BALANCE WITH CHRIST-CENTERED PERSONAL THERAPY
The Therapy for Personal Growth
Christ-Centered Personal Therapy (CCPT) utilizes the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy’s model with a profound emphasis on Jesus Christ and His teachings. It focuses on influencing a person’s thoughts in a positive lights which will automatically cause their emotions and behaviors to be positive as well. It allows a person to grow through Christ and His love that no person could ever deserve. Transforming the mind through Christ will indisputably transform the person’s emptiness to joy, love, and happiness. Proverbs 3:13-14 notes, “Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wisdom, and the man [that] getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it [is] better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
IMPLEMENTING THE UNDERSTANDING OF GOD'S LOVE AND GRACE IN ORDER TO DEVELOP A GRATEFUL/HUMBLE MINDSET INSTEAD OF AN ENTITLED/PRIDEFUL MINDSET WHICH WILL ALLOW ONE TO VIEW LIFE HALF-FULL RATHER THAN HALF-EMPTY. IN SIMPLER TERMS, IT WILL ALLOW ONE TO FOCUS ON GOD RATHER THAN SELF AND IN RETURN ONE WILL FOCUS ON THE INFINITE BLESSINGS INSTEAD OF THE THINGS THAT DON'T GO THE WAY THEY WOULD LIKE.
DISTRESS
Various Influences
BACKGROUNDS
A person’s background is a vital concept of Christ-centered therapy. Backgrounds always have some degree of effect with a person’s current mental state. Examining a person’s background provides a counselor with a better understanding of why the client’s mentality is where it is at that time (Westbrook, Kennerly, Kirk, 2007). The knowledge of a client’s background is vital and can serve as a platform for looking back and examining the past thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that were developed after experiencing dissimilar events. CCPT will focus on examining a person’s past to gather their past thoughts, emotions, and actions and help the client see their mistakes and better ways they could have handled the events. Afterwards, the therapist would help the client realize that the past is over, and they should learn from it and leave it in the past and realize what they do in the present/future is what really matters. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (KJV).
THOUGHTS
A person’s thoughts are of paramount significance to Christ-Centered Personal Therapy (CCPT), and in fact, it serves as the premise for the therapy. CCPT utilizes a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) model as its basis of therapy. CCPT views thoughts as the most prominent factor of the therapy, because it is what dictates everything else. A person’s thoughts determine whether they view an event in a positive light or a negative one. Transforming a person’s mind transfigures their emotions and behaviors so adequately that it can allow them to be happy/grateful in the most distressful situations. CCPT aims to redirect the person’s mindset from negative/selfish thoughts to positive/grateful ones. The therapy places significant emphasis on changing the automatic negative thoughts and cognitive distortions Ephesians 4:22-24 notes, “that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (KJV).
EMOTIONS/SENSATIONS
Emotions are the second tier for CCPT therapy and it is dictated by the person’s though process. If a person develops a positive thought pertaining to an event, a positive emotion will be developed and if a person develops a negative thought regarding the same event, a negative emotion will be generated. This generally separates a pessimistic person from a grateful/graceful person. This therapy’s mission is to help the pessimistic person reach an antithetical state of mind, which CCPT therapy labels as a grateful/graceful mindset. A person’s actions or words are an illustration of their current emotions and how they feel. Luke 6:45 states, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (KJV).
DISTRESS (CONT.)
ACTIONS/BEHAVIORS
Actions/behaviors are part of the latter tier for CCPT and they are predicated on an individual’s thoughts and emotions. A person’s behavior is a physical action that illustrates what their thoughts and emotions are; e.g., a person who currently has happy thoughts and emotions will not rage and curse someone out like they would if their thoughts/emotions were negative or a positive person will be more inclined to speak positively, while a negative person will be more inclined to speak more negatively. CCPT believes a person’s actions/behaviors elucidate the type of thoughts/emotions they are experiencing, as far as positive/healthy and negative/detrimental, and it illustrates the areas that need to be further discussed. Although thoughts are the most important factor in this therapy, actions play a key role, because it will display if the person is truly feeling or thinking the way they say; e.g., a person can say they are very happy about something, but if their actions display something of an antithetical nature, the therapist knows they are not being honest with themselves or the therapist. CCPT focuses on deterring negative/detrimental actions/behaviors and rectifying them to positive/honorable ones. Matthew 5:39 presents, “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (KJV).
