-Investigative Report-
By Dr. R. Peralta
The Scriptures in Mental Health Treatment
It will be interesting to know that after reviewing the mental and physical damage of George’s study case—the Scriptures really work. Furthermore, as part of this investigation—it was noticed that even though secular psychologists attempt to minimize the client’s mental symptoms. In 2005, Garzon’s research found that some psychoanalysts try to work on the “ego” potency, but most important, Christian counselors remain interested on both issues with mental health as well as spiritual growth of each client. Furthermore, counselors should remind clients that spiritual transformation most of the time involves awareness of neediness.
At the case of George, it was well understood that the Scriptures in psychotherapy bring spiritual and psychological awareness as part of the client’s health. It will be amazing to see that the Bible’s passages are being integrated as part of our line of work as Christian counselors. At best, the Scriptures intervention as part of the client’s psychotherapy encourages, incites and inspires the client’s new way of perceiving the unwanted world where he/she did not want to be part of.
It is stimulating to watch by just reading and understanding some of the Scripture meaningful passages—realizing that oneself can become a disciple of God, but more significant, inspiring someone else’s life into a better one. At this study case we can appreciate the brokenness family ties between George and his father’s verbal and physical maltreatment to all family members due to his alcohol addiction. Consequently, it was sad for little George who was repeatedly brought down to his knees every time his father felt impotent due to war memories.
Furthermore, this type of actions on behalf of George’s father only left permanent emotional scars. This way making out of George a man who felt sorry for himself, and a worthless living creature among his loved ones. Nonetheless, the integration of the Scriptures as part of George’s psychotherapy helped him to see the light—by restoring part of his living desires given by God to every living being on earth.
Reflection
This study case of George’s impotency about life is very interesting to me because it brings back sad memories from my uncle way of treating me in the past. In 2005, Garzon’s research reported that due an individual’s mistreatment whether is physical and/or mentally when infant—this could cause permanent mental damage. Furthermore, when the mentally disturbed person becomes an adult, he/she would not know how to treat others, but most important, would not know how to treat himself/herself. In my case, I did what George did I went to the House of God asking for help and found it.
My initiative was that I was not going to do to others what was done to me from my closest relatives and loved ones. Consequently, today I am a happy person, father of four who decided to take my sons at early age to intimacy with the Almighty One. Furthermore, in order for my kids to get to know the truthfulness about Him and how powerful is the Word of God.
As a counselor and future parent, I have to understand that a person like me, George’s father and George himself—we need to improve our behavior integrating prayers as part of our spiritual and psychological health. Moreover, anyone asking to be saved will be saved if that individual decides to get to know the Bible because from the Scriptures such individual will learn different abilities to compensate for prior wrongful and abusive learning. Because a maltreated client should be able—after reading the Scriptures to bring himself/herself back on his/her feet and/or to a sense of self, as Garzon reported.
In addition, a mental disturbed person needs to find peace from within. As states John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid," (New International Version).
Application
It will be crucial for a counselor to know that before applying any particular treatment; first, the counselor should analyze different resources before taking an intervention into action—this way bringing a variety of methods to be applied into the client’s case. For instance, the Bible treatment will be the perfect tool for George’s psychotherapy treatment because with his permission and consent—it will be moderate by the care provider to take full consideration before executing any intervention. A counselor should be able to come up with the best treatment for the client.
A particular strategy should be applied as part of the client’s mental treatment; for example, the care provider will pray for George outside sessions as well as during sessions. These ways complementing all psychotherapy sessions and framework in a positive way; also, such interventions have been described “as types of implicit integration. Other aspects of implicit integration include the personal spiritual life and development of the counselor” (Garzon, 2005, p. 4).
Furthermore, according to Garzon (2005), the counselor’s “own implicit spiritual growth, development, and quite prayer for George may still have a direct impact on the quality of care and a client’s treatment outcome, even with varying levels of explicit integration” (p. 4).
A counselor should understand that every patient’s symptom severity, separate diagnosis, and presented dilemma can escalate the actual client’s clinical situation to different levels of implicit/explicit integration. Another vital issue—the Bible contains so many different passages for every client’s diagnosis that will be worth trying with the client’s permission to integrate it as part of the client’s psychotherapy.
In Garzon’s investigation found that another technique that might be used for clients presenting similar symptoms as George’s case will be “deep-breathing relaxation technique.” According to Garzon (2005), “adapted for religious individuals to increase compliance, motivation, and efficacy. In applying this technique to George, I explained to him the rationale behind deep breathing relaxation and asked him if there were a Scripture” (p. 5).
Furthermore, a supportive phrase would come handy when exhaling at the repetition of the client’s exercise. Lastly, it was understood that the appropriate usage of the Bible as part of a client’s treatment was meriting. In addition, “The historical Christian contemplative prayer tradition also contains affective experiential strategies that utilize Scripture to seek spiritual resolution of core emotional conflicts” (Garzon, 2005, p. 7).
As states Proverbs 12:25, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad,” (Amplified).
References
Garzon, F. (2005). Interventions that apply scriptures in psychotherapy. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 33(2), 410-730. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost .com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=91f64caf-9c55-40de-96d8-99f4f6757b00%40sessionmgr4004&vid=1&hid=4209
Towns, E. (2007). Core Christianity. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.
