties performed by the counselee and the counselor in this definition, a strong contention can be made that this directly parallels the relationship Christians seek to maintain with the Lord on a daily basis. In fact, a profound look into the Biblical Scriptures reveals we are instructed to do so in an orderly fashion with God and one another. Philippians 4:8-9 (The King James Version) states, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you”(Holy Bible ). To clarify, Paul is directly inspired to relay God’s promise of peace, but we need to obey Him beforehand. It is important to remember here, that the Lord is the Counselor, and we are the counselees that He created with our own free will. We have the gift to choose right from wrong. Therefore, it is up to us to be actively involved in getting to know Christ. He wants to know us, but we need to open the door. In Revelation 3:20 (The King James Version) it states, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”(Holy Bible ). Once again here, it is demonstrated that the counselees (us) need to take action, by letting God (the Counselor) into our hearts. Ultimately, through this perspective lens, it is this writer’s belief that the definition of client-centered therapy is reflective of our relationships with Christ Jesus because we (the counselees) are instructed to take action towards being centered on Him. Moving forward, the elements of congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathy, included within the client-centered therapy model also mirror our relationships with the Lord. In the first place, congruence is defined as “the counselor being frank and receptive with the counselee”(Client-Centered Therapy The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology 125). Secondly, with the counselor utilizing unconditional positive regard there is an “acceptance which establishes the relationship with the counselee and vice-versa”(Client-Centered Therapy The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology 125). Finally, the counselor needs to utilize empathy “by placing themselves into the perspective of the counselee”(Client-Centered Therapy The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology 125). In light of this, when we carefully examine what God commands of us, the realization that each of these itemized components becomes transparently visible. Is it necessary for our fellowship with the Lord to be congruent? Yes! In fact, the only true way to fundamentally apply “congruence” in a relationship is with a proper attitude which requires obedience. Romans 6:4-6(The King James Version) states, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin”(Holy Bible ). To enumerate further, remember that the previously established definition of client-centered therapy requires action on the part of the counselee. The Bible here commands that we (the counselee) obey Him in a fashion to become free from the shackles of sin which Christ Almighty defeated at the Old Rugged Cross of salvation! Additionally, we also can take from these verses that God both accepts our relationship with Him, and He also empathizes with us as shown in the book of John. John 3:16 (The King James Version) says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”(Holy Bible ). God Almighty, empathized with mankind so much that His own Son was crucified for our sins.
Limitations of CCT—
As has been noted, we need to be centered on Christ in order to effectively practice the client-centered therapy model. By stepping back from the Christian perspective and leaving only the model itself, an examination of the ingredient, “empathy”, begins to show cracks in the recipe for therapeutic success. The article title “Client-Centered Therapy states, “In other systems of therapy, empathy with the client would be considered a preliminary step enabling the therapeutic work to proceed, but in client-centered therapy, it actually constitutes a major portion of the therapeutic work itself”(Client-Centered Therapy The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology 25) . Christ’s love and empathy for us is not solely a prelude because He is always there. We are to center on Him just as He is on us. When the Lord is guiding our lives and counseling us we know His empathy is constant because He knows we were all born into sin. God (our Counselor), has already taken the “preliminary step” by defeating sin. Another key crack in the foundation of the client-centered therapy framework exists within how the founder, Carl Rogers, views the relationship between the counselor and counselee. “Rogers’s introduction of the term “client” rather than “patient” expresses his rejection of the traditionally authoritarian relationship between therapist and client and his view of them as equals”(Client-Centered Therapy The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology 124). For one thing, it is worth noting that changing the name or terminology of any variable does not change the variable itself. Client or patient is not the focus because we are all still sinners without Christ. Furthermore, in the arena of Christian counseling, God (the Alpha &Omega) is the authoritarian figure. He created us all. It is this writer’s submission that by Rogers rejecting the traditional therapy model he is rejecting Christ by giving praise to humanistic beliefs. To put it differently, Rogers intentionally replaces God with “man” just as Satan tried to replace God on His throne in Heaven. As Christians, we know God is our Creator and Counselor, and there is no replacing Him. Psalm 23:1 (The King James Version) states, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want”(Holy Bible ). We are His sheep, and we do not need anything other than Him. We do not need to try to replace anything else for Him. Given these points, we can see that the client-centered therapy ideology does consist of Christian fundamentals, but lacks Christ which is the center of our relationships with Him. The clichéd expression, “the best place to hide a lie is between two truths” holds some weight in this instance because the Devil’s greatest weapon of deception is always in play. In “Mere Christianity” C.S. Lewis states, “There is one thing, and only one, in the whole universe which we know more about than we could learn from external observation. That one thing is Man. We do not merely observe men, we are men”(Lewis 20). Lewis is speaking in reference to the Law of Human Nature which is regarded by many as the difference between right and wrong. As children in this world, we disobey our parents repeatedly because the sinful nature of man has been instilled in us all since the deception in the Garden of Eden. We need the Lord to be our Counselor to know the difference between what is right and wrong; otherwise we will only fall short of Him. Matthew 6:20-21 (The King James Version) states, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”(Holy Bible ). Ultimately, as Christians our hearts need to be centered on Him, and everything else will fall into place according to Him.
Works Cited
“Client-Centered Therapy The Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology. Ed. Bonnie Strickland. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2001. p124-125.” 2001. Gale Viritual Reference Library. <https://www.worldcat.org/title/gale-encyclopedia-of-psychology/oclc/55969971>. <http://www.al-edu.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Gale-Encyclopedia-of-Psychology-2nd-ed.-2001.pdf>
Holy Bible . Thomas Nelson Publishers , 1997.
Lewis, C.S. “Mere Christianity .” n.d. Danville Area Commuity College . <https://www.dacc.edu/assets/pdfs/PCM/merechristianitylewis.pdf.>
