Confronting Sin in Counseling

Confronting sin is usually not advised if there is not a good level of trust between the counselor and the client. McMinn (1996) identified four situations in which counselors can use to confront sin: silence, pondering, questioning, and direct censure. Direct censure is the most risky as it has the potential of damaging the therapeutic relationship. As McMinn (1996) has stated, sometimes silence is golden. Not saying anything causes the client to think through what they just said. The use of silence is best to show an impartial stand towards a client without having to play judge and jury. As counselors, we are not in the position to play judge and jury. Our goal in counseling is to help a client become more psychologically healthy by bringing them closer to God.

In confrontation it is important to remember the purpose and goal. The purpose of counseling and specifically of confrontation is to bring healing, redemption, and reconciliation (Brewer, n.d.). With this in mind the counselor's aim should be to fully examine their own motives and reasons behind confronting a client. The best interest of the client at that particular period in time should be the guiding determinant as to what form to use and whether confrontation is appropriate. Guiding a client toward healing and restoring their relationships between God, self, and others should drive this technique (Brewer, n.d.).

Brewer (n.d.) indicated that many times the word confrontation is immediately linked to what he calls direct censure. Direct censure involves the common idea of verbally bringing out sin into the open and entails significant risk in the counseling office if the client is not prepared or ready for this specific approach. Brewer (n.d.) states that the meaning of confrontation in counseling involves many different approaches such as silence, pondering, questioning, visualization of end outcome, and prayer. These techniques can all be used as a way to encourage the client to work through sinful behavior or questionable situations.

References

Brewer, G. (n.d.). [Confrontation and confession in Christian counseling]. Liberty University.

McMinn, M. R. (1996). Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.