Look at different models of christian counseling, pastoral care, and coaching... with special attention to the perspectives regarding goal (repair versus growth) and relationship between theology and psychology.

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Models of Christian
Counseling, Coaching,
and Pastoral Care
By Robert H. Munson, ThD
Celia P. Munson, M.Div., CC/PC
Bukal Life Care, 2014

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It is Kind of Confusing...
● There are so many different terms for the care
that may be provided for Christians in need.
● Some methods “claim” they are Christian while
they claim others are “not”
● Some methods “claim” to be Biblical while they
claim others are “not”
THERE IS NO WAY WE WILL FIGURE THIS ALL
OUT IN A COUPLE OF HOURS... BUT
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET A START ON
UNDERSTANDING SOME OF THIS.

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STRATEGY FOR THIS PRESENTATION
Divide PASTORAL
CARE into two
categories: models of
Christian COUNSELING
(More on repair/
recovery)
and models of Christian
COACHING (more on
directed growth)
“Kintsugi” Art
Topiary

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What is Pastoral Care?
• Pastor: A Latin word meaning “shepherd”
• Related to pastus meaning “feeding”
• A shepherd sees to the feeding, well being, and
growth of the flock
– Pastoral Care: To be concerned for and give watchful
attention (feeding, well being, and growth) for the
“flock.” (See Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34)
– Also known as pastoral counseling, pastoral
psychology, and spiritual care.
– Gregory the Great, Cyprian,Tertullian, John
Chrysostom, Ambrose, Augustine, Bonaventure,
Thomas Aquinas, Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Bucer,
More, Herbert, Burnet, Baxter, etc.

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Pastoral Care
Even though pastoral care refers to the care
provided by the pastor/shepherd for his/her
flock (church or parish family), some forms of
care are not considered part of pastoral care.
Ministry areas that are not classically
considered pastoral care include evangelism,
preaching, sacraments, and social ministry.
<Note: Pastoral Care is NOT care for one's pastor.>

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Types of Historical Pastoral Care
Historically speaking, certain tasks of the pastor/
presbyter/ bishop were seen as “pastoral care” and
some not. Ones that are identified as:
• Seward Hiltner (1958). Healing, Guiding,
Sustaining
• Clebsch and Jaeckle (1964). Healing, Guiding,
Sustaining, Reconciling
• Howard Clinebell (1966). Healing, Guiding,
Sustaining, Reconciling, Nurturing.
• Andrew Lester (1995). Healing, Guiding,
Sustaining, Reconciling, Liberating.

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The Scope of Pastoral Care

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Philosophy of Primary Pastoral Care
– Client Oriented. The client defines the
needs, desires, and agenda. Ministry
of Presence. Ministry of Silence.
– Support and Comfort-Focused. Not
focused on changing the client, in
belief or action. TRY to understand
and empathize.

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Philosophy of Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care can be divided into two broad
categories:
● Historical Pastoral Care: Rooted in the Church
with its roles defined in the first 1900 years of
the church. Tends to be more theological and
historical in its methods.
●
Clinical Pastoral Care: Rooted in the 20th
century. Incorporates more psychological
innovations.

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Clinical Pastoral Care
Rev.Anton Boisen, father of the
Clinical Pastoral Education/
Training movement in the 1920s.
He saw the need for pastoral care
in mental hospitals after being a
patient there himself. He placed
theological students in supervised
contact with patients in mental
hospitals.
He gave strong emphasis on the role
of theology in pastoral care. FAITH
and MENTAL HEALTH--
THEOLOGY and PSYCHOLOGY

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Clinical Pastoral Care
General Traits:
● Its focus has been in chaplaincy environments:
hospitals, jails, hospices, atbp. More recently,
there has been growing focus in churches,
parishes, communities.
● Clinical Pastoral Care tends to focus more on
psychological principles than theological
principles... but it depends on the practitioner.

