Interventions that Apply Scripture in Psychotherapy

Christian therapists are sometimes challenged in their work with appropriately religious clients to develop treatment components that incorporate the Bible. Utilizing a case study format, this article describes various intervention strategies available for the clinician to consider. Psychodynamic, psychoeducational, theoeducational, cognitive, behavioral, and affective experiential therapeutic examples are presented. As long as sound ethical and religio-cultural assessment guidelines are followed, Scripture remains a rich resource for clinicians in their work

Theophostic Ministry: Preliminary Practitioner Survey

This exploratory survey investigated Theophostic Ministry, a recently developed inner healing prayer technique that has simultaneously garnered much anecdotal support and criticism. Specifically, the survey sought to assess who is using Theophostic Ministry, what disorders are being treated, and regular practitioners’ perceptions of this technique’s efficacy. The survey was administered during an advanced training seminar given by Ed Smith, the technique’s developer. Of the 148 participants 74% completed the survey (Respondent N = 111). Survey results suggested a wide variety of people are using Theophostic Ministry - from pastors to lay counselors to psychologists. Overall, the respondents believe this technique is very effective and have used the prayer ministry in treating a wide variety of disorders including some quite complex. Training level issues therefore emerged from this survey’s findings. These issues are explored and recommendations made. The limitations of the survey are discussed

Cognitive Restructuring Through Contemplative Inner Healing Prayer: Clinical Demonstration and Current Research

At times, when spiritual interventions are adapted to the clinical context, the overtly spiritual dimensions of the intervention are omitted to permit research and to expand the client base available for the intervention. For example, forgiveness protocols have been developed for the clinical context (Enright, 2001; Worthington, 2001); however, these protocols are secular in that they do not intentionally use the client’s spirituality in their implementation or in the research supporting them (Garzon et al., 2002). Now is the time to examine in the clinical and research context overtly spiritual interventions in a form that intentionally uses a client’s religiously congruent resources. Many Eastern and Western religious traditions use contemplative prayer forms in the spiritual and emotional healing process. For instance, Mindfulness Therapy (Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2002) demonstrates the value of resources found in an Eastern religious tradition. More exploration of diverse religious faiths is needed however. This sample clinical demonstration continues the exploration through describing the specific use of resources found in a Western faith tradition. Contemplative inner healing prayer in a form that specifically uses this client’s spiritual resources in the cognitive restructuring process will be seen

Healing of Memories: Models, Research, Future Directions

This article examines several of the more recent models of healing of memories (HM) as they are found in the clinical and pastoral care literature. A wide variety of approaches are present, including models from David Seamonds, Siang-Yang Tan, Leanne Payne, and Ed Smith (Theophostic Ministry). These models are compared and contrasted in terms of an intervention strategy. While few empirical studies on religious imagery interventions currently exist in the literature, available data has produced positive findings. Given these limited results, the need for specific research on HM techniques is advocated and an agenda for such research is proposed