FAMILY/CULTURAL SYSTEMS
Family and cultural systems play a pretty large part on a person’s mindset and what they are accustomed to. This can definitely be a stumbling block if a person is surrounded by a family/cultural system that are toxic and serve as stumbling blocks to the person’s attempt to change their detrimental thoughts, emotions, and actions. This can be a challenge depending upon how close the ties are between the family/culture, how much the family/culture hinders the person’s mindset, and the person’s willingness to cut ties if necessary. This type of therapy places emphasis on finding the negative influences in the person’s life and helping them sever ties with those influences, while finding the positive ones and helping the person grow closer with them.
Matthew 10:34-39 notes,
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it (KJV).
(King James Bible Online.org)
KEY UNDERLYING MECHANISMS
Rectifying cognitive distortions and automatic negative thoughts is one of the most significant focuses of CCPT. These illogical thinking processes exacerbate a person’s anxiety, emotional difficulty and depression. These negative thoughts and cognitive distortions will be sporadic and will be accepted as facts, which will only have negative affects on the person’s mood.
• Arbitrary interference: Establishing conclusions on the premise of insufficient or irrelevant evidence (McLeod, 2015).
• Selective abstraction: Magnifying one aspect of an event and ignoring the other aspects/factors
• Minimization and Magnification/Over-generalization: Downplaying the importance of a desirable event like an achievement or good work and exaggerating with a negative/undesirable event and making it define them in totality (e.g., a person gets high grades, but let one random bad grade define them as unintelligent)
• Personalization: Imputing other people’s negative feelings to them self (e.g., a coworker walks in the meeting room and looks frustrated, which the person takes it as the coworker must be frustrated with them.
2 Corinthians 12:10 notes, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (KJV).
DEPRESSION & ANXIETY
SCIENCE HAS ALWAYS DISPLAYED BIAS AND A LACK OF TRUE SCIENTIFIC MERIT, BUT THERE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS SPIKE OF THIS SEEN IN THE PAST FEW DECADES. IT IS SO BAD, IT IS TO THE POINT WHERE RESEARCHERS ARE SAYING IT IS A SCIENTIFIC FACT THAT WEED MAKES A PERSON SMARTER AND IT’S A SCIENTIFIC FACT THAT THERE IS 58+ DISSIMILAR GENDERS, BOTH ARE CLEARLY NONSENSE. SIMILARLY, DOCTORS ARE NOW SAYING THAT DEPRESSION IS GENETIC (NOT A CHOICE) AND FOR PEOPLE TO NOT FEEL BAD OR ASHAMED ABOUT IT, BUT TO BE OKAY OR COMPLACENT ABOUT IT; WE EVEN SEE THIS TAUGHT REGULARLY WITH CHURCH COUNSELORS. THIS IS CLEARLY NOT THE CASE, BESIDES THE RARE CASES WHERE DEPRESSION ISN'T A CHOICE DUE TO PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT TO THE BRAIN FROM AN ACCIDENT, STROKE, ETC. DEPRESSION, AS WELL AS ANXIETY, ARE VERY MUCH A CHOICE AND RENEWING THE MIND IS VERY SIGNIFICANT AND IT IS EVEN PROVEN THAT YOUR MIND CAN MAKE YOU HEALTHIER OR DETER YOUR HEALTH FROM YOUR MENTALITY. REGARDLESS OF WHAT MODERN SCIENCE SAYS ABOUT RELATIVE TRUTH (REALLY DOESN’T EXIST), THERE IS ONLY ABSOLUTE TRUTH AND YOU CAN'T MAKE TRUTH WHATEVER YOU WANT (RELATIVE TRUTH) BUT ONE JUST NEEDS TO ACCEPT THE TRUTH SO THEY CAN PROGRESS. IF DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY WERE GENETIC, COUNSELING WOULDN'T MAKE IT GO AWAY AT ALL (E.G., DOWN SYNDROME, AUTISM, ETC.).
DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY ARE COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS THAT ONE CONTROLS, OTHERWISE THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR THERAPY (SOMETHING THAT HELPS ONE CHANGE IT). IT'S NOTHING TO DO WITH GENETICS AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH ONE’S MINDSET/THOUGHT PROCESS. HENCE THE REASON IT HAS BECOME A HUGE EPIDEMIC THIS LAST DECADE OR SO OUT OF NOWHERE, RIGHT ALONG WITH THE COUNTRY'S LACK OF TRUTH/INTEGRITY, IF IT WAS GENETIC IT WOULDN'T HAVE SPIKED AND WOULD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THIS BAD, THINK ABOUT IT. THERAPY HELPS, BECAUSE THEY GET YOU TO CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS AND RECTIFY YOUR THINKING TEMPORARILY. CHRIST-CENTERED PERSONAL THERAPY HELPS ONE FIX THEIR MIND ON THE ONLY ONE WHO REALLY MATTER (JESUS CHRIST) AND DIE TO THEIR SELFLESSNESS/PRIDE PERMANENTLY. IF ONE DOES NOT HAVE JESUS CHRIST IN THEIR LIFE, THEY WILL NEVER GET RID OF IT. DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY BOTH COMPLETELY REVOLVE AROUND SELFLESSNESS AND PRIDE. DEPRESSION PLACES EMPHASIS ON THE PAST AND HOW THINGS DID NOT GO AS ONE WOULD LIKE AND ANXIETY FOCUSES MORE ON THE PRESENT AND FUTURE AND HOW THEY REALLY WANT SOMETHING TO GO HOW THEY WANT IT. BOTH REVOLVE AROUND ENTITLED MENTALITY’S AND NEITHER WILL CEASE UNTIL ONE STOP’S PLACING ALL EMPHASIS ON THEMSELVES, AND PLACE IT ON GOD.
TREATMENT STRATEGIES
Support That Makes a Difference
FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS
Functional analysis is a technique that is utilized with deterring irrational or illogical thoughts. It is a very effective technique that allows the person to learn more about themselves and what leads to their destructive behaviors, as well as, what the consequences were for those actions. Functional analysis helps the person understand the difference between adaptive and productive thoughts/behaviors versus the maladaptive and destructive thoughts/behaviors. This can help the person discover how to adapt, change and cope with their destructive patterns and tendencies.
UNRAVELING COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS/COGNITIVE RESTRUCTURING
Cognitive restructuring is a very effective technique examines the dialogue in a person’s mind and elucidates the thoughts and how they are paramount with the person’s emotions and behaviors. It separates the thoughts that are productive/rational from the ones that should be questioned and may be maladaptive. Cognitive restructuring examines the person’s interpretation of past situations and address what other interpretations are present and are more rational. It analyzes truth from distorted/irrational interpretations, which lead to destructive behaviors and a despondent life.
JOURNALING
Journaling is a strategy that allows the client and counselor to gather information about their thoughts and moods. This can be quite beneficial after an event has taken place with the client, because they can look back and assess their thoughts, emotions and actions. Generally, journaling would include the time of the event, what took place in the event and what caused their thoughts, emotions and actions. This allows the client to see their patterns of thinking/acting and it allows them to identify the distinctions of their rational thoughts/actions from their irrational ones.
TREATMENT STRATEGIES (CONT.)
ENGAGING IN WORST CASE SCENARIOS
Engaging in Worst Case Scenarios is a treatment strategy that is very effective with people who experience significant levels of anxiety and fear. This is sort of self-explanatory and pertains to having the person engage with their idea of the worst-case scenario (or rationally close). This is a type of treatment is very similar to exposure and it allows the person to experience their scenario to examine the reality that it is nothing as bad as they thought. This should develop more of a positive mindset as it begins to apply to the person’s thought process regarding dissimilar topics and fears. It helps them discover the reality that there is nothing to far or be anxious over and they can start to become more rational with circumstances that they use to be frightened of.
