Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

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Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Summary

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the most widely used treatment for a wide range of psychological disorders. Although recently there has been evidence that behavioural activation is more effective than conginitive therapy and antidepressant medication for severely depressed adults. Additionally, combining empirically supported therapy relationships and empirically supported principles of therapeutic change with empirically supported treatments like congintive behavioural therapy is equally effective. A historical summary of behavioural therapy can be divided into three generations. The first generation being the traditional behavioural therapy, the second is the cognitive behavioural therapy and the third generation which is currently being used combines several approaches like acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness based cognitive therapy and dialectical behavioural therapy.

Apart from mindfulness and acceptance based congnitive behavioural therapy more overt religious or spiritually-oriented congentive behavioural therapy approaches have been developed recently. Incorporation of sacred scriptures and prayer is a key component during the use of this type of therapy. Professionals intending to use the Christian, biblical approach have to employ the features like cultivating a genuine and empathetic relationship, dealing with the past, paying attention to spiritual aspect of the clients life, paying attention to bigger conrextual factors like societal, familial,cultural and religious influemces and utilizing thorough research methodology.

In the actual practice of thepary there are two main models of professional integration and they are explicit and implicit integration. Implicit integration means using a more concealed approach where the therapist does not initiate the issue of religion or spiritual matters and limits themselves from using spiritual resources directly or systematically. Explicit integration on the other hand involves a much more open approach where a yherapist systematically and directly deals with religious issues and uses religious resources. Another factor to consider when using spiritual or religious oriented cogentive behavioural therapy is the location of practice CITATION Sia07 l 1033 (Tan, 2007). The location of the exercise ca limit the use of explicit Christian oriented therapy. Therapist also use prayers as well as inner healing prayers in their Christian based congentive behavioural therapy. A therapist can choose to use different forms of prayers such as contemplative prayers, inner healing prayers oritercessory prayers. Additionally they can use the prayer in it different dimensions at different times such as before or during or after the therapy session. Finally, a therapist can choose to explicitly pray out loudly or silently.

Reflection

Spiritual or prayer- oriented cognitive behavioural therapy has rapidly become popular with some therapist over the last several years. The journal is an analytical observational study as it was simply measuring and reporting on the treatment of psychological disorders using spiritual-oriented cognitive behavioural therapy and more specifically incorporating prayers in the cognitive behavioural therapy practice. This journal assesses the association between exposure to the use of prayer and scriptures in cogentive behavioural therapy and the outcomes. This observational study investigates as well as records the exposure of clients to prayers and scriptures in their therapy sessions and then observes the outcomes as they occur.

The journal article proved very informative proved not only about cognitive behavioural therapy but use of prayer as well as scriptures with clients who want to take a more religious path with their healing process. The journal proves that the method is increasingly becoming popular and that although only a few outcome studies that show the success of this approach, it is an approach that should be adopted by therapist. The article provides informative insights on how effectively to go about holding sessions with clients who have choosen to use this approach. It offers step by step instructions that a therapist using this approach will use with their clients if they want to be successful.

Application

A female client aged 32 is seeking councelling from my clinic because they have been suffering from stress, anger control issues and religious conflict. The sessions will be happening at my private practice premises. During that first session, questions about the clients history, problems and goals are asked and recorded. Information regarding the clients spiritual or religious background as well as denomination is recorded. The client is also asked their willingness to explicitly use spiritual or religious resources like the scriptures and prayer as well as discussing their spiritual issues in their sessions. After the initial assessment which takes place on the first day and after which I was able to determine the best approach was to incorporate prayers and use of scriptures in her cognitive behavioural therapy, the client agreed through a consent form as well as by word of mouth to use a chriastian, biblical approach to her cognitive behavioural therapy.

After this, therapy commences and depeding on the clients determination and willingness, therapy may last several months or even several years. When the therapy sessions begin, there will be sessions where we use spiritual disciplines such as silence and solitude, prayers as well as attending private retreats. I will also use biblical self-talk, inner healing prayer which will prove particulary helpful to the client with her stress problem. We will also use scripture teaching for Christian cognitive restructuring. The prayers will be conducted at the beginning of the session and during the session the client will have either contemplative or inner healing prayers if the need arises. The sessions will then end with the client and I reciting a short prayer out loud.

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY l 1033 Tan, S.-Y. (2007). Use of Prayer and Scripture in. Journal of Psychology and Christianity , 101-111.