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Christian Counseling
Many of the forms of counseling can be
understood in terms of four quadrants.
1. They may be identified in whether they focus
more on theology or more on psychology.
2. They may be identified in whether they seek
to integrate theology and psychology more, or
tend to keep the two separate.

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Psychology and Theology

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Levels of Explanation Model
Affiliated groups: Christian Association for
Psychological Studies (CAPS); The Journal of
Psychology and Christianity; Fuller Seminary School
of Psychology
Basic premise: Psychology deals with psychological
and natural problems in human behavior and
relationships. The Bible looks at spiritual problems
and our relationship with God. As such they are
separate disciplines that deal with unrelated
problems.
<Note: Descriptions of the four major models here are based
generally on Timothy Keller's article “Four Models of
Counseling in Pastoral Ministry”>

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Levels of Explanation Model
“The rich fabric of the total picture given to us in
Scripture brings to mind the similarly rich
complexity of the total picture of human nature
given to us through the scientific endeavor today.
Both emphasize the complexity of human nature,
the need to understand and study it from many
diverse aspects or perspectives, and the need to
recognize that human nature is a unity – a unity
now in this present life and, by the grace of God,
a unity in the life to come.” -David Myers and
Malcolm Jeeves

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Integration Model
Affiliated Groups: Rosemead School of Psychology at
Biola University, La Mirada, CA; American Association
of Christian Counselors; Reformed Theological Seminary,
Jackson, MS.
Basic premise: Psychology and biblical theology are
both looking at the same thing—human nature. Two
different tools to study human beings, “general
revelation” and “special revelation.” They give
priority to the Bible when there is conflict, but may
give science priority in common practice.

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Integration Model
Built off of the concept, “The Unity of Truth.”
That is, “All truth is God's truth.”
Thus, if psychological principles are not seen to
be contradictory to God's Word, one should be
open to the possibility that they are true.
Some are “weak integrationists” while others
are “strong integrationists”

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Christian Psychology Model
Affiliated Group: Covenant Theological Seminary,
St. Louis, MO
Basic premise: The Bible/Theology critiques
psychology at a foundational level.
Foundationally, theology dominates, but
psychological techniques may be brought in as
part of the therapy. In practice, tends to be
counselor driven rather than theory-driven.

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Christian Psychology Model
“For the Christian psychologist, integration
involves a recognition of the ultimate
authority of the Bible, a willingness to learn
what God has allowed humans to discover
through psychology and other fields of
knowledge, and a desire to determine how
both scriptural truths and psychological data
can enable us better to understand and help
people.” -Gary R.. Collins

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Biblical (Nouthetic) Counseling
Model
Affiliated Groups: National Association of
Nouthetic Counselors (NANC); Christian
Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF)
Basic premise: A high level of distrust of modern
psychology and psychological methodology.
Psychological insights should be used with
extreme caution. The older approach, formulated
by Jay Adams, put great emphasis on behavioral
change and the adoption of patterns of biblical
living. Much emphasis on sin, repentance, and
redemption.

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Biblical (Nouthetic) Counseling Model
“Nouthetic Counseling helps by confronting sin,
praying for encouraging repentance, renewing
the mind, identifying idols, pointing them to the
sufficient Scriptures. Lastly, Nouthetic
counseling helps to battle against the current
Christian counseling movement that seeks to
rename sin, omit sorrow/repentance, remain
man-centered and felt needs oriented.”
-www.calebcounseling.org

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Coaching. How is it different from
Counseling?
● In coaching, there is commonly not the presumption of
“illness” in the client/coachee. Counseling more about
healing... coaching more about growth. Coaching is
commonly more directive than counseling.
● Counseling often more past oriented... coaching more
present and future. Counseling is more on feeling...
coaching is more on results.

