Children in the foster care system have a special place in my heart.
Melissa Barney
Children in the foster care system have a special place in my heart. I was in the foster care system for the first three years of my life, and I sympathize with the emotional trauma that Danielle is currently experiencing with her family. Counseling sessions with Danielle will require a solid relationship that shows her empathy and love in a transparent format. Brewer and Peters (n.d.) explain that Danielle’s parents are “Spies” that select bits and pieces of Scripture for their agenda. Unfortunately, her parent’s behavior leads Danielle to identify biblical Scripture with pain, anger, and negative emotions. Counseling requires a therapeutic alliance with patients, which allows for healing their souls and establishing a relationship with God. However, I would begin the relationship by establishing a safe environment by showing her hospitality. Brewer and Peters (n.d.) indicate that counselors can show “hospitality” by concentrating on the individual’s needs and acknowledging they feel like outsiders and unwelcome. I believe that I could establish a rapport with Danielle by disclosing my personal history in the foster care system. Chrisitan counseling should revolve around prayer and Scripture.
Nevertheless, counselors should be prepared to use other psychological techniques for clients if they have been negatively influenced using Christian doctrine, prayer, or scriptures. McMinn (2012) tells counselors to reflect on the following for each patient, “Which forms of prayer should we use with which clients and under which circumstances” (para 5). Regarding Danielle, it is too premature to use prayer or Scripture with her at this stage of treatment. However, it is appropriate for the therapists to utilize personal prayer for the client. Integrative counseling encourages both secular and non-secular techniques to heal clinically. I would reference the METAMORPH grid for Danielle’s therapy, specifically the emotional and history grids. Brewer and Peter’s (n.d.) lecture points to “Rational Emotional Therapy,” which can be used by role-playing with the client and helping identify feelings—likewise, engaging in the “Gestalt Theory” for exploring “Trauma History” with Danielle by focusing on her present living environment and targeting forgiveness for her biological and foster parents (Brewer & Peters, n.d.).
As her counselor, I would refer her to another colleague who specializes in child psychology which is not based solely on religious principles. Danielle has anger and behavioral problems, and her cognitive skills will have difficulty viewing God’s grace and mercy in her life. They could be counterproductive at this stage of her development. As a minor, Danielle cannot fully consent to spiritual counseling techniques. Therapy can only be effective if the patient is willing to accept help, acknowledge feelings, and work towards healing. In my opinion, she is a patient that will not excel in a Christian-based agency.
Counselors practicing in non-secular and secular agencies must be educated on approved reimbursable treatment plans for patients. Unfortunately, therapists must understand that “insurance companies” may not recognize spiritual-only counseling as a legitimate counseling strategy and deny coverage to patients. (McMinn, 2012, para 53). Christian counselors are ethnically required to disclose spiritual interventions within patient consent treatment forms, unlike the standard protocol for counseling. (McMinn, 2012). Christianity has a place in both environments, but the counselor’s engagement in their faith has restrictions due to the professional setting for clients. Counselors must ask themselves what their passion for the style of therapy is and what career path God has led them to fulfill. However, I believe that Christian counseling and the word of God will satisfy both the patient and the counselor. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you” (English Standard Version, 2001, 1 Timothy 4:14). “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (English Standard Version, 2001, Colossians 3:23).
References
Brewer, G., & Peters, C. (n.d.). COUN 506 Week Two, Lecture Three: Models for interdisciplinary Integration. [PowerPoint]. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Online.
Brewer, G., & Peters, C. (n.d.). COUN 506 Week Three, Lecture Three: Spirituality, Suffering, and Counseling Dynamics. [PowerPoint]. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Online.
Brewer, G., & Peters, C. (n.d.). COUN 506 Week Four, Lecture Two. METAMORPH Integrative Counseling Grid. [PowerPoint]. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Online.
English Standard Bible. (2001). English Standard Bible Online. https://biblegateway.com/versions/English-Standard-Version_ESV-Bible.
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