Biblical and Professional View of Addiction

Laura L. Suggs

Liberty University

Abstract

McMinn stresses the use of the bible, Gods Word in counseling and much prayer with the client, he also advises practitioners to practice this concept in therapy. McMinn (1996) believes those who pray often tend to experience more purpose in life, greater marital satisfaction, religious satisfaction, and a general sense of well-being. This paper aims to make other aware of the similarities and difference in Professional and Christian counseling. They both have the best interest of the client in making sure that they are going to be able to maintain stability in the home. The Biblical aspect of counseling adds a spiritual and religious aspect to counseling. The Bible is full of words that we use in our everyday life. These words are listed and defined in depth below.

Biblical and Professional Views of Addiction

McMinn stresses the use of the bible, Gods Word in counseling and much prayer with the client, he also advises practitioners to practice this concept in therapy. McMinn (1996) believes those who pray often tend to experience more purpose in life, greater marital satisfaction, religious satisfaction, and a general sense of well-being. Understanding addiction has to do with knowledge and attitude. The Bible acts as guidance and aims to attempt to steer Christians in the right direction. This paper is about how Biblical and Professional counseling are alike and different. They both are aligned to provide support and counsel in ways that are beneficial to the client.

In the Biblical Word study there were six words, counsel, wisdom, help, wine, desire, and restraint. These words are mentioned throughout the Bible. Spiritual answers cannot be deduced by human reason alone (1 Cor. 2:14). Human wisdom is often tainted by man’s sinfulness which is why the Bible is so important in our lives. These words in the Bible reference different things in the New and Old Testaments. The New Testament was written in Greek and the Old Testament was written in Hebrew.

The purpose of Biblical counseling is to add purpose to one’s life. The Bible indicates that our Lord and Savior is our counselor and his word can bring healing. Biblical word study is a toolbox for teaching the scripture. The words explain the spiritual purpose in a more dramatic manner. The Biblical word study incorporates words that are used in the professional counseling field and the scriptures in the Bible. The words are associated and can be used in church and addressed in the clinical field.

Summary of Core Biblical Themes Related to Counseling and Addiction

People addicted to substances often report a lack of purpose in life and a lack of spiritual well-being while people in recovery report a growing sense of purpose (Brown et. al., 2007). Spirituality and religiosity may play a protective role in long-term recovery from addiction.

Paul described His Christian life as a battle. There were times when he struggled, and only through perseverance could he continue. It may surprise us to know that the great apostle had to struggle at times to be faithful to God. Paul faced persecution, misunderstanding, betrayal, and death threats. His Christian life was anything but easy, yet he persevered. Your faith in God is not proven by beginning the race but by enduring to the finish.

Christians we believe that the Bible provides us with the guidance and the words that we need to live a spiritual life. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that God’s Word is useful in teaching, training, and correcting us so that we will be able servants of God. The Bible is our counsel and it gives us a better understanding about the world in which we live. Psalms 111:10 the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Similarities between Biblical and Professional Views of Addiction Counseling

Both Christian and Professional counseling have 3 elements in treatment. They are described as change, confrontation, and caring. Many individuals who suffer with addictions often need counseling, monitoring, acceptance, and the support to seek recovery. There are certainly many potential similarities in the relationship between pastors and professional counselors and the people they serve. All these relationships involve issues of faith, understanding and helplessness.

“Spend time with your people, listen and learn about their lives.
Teach your people to decipher life, including personal and relational problems, in biblical terms. Don’t just preach the Word, counsel the Word.”
--Dr. Sam Williams, Southeastern Seminary

“Biblical Counseling aspires to be a key component of the church’s efforts to spark revival in our day, by equipping people to understand their lives in biblical terms so that they will grasp the relevance of the gospel for all of life.” Dr. Sam Williams, Southeastern Seminary

Religion or spirituality is important to many individuals, counselor need to be mindful of the issues adjoining each so that they will be able to help clients more successfully. Prayer plays a major part in the lives of many spiritual individuals, and sometimes, clients need prayer to be a part of their treatment. One common assumption frequently made by well-meaning professionals who encounter individuals with addictive behaviors is that resistance to change is the result of a personality trait(e.g., denial) and that people are intrinsically unmotivated to change (Epstein, 2007). They both empower the individual or individuals to effectively deal with day to day real life situations and experience personal growth.

Differences between Biblical and Professional Views of Addiction Counseling

Religious counseling teaches the counseled to turn to God for emotional healing and how to be modest to the word of God. It seeks more Christ-centered solutions to problems. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful" (Psalm 1:1). Many religious individuals use their preacher as a primary source in their time of need.

Professional counselors deal with theory and researched based techniques that attempt to assist their client’s in solving their social/emotional problems. One of the most important challenges facing individuals who are motivated to live a more vulnerable, less defended lifestyle is learning to give up addictive habit patterns they have used to cope with psychological pain. Unfortunately, the methods that they have adopted to numb their pain or reduce their emotional distress become habit-forming and, to varying degrees, generalize to an addictive lifestyle. Experts who have studied addiction emphasized the ability of drugs “to obliterate mental anguish and provide primitive need gratification” (Firestone, 2003, p. 364). Professional counselors are trained to address issues addiction and mental health issues using a more clinical approach. They are trained to recognize, treat and monitor maladaptive behaviors developed in individuals over time. Professional counselor is an application of mental health, human development and psychological principles through using cognitive, systematic and behavioral strategies that address the individual’s well-being, wellness, career development, and personal growth. Personal Application

My personal application is that feelings of sorrow, uneasiness, and anxiety can create the desire for a reaction that exhibits in a person’s behavior, either publicly or in private. I believe that behavior is forced to produce a change in an individual. If the approachable behavior based is on damaged emotions and unreasonable beliefs it may manifests in harmful results for an individual who is susceptible to being an addict. In some instances, this unenthusiastic behavior may be a symptom that triggers attentiveness of the need for change. With children, inattention may be the only indicator that a child is struggling with an issue or a problem. What may be viewed as the problem, whether sadness or low academic performance, may actually be symptoms of a much larger issue. It is important for a counselor to prepare him or herself in ways to suggest or explore other options for their clients. It is important to remain alert to the feelings and behaviors that present themselves from the individual as possible impending symptoms that may lead to an addiction. When looking at an individual’s goals, factors to consider include asking the individual what they are trying to achieve and how they are expecting to achieve this. This elicits goals and processes that are incongruent with the desired reward, pleasure, or avoidance of pain. Discussing this develops the partnership with the client towards resolving the issues (Ellis, 1998).

References

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Dr. Sam Williams, Southeastern Seminary, Crossroads Counseling © 2005

Ellis, A. How to Control your Anger. Citadel Press, Jan 1, 1998 - 179 pages.

Epstein, D. H., Preston, K. L., Stewart, J., & Shaham, Y. (2007). Addiction and Emotion:

Theories, Assessment Techniques, and Treatment Implications. Psychopharmacology , 1-16.

Firestone, R. W., Firestone, L. A., & Catlett, J. (2006). Challenging addictive, self-nurturing

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KJV) The King James Version Of The Bible, published in 1989.

www.blueletterbible.org.