Systematic studies of counseling and its contribution to various aspects of human life have provided a considerable amount of unconditional evidence of the significant impact of this area on various aspects of human life, especially in critical situations. This is why counseling suffering clients is essential. Indeed, faith in God allows you to better cope with critical situations. It provides protection, but not as an avoidance of a collision with reality, but, on the contrary, opens up new sources of strength in order to endure this collision and meet a critical situation face to face. Religion allows tragic events to be rethought, rather than supplanted.
In the process of spiritual development, a person develops a spiritual disposition, a certain personal sense of the spiritual, which is affirmed in identity (McMinn, 2012). When various critical situations arise, this disposition can be significantly transformed. Therapists should pay attention to the characteristics of the restructuring of the spiritual worldview: a person can either discard his religious beliefs and plunge into a crisis, get hung up on it, or assert his beliefs, using them as a resource to overcome a critical situation, if turning to the spiritual sphere will contribute to the realization of one from the above functions.
There are three main guidelines for dealing with suffering clients. First, providing emotional comfort. Second, is the motivation for personal change. God is the God of truth, and God is unchanging. We have to change, but it takes much work, especially when a person is in a critical situation. However, only through change will light come. Third, discovering, building relationships with what is holy, sacred, spiritual for a person.
Based on the above, I would tell the client that there may be an attempt to avoid colliding with the reality of the individual’s emotions. Greater joint efforts are needed to find new sources of strength through faith and repentance. Through further work, it is necessary to go further together to establish new beliefs and create a new identity.
However, as section A.11.a of the ACA Code of Ethics (American Counseling Association, 2014) states, “If counselors lack the competence to be of professional assistance to clients, they avoid entering or continuing counseling relationships. Counselors are knowledgeable about culturally and clinically appropriate referral resources and suggest these alternatives. If clients decline the suggested referrals, counselors discontinue the relationship “(6). Following this guideline, I will make sure that the client is free to c her counselors if they feel dissatisfied and cannot continue with this line of counseling. The client’s well-being comes first, and oat some critical situations, they may need additional help.
References
American Counseling Association. (2014). 2014 ACA code of ethics.
McMinn, M. R. (2012). Psychology, theology, and spirituality in Christian counseling. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.