EXPOSURE
Exposure is a type of treatment strategy can be very broad and it has proven to be very effective. CCPT exposure pertains to the exposure of events/circumstances that induces a person’s destructive thought/behavior tendencies. This can greatly assist the person with discovering new ways of how to adapt, change and cope with their destructive patterns and tendencies. It can also open their eyes to the reality that it isn’t nearly as bad as they are defining it as. As they practice with this treatment strategy, they should be attempting to refrain from any detrimental thinking/actions. After each event, the person and counselor can discuss the various thoughts, emotions, and actions that the person felt during the event and they can converse/determine which were rational and which ones weren’t, while generating alternative thoughts/actions that would be more suitable
FAITH-MULTICULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS
CCPT is a pragmatic theory that can be applied to any culture regardless of a person’s faith background, ethnicity, age, gender, social/economic status, etc. It is very likely that this theory will fit some people’s spiritual and cultural backgrounds better than others, because some people will be more willing than others based on the aforementioned differences (Mental Health Foundation, 2007). CCPT is a very flexible/adaptable theory for any type of cultural background. CCPT provides a fundamental basis that teaches Jesus’s word and grace, which is for everyone regardless of their past actions. Philippians 3:13-14 states, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (KJV).
(Kristi Ann's Haven)
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND LIMITATIONS
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
95% of American adults reported that they believe in God and 84% of adults reported that religion is a significant part of their lives (Delaney, Miller, & Bisono, 2013).
68% of patients had the belief that it was the clinician’s job to bring up spirituality and religion and in therapy (McCauley, 2005)
“Compared to three months of regular cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a Christian adapted CBT, or pastoral counseling, clinically depressed Christians in the Christian CBT group showed greatest immediate improvement on the Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI), but the individuals in the pastoral counseling group showed the greatest long-term improvement on the BDI” (Propst, Ostrom, Watkins, Dean, & Mashburn, 1992)
In context with clients who seek treatment from Christian-based counseling centers, relating a higher degree of Christianity and faith to therapy could yield a higher degree of therapeutic relationship (McElroy, Sisemore, and Jones, (n.d.).
Overall, studies have supported the notion that faith and spirituality play significant roles in effective therapy.
LIMITATIONS
The biggest limitation of this therapy surrounds people who do not want to go to a therapy that is based on Christ or religion.
This therapy wouldn’t for people who want multiple religions incorporated into their therapy, which is antithetical to biblical teachings.
This therapy can become ineffective, like all other therapies, if the therapist or client become impetuous and try to rush the results, instead of rigorously assessing/implementing the therapy adequately.
“When an individual honors God, they automatically honor their family and themselves”
-Michael Mial
REFERENCES
Ackerman, C. (2017). 25 CBT Techniques and Worksheets for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Retrieved from https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/cbt-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-techniques-worksheets/
Counsellingandcoachingsolutions.co.uk (n.d.). [Photography]. Retrieved August 08, from google.com
Cherry, K. (2017). What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Process, Types, Components, Uses, and Effectiveness. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-cognitive-behavior-therapy-2795747
Heartlight.org. [Photography]. Retrieved August 20, from google.com
King James Bible Online.org. [Photography]. Retrieved August 20, from google.com
Kristi Ann’s Haven. [Photography]. Retrieved August 20, from google.com
McCauley, J. M. (2005). Spiritual beliefs and barriers among managed care practitioners. Journal of Religion & Health, 44(2), 137. doi:10.1007/s10943-005-2772-2
McElroy, J., Sisemore, T., & Jones, A. (n.d.). The Effects Clinicians Views of Relating Christianity to Psychology Have on Treatment Outcome. Retrieved from http://richmont.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Effects-Relating-Faith-Have-on-Treatment.-CAPS15.-McElroy.pdf
McLeod, S. A. (2015). Cognitive behavioral therapy. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive-therapy.html
Mental Health Foundation (2007). Keeping the Faith. Spirituality and Recovery from Mental Health Problems. London: Mental Health Foundation
Propst, L. R., Ostrom, R., Watkins, P., Dean, T., & Mashburn, D. (1992). Comparative efficacy of religious and nonreligious cognitive-behavioral therapy for the treatment of clinical depression in religious individuals. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60(1), 94-103. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.60.1.94
PubMed Health (2016). Cognitive behavioral therapy. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0072481/
Westbrook, D., Kennerley, H., Kirk, J. (2007). An Introduction to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: Skills and Applications. London: Sage