Presentation Title
Conflicts Between Secular Psychology and Biblical Beliefs
Location
Fenn Tower Ballroom
Presentation Type
Roundtable Discussion
Start Date
4-11-2014 4:00 PM
End Date
4-11-2014 4:50 PM
Abstract
In the process of the therapeutic session, psychologist and client values function as important factors through the conversation. Among various multicultural factors, value differences from religious beliefs can be one of the hardest factors. Priest and Wickel (2011) studied a legal court case where a religious therapist faced a value conflict working with a client in a same-sex relationship and had to terminate the job because of the issue. The case shows that upholding values as a therapist can lead to discrimination and ethical issues. The conflicts between religion and psychology have been studied in qualitative research (Cremins, 2002). Cragun and Friedlander (2012) studied eleven Christian clients’ experiences in secular psychotherapy and found that participants experienced poor agreement with therapists on the goals or tasks of treatment. Specifically, two participants felt disrespected, perceiving that the therapist misunderstood the discussion about religious issues. In addition to value conflicts during counseling sessions, the conflict between secular psychology and religious beliefs is another issue for Christian psychologists. Miller (1992) stated that Freud viewed religious and neurotic behavior as similar. Furthermore, religious leaders did not use behaviorism, which was disconnect to the inner world of individuals because research shows that psychology allows people to focus on self-worship (Vitz, 1994). The nature of humans in psychology represents a major discrepancy in values from the biblical belief, and it’s these attitudes and beliefs that affect the therapeutic relationship. Christian Psychologists work in churches and general counseling settings. Therefore, those psychologists may struggle with their conflicts between secular psychological beliefs and biblical beliefs, especially in secular organizations or agencies (Baker & Wang, 2004). This roundtable discussion will allow participants to discuss personal experiences surrounding conflicts as Christian therapists, and prevention strategies to build the bridge between secular psychology and biblical beliefs.
References
Baker, M. & Wang, M. (2004). Examining connections between values and practice in religiously committed U.K. clinical psychologists. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 32, 126-136.
Cragun, C. L. & Friedlander, M. L. (2012). Experiences of Christian clients in secular psychotherapy: A mixed-methods investigation, Journal of Counseling Psychology, 59, 379-391.
Cremins, J. (2002). The Rift betwwen Religion and Psychotherapy: Can It Be Healed?. Journal of Pastoral Counseling, 3710.
Miller, G. A. (1992). Integrating religion and psychology in therapy: Issues and recommendations. Counseling and Values, 36, 112-122.
Priest, J. B., & Wickel, K. (2011). Religious therapists and clients in same-sex relationships: Lessons from the court case of Bruff v. North Mississippi Health Service, Inc. American Journal of Family Therapy, 39, 139-148.
Vitz, P. C. (1994). Psychology as religion: the cult of self-worship (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Conflicts Between Secular Psychology and Biblical Beliefs
Fenn Tower Ballroom
In the process of the therapeutic session, psychologist and client values function as important factors through the conversation. Among various multicultural factors, value differences from religious beliefs can be one of the hardest factors. Priest and Wickel (2011) studied a legal court case where a religious therapist faced a value conflict working with a client in a same-sex relationship and had to terminate the job because of the issue. The case shows that upholding values as a therapist can lead to discrimination and ethical issues. The conflicts between religion and psychology have been studied in qualitative research (Cremins, 2002). Cragun and Friedlander (2012) studied eleven Christian clients’ experiences in secular psychotherapy and found that participants experienced poor agreement with therapists on the goals or tasks of treatment. Specifically, two participants felt disrespected, perceiving that the therapist misunderstood the discussion about religious issues. In addition to value conflicts during counseling sessions, the conflict between secular psychology and religious beliefs is another issue for Christian psychologists. Miller (1992) stated that Freud viewed religious and neurotic behavior as similar. Furthermore, religious leaders did not use behaviorism, which was disconnect to the inner world of individuals because research shows that psychology allows people to focus on self-worship (Vitz, 1994). The nature of humans in psychology represents a major discrepancy in values from the biblical belief, and it’s these attitudes and beliefs that affect the therapeutic relationship. Christian Psychologists work in churches and general counseling settings. Therefore, those psychologists may struggle with their conflicts between secular psychological beliefs and biblical beliefs, especially in secular organizations or agencies (Baker & Wang, 2004). This roundtable discussion will allow participants to discuss personal experiences surrounding conflicts as Christian therapists, and prevention strategies to build the bridge between secular psychology and biblical beliefs.
References
Baker, M. & Wang, M. (2004). Examining connections between values and practice in religiously committed U.K. clinical psychologists. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 32, 126-136.
Cragun, C. L. & Friedlander, M. L. (2012). Experiences of Christian clients in secular psychotherapy: A mixed-methods investigation, Journal of Counseling Psychology, 59, 379-391.
Cremins, J. (2002). The Rift betwwen Religion and Psychotherapy: Can It Be Healed?. Journal of Pastoral Counseling, 3710.
Miller, G. A. (1992). Integrating religion and psychology in therapy: Issues and recommendations. Counseling and Values, 36, 112-122.
Priest, J. B., & Wickel, K. (2011). Religious therapists and clients in same-sex relationships: Lessons from the court case of Bruff v. North Mississippi Health Service, Inc. American Journal of Family Therapy, 39, 139-148.
Vitz, P. C. (1994). Psychology as religion: the cult of self-worship (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
