CCC 27-3

CLINICAL PRACTICE

a According to Werbart et al. (2022), therapists who experienced being trapped in an impasse or deadlock view clients as impossible to reach. Losing agency in therapy or counseling could be overwhelming for a counselor and lead to self-doubt and an inability to comprehend the cause of the impasse (Werbart et al., 2022). Christian counselors could lose trust in the process and/or lose faith in God and/or blame the client. God images held by the counselor should be explored and reflected on in rela tion to the feelings caused by the impasse. Solutions An impasse should be viewed as a natural occurrence in counseling and something to expect (Werbart et al., 2022). It should be viewed as learning opportunities and growth that can be achieved through self-reflection. Exploring the deadlock could help both parties gain self-insight and find meaning in their experiences. Counsel ors could play a constructive role in this process. A stalemate in Christian counseling presents challenges, and it may happen due to various factors, including a weakened therapeutic alliance, miscommunication, cultural factors, or a negative God image. These occurrences should be viewed as opportunities for reflection and spiritual growth rather than failures. Spiritual growth could be achieved by prayer and Scripture reading. Prayers for wisdom, insight, guidance, and inner healing are powerful and could lead to new awareness for both parties. Counselors could guide clients to biblical narratives that relate to their negative God concepts and images that cause feelings of disappointment and distance in the therapeutic relationships. Biblical narratives provide a spiritual context for clients’ experiences, which can facilitate a deeper understanding and trust in the providence and love of God. Deeper trust in God’s love and protection would create a safe place for the client to connect with the counselor and enter into a closer relationship with God. This would resolve the impasse, enhance the therapeutic effect of the counsel ing, and strengthen faith in God. Conclusion An impasse in Christian counseling should be expected and viewed as a natural occurrence. The factors leading to the impasse may include lack of faith and trust, past relational hurts, lack of rapport with the counselor or feelings of guilt, negative reactions or bias in the counselor, and mismatch between the counselor and client’s expectations and wishes for the outcome of the counseling process. The impasse could be resolved through prayer, exploration of factors contributing to the impasse, and deepened trust in God and the Holy Spirit to maintain agency in the counseling process. The telos in Christian counseling is moral development and progressive sanctification, that is, to become more like Christ and fulfill God’s plan. Resolving an impasse would lead to a deepened sense of purpose and meaning in life. ;

A stalemate in Christian counseling presents challenges, and it may happen due to various factors, including a weakened therapeutic alliance, miscommunication, cultural factors, or a negative God image.

Nicolene L. Joubert, Ph.D., is a Counseling Psychologist and an Adjunct Professor of Psychology and Christian Counseling at Houston Christian University in Texas.

References Counted, V. (2015). Understanding God images and God concepts: Towards a pastoral hermeneutics of the God attachment experience. Verbum et Ecclesia, 36 (1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v36i1.1389. Werbart, A., Gråke, E., & Klingborg, F. (2022). Deadlock in psychotherapy: A phenomenological study of eight psychodynamic therapists’ experiences, Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 35 :4, 744-762, DOI: 10.1080/09515070.2020.1863186.

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