Running head: HAWKINS AND CLINTON BOOK REVIEW 1

Hawkins and Clinton Book Review

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Hawkins and Clinton Book Review

The book, "The new Christian counselor: A fresh biblical and transformational

approach," tries to offer a new approach to the integration of Christianity in the counseling

setting. Although this book offers numerous important concepts for the Christian counselor,

there are several that stand out as the most important. The most paramount concept that the

authors offer is an understanding of what Christian counseling entails. Someone cannot actively

participate in Christian counseling without first understanding what it entails, beyond its science.

The authors explain it as "a form of discipleship designed to help free people to experience God's

pardon, purpose, and power…" (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, p. 31). Next, the authors explain the

importance of attachment and relationships by explaining the difference between secure and

insecure attachments and how they shape the relationships people form with themselves, others,

and God. Secure attachments produce people who are optimistic, confident, and balanced in

their lives and relationships with others and God (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015). Insecure

attachments, however, result in people who are disorganized, avoidant, anxious, and unable to

form positive, lasting relationships (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015). The authors explain that

brokenness and lies experienced in relationships can be healed through the Triune God – the

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

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Summary

“Spiritual growth is not a self-improvement program. From beginning to end, God is the

source of power and life” (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015). The main purpose of “The New Christian

Counselor: A fresh Biblical and Transformational Approach” is to provide spiritual nourishment

for those who have spiritual know-how but lack basic information and trust in themselves

regarding the role of faith in how it impacts the emotional and psychological healing of

individuals.

As we explore the eight important concepts that highlight that Hawkins and Clinton offer us in

order to understand the impact of spirituality on psychology we must consider these important

messages; 1) what is Christian counseling this is important in understanding the role of

Christianity and how counselors can use it to heal someone who may be suffering spiritually. 2)

Difference between secular and Christian psychology, 3) multiple levels of holistic models

focusing on hierarchy, 4) psychological and biological components of Christian psychology 5)

Imago Dei being the center of this book, how all life is created through the eyes of God and

humans were all created in his image. 6) anthropology and identity, as a Christian counselor it is

important that we have an understanding of the process of our own souls. 7) How to incorporate

spiritual interventions with psychological interventions. 8) Lastly, but not least using those

interventions to better understand our worldviews with regards to our attachments and

relationship with each other.

Each of these concepts provides an insight into how similar both secular and Christian

psychology are to one another; exploring the depth of what God provides us through prayer,

scripture and life experiences we grow as better individuals both mentally and physically.
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Analysis

Johnson’s “A comparison of the five notions brought to Psychology by Christians” states

that: “Since the main objective of the Christian Psychology is God’s comprehension of human

nature, a Christian Psychology will entail various understandings rooted from the history of the

Christian Church due to the presence of the different Christian beliefs” (slide 26). Understanding

the Concept of Christian Psychology gives an insight into how psychology and Christianity are

intersected and equally provide healing to clients in need. As we desire "to understand human

nature we must carefully explore the components of the soul" (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, p.77).

This model is a middle way for both biblical counseling and integration its focus is to show the

strengths of each rather than their weaknesses.

The main focus or agenda of Christian psychology is that it is an ongoing development

regarding theories, research and focus on soul care practices. As the agenda is set in place it

leads to the concept of understanding the worldviews in areas of psychology itself. Christian

Psychology provides us with the notion of what shapes its function; Christian psychology uses

scriptures Johnson said it best “The Holy Scriptures will provide a fundamental basis for the

Christian psychology” (Slide 26).

When it comes to integrating spirituality and psychology we must consider the methods that

there are other sources of psychological truths and that there is a similarity between Christian

psychology to secular psychology; meaning that Christian and secular are similar in other ways

except in terms of their worldviews. Hawkins and Clinton (2015) state that "however there are

many of commonality exists between secular and Christian approaches to therapy, and these

areas of the agreement provide fertile ground for dialogue" (p.107).

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A few major features of Christian psychology that are not included in secular psychology

is that God is the center of human life and in Christian counseling, all life is seen through the

study of scripture as God's way of connecting with his people. In slide 31 of Johnson's five views

sit is to be noted that God is constantly and increasingly investing himself in his creation, their

fall, their redemption and our consumption.

Application

Hawkins and Clinton (2015) “Counselors appreciate the powerful role relational systems

play in the formation of human personality” (p.100) applies to how counselors should we should

focus on the foundation of relationships our clients have with others.

Our personality is defined by the experiences and beliefs we have been taught, as we get

older we explore and branch outside of our everyday norm. Worldviews are shaped by our

beliefs, and as a counselor in training applying spiritual development and growth is based on our

faith and belief in God. “God is working every step of the way to call our names and welcome us

to divert our hearts again from the obliteration of sin” (Hawkins & Clinton, 2015, p.9).

While my worldview is based on my personal experience and the challenges I faced, I

often look outside of myself and my experience when working with my students whose

worldview is 100% deaf culture, and they have a dysfunctional belief that everything should be

given to them just because of their disability. Many of them do not comprehend the concept of

God’s purpose for them; they do not look past their limitation and discover God’s purpose for

them.

Using Hawkins and Clinton’s (2015) tools along with Johnson’s five views and

understanding of these tools as well as implementing those, I would need to look within myself

and within my own understanding of what it means to be a Christian counselor. As stated

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before, we are all created in the image of God, and this allows us to in his "image of od humans

share his capacity for decision, engagement, and communication" (p.94). The integration of

Christianity into our lives is vital to the point of how we cope and deal with daily struggles and

trials of life; this is how Johnson describes redemption: “The allocation by confidence of Christ's

work of recovery is fundamental for legitimate human development, adapting, recuperating and

fortifying—of awesome significance for counseling" (slide 32).

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References

Hawkins, R., & Clinton, T. (2015). The new Christian counselor: A fresh biblical and

transformational approach. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers.

Stokley, M. The Integration of Psychology and Christianity, 1-39.

Johnson, E. Comparing the Five Views Christians Take to Psychology, PowerPoint, Slides 1-41.