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Coaching
Coaching is... “the art and practice of guiding a person
or group from where they are to a greater competence
and fulfillment they desire.” -Gary R. Collins
God, through the Holy Spirit, initiates change, the
coachee discovers change through action, experience
and motivation. Coaches help facilitate that process.
Types include: Mentoring, Discipling (group /
intentional one-on-one), Christian Life Coaching,
Spiritual Direction

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Discipling versus Mentoring
Discipleship Mentoring
Models Paul with Timothy Barnabas and John Mark
Primary
basis of
interchange
Content Relationship
Type of role Teaching new spiritual truths Caring for and helping a person in all
aspects of life.
Whose
agenda?
Discipler's agenda (spiritual
disciplines)
Protege's agenda (goals/problems)
Training? Training and mastery of
spiritual disciplines
Practical life experience relevant to the
protege
Chemistry? Respect Repect and personal chemistry
Essential
message
To mature spiritually,
here is what you need
to know, do, or
become
How can I help you get where you are
going?

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Christian Life Coaching
● Think of it like Mentoring... except perhaps
more systematized, focused, and time-bound.
● The life coach helps the coachee identify areas
of growth (spiritual, behavioral, or otherwise),
come up with strategies and plans to grow, and
then assist the coachee with accountability,
evaluation, and adjustment.

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Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Direction is quite a bit like Christian
Life Coaching. However, its scope is generally
more narrow as it focuses on developing a
deeper relationship with God.
While the work that spiritual directors do with
their directees vary... much of the work tends to
be in areas of prayer, meditation, and ritual.

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Coaching Types

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What to Use?
Concern Treatment
I Relationship with God, prayer and prayer problems,
spiritual practices, discernment regarding spiritual
experiences, spiritual emergencies
Spiritual Direction
II Issues involving the meaning and purpose of life,
discernment regarding major life decisions, issues
involving self-development.
Spiritual Direction,
Pastoral
Care/Counseling
III Moral/ethical issues involving oneself; moral and/or
ethical issues involving relationships; moral and/or
ethical issues involving work or social justice
Philosophical
Counseling (limited)
IV Losses/grieving, relational conflicts, work, family, self
imbalances, work/school problems, failed expectations,
mild to moderate symptoms or impairment.
Pastoral Counseling
V Moderate to severe symptoms or impairments,
characterological or personality-disordered behavior,
addictions, sequelae of early life trauma
Psychological
Counseling,
Psychotherapy
-Source: Len Sperry

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So What is Best?
● Use what you believe is right before God and in
the best interest of your client, coachee,
directee.
● Remember theology is the intersection of
revelation and culture... so a relevant theology
without psychology is probably not possible.
● Remember to be humble (none of us know all
truth) and remember God is the true healer.

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References
“Pastoral Care in Historical Perspectives,” Book. by Clebsch and Jaekle, 1964.
“Care of Souls in the Classic Tradition,” Book. by Thomas Oden
“Skillful Shepherds: An Introduction to Pastoral Theology,” Book, by Derek J. Tidball.
“Preface to Pastoral Theology,” Book. by Seward Hiltner, 1958.
“Types of Pastoral Care and Counseling,” Book. by Howard Clinebell, 1966.
“Hope in Pastoral Care & Counseling,” Book. by Andrew Lester, 1995.
“The Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling,” Book. by Rodney J. Hunter, Ed.,
“Six Functions of Pastoral Care,” Internet Resource, by Jan Corbett-Jones.
“Four Models of Counseling in Pastoral Ministry,” Article. By Timothy Keller,
“Reviews from History of Pastoral Care,” Celia Munson, 2014
“Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide” by Gary R. Collins, 2007.
“Transforming Self and Community” by Len Sperry, 2005.
“Integrating Spiritual Direction Functions in the Practice of Psychotherapy” by Len Sperry, 2005.
Vriend, Gillian. Lecture notes “Coach, Counsel, Change” (May 2014, Baguio City, Philippines)
Biehl, Bobb. “Mentoring: Confidence in Finding a Mentor and Becoming One” (1997)
Comparing the Five Views Christians Take to Psychology, Eric Johnson, ppt