This study is to assess the integration movement in Christian psychology and apply the results of integration studies to the practice of Christian counseling. This study begins with the scholastic philosophical debates on the relationship of Christian...
This study is to assess the integration movement in Christian psychology and apply the results of integration studies to the practice of Christian counseling. This study begins with the scholastic philosophical debates on the relationship of Christian faith to learning, and then the integration movement in Christian counseling is examined, analyzed, and evaluated historically and categorically. The implications drawn from this study are applied to the holistic nature of Christian counseling.
Therefore, chapter two examines the scholastic philosophical background of the integration movement and describes the relationship of faith and learning historically. In addition, it also treats the scholars' pursuit of 'integral science' with the critical perspective of the presuppositions of the integration model. The integration of faith and learning should be established through the inner transformation of science. It requires the understanding of the nature of the Bible, the expanding of Christian worldview, and the in-depth understanding of Christian philosophy.
Chapter three reviews the history of the integration movement in Christian counseling through several stages from the establishment of contemporary psychology to the present. It also investigates the debates of the nature, scope, process, and types of integration and examines the alternative paradigms of the integration model. The debates of the nature and scope of integration are so broad and diverse, that any coherent view cannot be identified. So many models of the process and type of integration have been proposed according to the differences of opinions about the nature and scope of integration. The study on the process of integration is approached through the framework of the manipulative integration paradigm and the non-manipulative integration paradigm proposed by Brian Eck. The types of integration are examined through the classification of Steve Bouma-Prediger. Recent discussions of integration types are progressing from the theoretical integration to the professional, personal integration that involves the faith and life of the counselors. This dissertation also examines the alternative paradigms of the integration of the creational paradigm by Dick T. Cole, the eschatologically oriented psychology by Warren J. Heard Jr., and the grace psychology by Daniel J. Louw. Recent trends of integration studies have considered the integration of Christian spirituality and psychotherapy, postmodern integration debates, and interest in the soul and self.
The fourth chapter covers the method by which the assessment on the integration studies in Christian counseling is approached, and proposes the desirable direction of integration. On the basis of this direction, the holistic nature of Christian counseling is discussed on the themes of foundation, driving force, goals, relationships, context, and counselors of Christian counseling. The understanding of the holistic nature of the counselee is treated from three aspects: human as a holistic being, human as a being-in-relationship, and human as a being-in-time. Finally, the understanding of holistic nature of Christian counseling is applied to the problem of suffering.
In the fifth chapter, the concluding comments and proposals are presented. The following are the conclusions drawn from this study. First, there are a large and diverse quantity of studies on the integration in the field of psychology, so these studies can contribute to the study of Christian faith and science comprehensively. Second, the recent direction of integration moving from the theoretical integration to the professional and personal integration shows us a new horizon of integration discussions. And the emphasis on the spirituality, spiritual direction, and spiritual formation arouses a new interest in the holistic nature of man, and makes us realize the nature of Christian counseling as a holistic action. In that respect, the study of the integration movement directly connects to the effort to clarify the identity of Christian counseling. Third, the integration of Christian faith and counseling should be directed toward the inward transformation of science based on Christian worldview, Christian philosophy, and Christian anthropology. Not to be limited to the theoretical studies, through the continuous study about integration types, we should develop the study of Christian science and Christian counseling more dynamically and vigorously. Fourth, since the confusion over the meaning of "integration" and "Christian scholarship" continues to plague us all, the meaning of terminologies should be clearly defined. Fifth, this study has identified the importance of the traditional Christian religious sources and counselor's spiritual resources.
From this study, several proposals can be suggested. First, the in-depth study for clarification of concepts should be followed. Second, the study about the process of Christian counseling should be attempted through the study on more formalized Christian counseling model development. Third, continuous practical studies on integration are required. Fourth, since the efforts of integration have been focused on the metaphysical approach, more epistemological and axiological approaches are needed from now on. To deal with the postmodern social constructionism and relativism, the study about the Christian epistemology of love is needed. Fifth, the critical understanding about 'self' that is the main object of psychotherapy is required. For the nature of 'self' understood by analytics is in a state of confusion. And finally, recent debate about holistic dualism with the holistic understanding of man and wisdom as the basis of integration prompts us to recognize that these considerations and approaches appear to be interesting themes that need to be further studied.