빛의소리
ABSTRACT
A Study on Christian Counseling for the formation of Healthy Self-esteem :
An integrated Study of Biblical Counseling and Cognitive Counseling
Jeon, Young Eui
M.A. in Christian Counseling
The Graduate School,
Asia United Theological University
Many Christians are suffered from the problem of low self-esteem due to
irrational core beliefs. They are looking for their own identity elsewhere not in
The Bible. What is the proper counseling techniques could help them
effectively? Approaches of counseling science based on general psychology can
not but face with fundamental limitations in the real healing of low self-esteem.
Because all the counseling techniques is focused on self wellness recovery.
These belong to the category of a relativism. Thus, modern counseling
techniques inevitably must be guided by the word of God which is absolute
truth. Through this, counseling techniques can perform effectively the role of
the guide to lead clients to the real healing. Then what is the effective
counseling technique or model under the control of the word of God? How can
establish an effective counseling model?
To this end, this paper first researched self-esteem issues from the
perspective of general psychology. The traditional viewpoint of Freud and
Erikson, Kohut mainly relate the self-esteem issues with the infancy or
adolescence experience. According to this view, the current problems of
self-esteem are originated from infancy emotional deficiency came from
unfulfilled desire(Freud, Kohut) and the unfinished developmental tasks of
childhood(Erikson). Or the deficiency of unconditional acceptance by others
seems to be the cause(Rogers). These views have a little differences in detail,
but searching the roots of present problems of self-esteem from the past
experiences or in the deficiency of relationships with others which is belong to
the realm of the unconsciousness etc. at the 'outside', have something common.
That is to say, it does not access through the rational reflection in the present
consciousness, to look for the cause of suffering of those who are in the low
self-esteem.
In contrast, in the cognitive counseling, primarily a matter of self-esteem is
searched for in the present consciousness. Cognitive therapy discover the client's
irrational core beliefs, and restructure it reasonably. It is to analyze 'what
should/must be' thinking dominant in a clients' life and replace it with rational
and probable thinking. Mainly for that treatment Ellis' cognitive therapy
techniques(ABCDE) and the Young's psychological diagram, and Aaron Beck's
cognitive therapy techniques are used. The important reason why the cognitive
therapy techniques related with the subject of this paper is that this technique
put emphasis on client's present consciousness and self-reflection logic compare
to other than psychological approaches. That is, because without the
psychoanalysis process about unconsciousness it regards the view of the instant
approach as is possible, so in methodological side it is consistent with the
lessons of the Bible emphasizing on the reflection upon present mind.
Though cognitive therapy is based on rationality, but in essence, it
has the limitation of relativistic treatment. Healthy self condition can not be the
life of the righteous man just before God's. Thus, cognitive therapy also can
not perform no more than a kind of milestone leads to the truth of the Bible
which is special revelation of God. The cognitive therapy should be instructed
by the Bible.
In this paper, under the above principles, the cross centered cognitive
counseling model is established, then it was applied to the actual consultation.
Biblical Counseling of Paul Tripp and Powlison and principles of cognitive
counseling will be combined for that model.
Tripp and Powlison saw the real change of man is in the change of mind,
for this purpose the truth of the Bible should enlighten the mind of man. To
discover the idol hidden deep in the heart, with the 'X-Ray questions' it could
clarify the structure of the client's mind. Afterwards, by the truth and grace of
God, he can experience the lasting change of heart.
According to this view, the problem of low self-esteem essentially has
relation with the covert idolatry of spirit. Because human beings are essentially
corrupted beings, so that instinctively try to worship the things even what is
not real God. Particularly self-worship is the most covert idolatry. Man tries to
satisfy himself by the surrogate idolatry. But this method cannot give real
satisfaction. he must suffer from the chronically low self-esteem issues. In other
words, phenomenonly low self-esteem is problem, but essentially the life leaving
away from God is the main cause. Therefore, all counseling should be focused
on knowing God.
Cross centered cognitive counseling method inducted cognitive therapy
technique to accomplish the goal of the Biblical Counseling written above.
Primarily by the discovery of the irrational belief hidden in the client's
consciousness, and after improving the low self-esteem(relative dimension of
counseling), and by this try to guide into the deeper biblical Counseling an
ultimately(absolute dimension of counseling). The author called it cross centered
cognitive counseling model is, for the cross symbolizes complete thorough
self-denial(renunciation of self) before God.
It was an amazing experience to verify the existence of the covert idol
hidden in the spirit of the client, while applying cross centered cognitive
counseling method to clinical applications. If I had consulted with the cognitive
therapy techniques alone, I only focused on the phenomenal restoration of the
self. But all the fortresses of mind will be disclosed before 'the cross' which is
the truth of God for all human beings.
You will Know the truth and the truth will set you free(John 8:32).
원장
