Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity by Entwistle - Book Report/Review Example

Personal experience is most relevant because it helps to relate the theory with the practical and under the circumstances where it becomes essential to relate the experiences of life with the spiritual theory; it benefits most in counseling and spiritual healing. Sharing is the true mark of a Christian and that can be attained through sharing personal experience. For example, when I was suffering through an immense spiritual crisis after a certain personal loss, with sharing and joining a community that indulges in prayer, I found back my spiritual self and in selflessness, I found back my own spirit.

I understood the power of soulful talk during the period which is also termed as Christian counseling. The two books according to Entwistle are those that display the work of God and the words of God. Psychology deals with the work of God and Theology with the word of God. Personally, a good blend of both the domain can make a difference in one’s life and as a Christian counselor, the attainment of the best kind of work can be achieved through interpreting and integrating both the books to cater to the best results to our clients.

Any conflict between both the domains needs to be clearly resolved before implementing it. There is a very thin line between right and wrong but as Entwistle has described in the book with reference to the events from personal life, similarly blending Theology with Psychology and putting them into the realm of spirituality, it becomes easy for anyone to attain the best of Christian counseling. However, right or wrong will always remain to be relative, yet some examples from real life can be used as a kind of motivating factor.

The theory of personhood refers to the Christian theory where the individual in social relationships is judged. True love for brotherhood and implementation of the works and deeds of God with proper education makes one unique as a human. As a Christian counselor, it is very much important to blend the religion and theological or spiritual ideas with the science of psychology. The proper amalgamation of both the discipline and fruitful implementation of these doctrines for the benefit, growth, and development of mankind, transcend one to the realm of a true human with all the virtue of the way of attainment shown by the lord.

Spiritual Counseling is a kind of process where there is a way back to one’s own self. This means that through spiritual counseling one directly comes in contact with one’s soul. The attainment of this process is done through love, care, and compassion. It exclusively affirms the power of prayer and healing through soulful listening and soulful talking. ‘In Reaching Out’, a book by Henri Nouwen, he clearly discusses the attainment of peace amid the painful pursuit of spiritual crisis only through rigorous counseling, prayer, and fruitful Christian doctrines and philosophy.

The three movements of spirituality are described as the movement from lonesomeness to solitude, from enmity to hospitality, and from illusion to prayer. These movements according to Henri, reach out to the innermost self, to the true human and to the God respectively.