Sin and Grace in Christian Counseling: An Integrative Paradigm

by Mark R. McMinn

Overview

Sin. Grace. Christian Counseling. How do these fit together? In Christian theology sin and grace are intrinsically interconnected. Teacher and counselor Mark McMinn believes that Christian counseling, then, must also take account of both human sin and God's grace. For both sin and grace are distorted whenever one is emphasized without the other. McMinn, noting his own tendencies and the temptation to stereotype different Christian approaches to counseling along this theological divide, aims to help all those preparing for or currently serving in the helping professions. Expounding the proper relationship of sin and grace, McMinn shows how the full truth of the Christian gospel works itself out in the functional, structural and relational domains of an integrative model of psychotherapy.

Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) Books explore how Christianity relates to mental health and behavioral sciences including psychology, counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy in order to equip Christian clinicians to support the well-being of their clients.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780830828517
Publisher:	InterVarsity Press
Publication date:	01/04/2008
Series:	Christian Association for Psychological Studies Books
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	696,890
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Mark R. McMinn (Ph.D., Vanderbilt University) is professor of psychology at George Fox University, where he teaches in the graduate department of clinical psychology. He is a licensed clinical psychologist, board certified with the American Board of Professional Psychology, and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. He has written several books, including Making the Best of Stress, Care for the Soul, Why Sin Matters, Finding Our Way Home and Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. Divided by Sin
2. The Weight of Sin
3. The Healing Power of Grace
4. Holding Sin and Grace Together—Three Perspectives
5. Sin and Grace in Integrative Psychotherapy
6. Sin and Grace in the Functional Domain
7. Sin and Grace in the Structural Domain
8. Sin and Grace in the Relational Domain

References
Name Index
Subject Index
Scripture Index

What People are Saying About This

Philip G. Monroe

"For too long Christian psychologists have avoided a detailed study of sin and grace as it pertains to therapeutic practice. I am convinced that this book is long overdue and an important addition to the Christian counseling literature. It is refreshing to see how Mark guides the therapist to bring matters pertaining to sin, deception, grace and repentance into the clinical setting while paying attention to relational and functional aspects of change."
— Philip G. Monroe, Psy.D., associate professor of counseling and psychology and director, M.A. in Counseling Program, Biblical Seminary

James N. Sells

"Christians in counseling tend toward being informed theologically but naive clinically, or informed clinically but naive theologically. McMinn breaks out of this either-or model and instructs us in how to be both theologically learned and clinically sound. Sin and Grace in Christian Counseling brings the depth and breadth of sin/grace theology into the applied world of twenty-first-century counselors."
— James N. Sells, Ph.D., professor and director, Ph.D. Program in Counselor Education and Supervision, Regent University

C. Jeffrey Terrell

"Mark McMinn has done it again: this book is a must-have for people interested in knowing how to integrate faith into practice. For all our desire to do so, far too often Christian mental-health professionals struggle to deeply integrate theological truths with psychological science. Sin and Grace in Christian Counseling is a wonderful example of what must be done if we are to be truly integrative in our clinical work. This work is clear, concise, practical and personal. Whether you are a long-established clinician or a brand new graduate student, you will find something of value here."
— C. Jeffrey Terrell, Ph.D., president, Psychological Studies Institute

Mark A. Yarhouse

"It is always a pleasure to read what Mark McMinn has recently written. In Sin and Grace in Christian Counseling Mark engages his readers in a conversation about these concepts, as well as the practical applications for clinical practice. He also opens up a dialogue between biblical counselors and integrationists by opening up a dialogue within himself about sin and grace."
— Mark A. Yarhouse, Psy.D., licensed clinical psychologist, professor of psychology, Regent University, and coauthor of Modern Psychopathologies: A Comprehensive Christian Appraisal

Editorial Reviews

"It is always a pleasure to read what Mark McMinn has recently written. In Sin and Grace in Christian Counseling Mark engages his readers in a conversation about these concepts, as well as the practical applications for clinical practice. He also opens up a dialogue between biblical counselors and integrationists by opening up a dialogue within himself about sin and grace."

Mark A. Yarhouse

McMinn's writing style is clear and easy to digest. Worth owning. I strongly recommend it.

Rodney L. Bassett

"Mark McMinn has done it again: this book is a must-have for people interested in knowing how to integrate faith into practice. For all our desire to do so, far too often Christian mental-health professionals struggle to deeply integrate theological truths with psychological science. Sin and Grace in Christian Counseling is a wonderful example of what must be done if we are to be truly integrative in our clinical work. This work is clear, concise, practical and personal. Whether you are a long-established clinician or a brand new graduate student, you will find something of value here."

C. Jeffrey Terrell

"For too long Christian psychologists have avoided a detailed study of sin and grace as it pertains to therapeutic practice. I am convinced that this book is long overdue and an important addition to the Christian counseling literature. It is refreshing to see how Mark guides the therapist to bring matters pertaining to sin, deception, grace and repentance into the clinical setting while paying attention to relational and functional aspects of change."

Philip G. Monroe

"Christians in counseling tend toward being informed theologically but naive clinically, or informed clinically but naive theologically. McMinn breaks out of this either-or model and instructs us in how to be both theologically learned and clinically sound. Sin and Grace in Christian Counseling brings the depth and breadth of sin/grace theology into the applied world of twenty-first-century counselors."

James N. Sells

"Christians in counseling tend toward being informed theologically but naive clinically, or informed clinically but naive theologically. McMinn breaks out of this either-or model and instructs us in how to be both theologically learned and clinically sound. Sin and Grace in Christian Counseling brings the depth and breadth of sin/grace theology into the applied world of twenty-first-century counselors."

--James N. Sells, Ph.D., professor and director, Ph.D. Program in Counselor Education and Supervision, Regent University

"It is always a pleasure to read what Mark McMinn has recently written. In Sin and Grace in Christian Counseling Mark engages his readers in a conversation about these concepts, as well as the practical applications for clinical practice. He also opens up a dialogue between biblical counselors and integrationists by opening up a dialogue within himself about sin and grace."

--Mark A. Yarhouse, Psy.D., licensed clinical psychologist, professor of psychology, Regent University, and coauthor of Modern Psychopathologies: A Comprehensive Christian Appraisal

"Mark McMinn has done it again: this book is a must-have for people interested in knowing how to integrate faith into practice. For all our desire to do so, far too often Christian mental-health professionals struggle to deeply integrate theological truths with psychological science. Sin and Grace in Christian Counseling is a wonderful example of what must be done if we are to be truly integrative in our clinical work. This work is clear, concise, practical and personal. Whether you are a long-established clinician or a brand new graduate student, you will find something of value here."

--C. Jeffrey Terrell, Ph.D., president, Psychological Studies Institute

McMinn's writing style is clear and easy to digest. Worth owning. I strongly recommend it.

--Rodney L. Bassett, Journal of Psychology, Vol. 8, No. 1, 2009

From the Publisher