Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling

by Kollar, Charles Allen

• ISBN13: 9780310329299
• ISBN10: 0310329299
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-04-26
• Publisher: Zondervan

Summary

The idea of the book is to enable effective counseling that does not overtax a pastor's time and avoids long-term counseling. Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling presents a new departure in pastoral counseling. It does not depend on psychological manipulation. Rather, it is based on grace and on a natural and spontaneous view of Christian maturation. SFPC rejects the notion that counseling must primarily focus on the counselee's problem. Its starting point is the fact that God is already active in the counselee and that the church counselor (whether pastor or counselor) should look for clues to discover this activity. SFPC is short-term---typically one to five sessions. The counselor seeks to create solutions with---not for---the counselee. The focus is on the possibility of life without the problem by encouraging an understanding of what is different when the problem does not occur or is less intrusive. The goal is healthy change, sooner rather than later, by helping the counselee see and work with God's activity in his or her life.The solution-focused approach does not require the counselor to be a highly trained psychological expert. It requires biblically based sensitivity and common sense. Yet this approach also recognizes its limitations and understands that there are situations in which other professional and/or medical help is required.

Author Biography

Dr. Charles Allen Kollar is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Certified Relationship Specialist, and the lead pastor at Innovation Church in Cresco, PA.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. 7
Introduction	p. 9
Theory
Individual Paradigms: A Question of Focus	p. 13
Christian Faith: A Story of Change	p. 16
Deficiency Language: The World of Mental Health	p. 21
Hidden Presuppositions: Old Wineskins	p. 37
Meaning Is Perception: The Constructs That Bind Us	p. 43
Identity Formation: The Process of God's Grace	p. 48
Guiding Assumptions: A Way of Thinking	p. 61
Practice
The Counseling Interview: A Framework for Change	p. 89
Listening: A Search for Clues	p. 92
Questions: Highlighting Change as Meaningful	p. 102
Clarification: A Description of Life without the Problem	p. 123
Feedback: Promoting and Supporting Change	p. 139
Second and Later Sessions: Consolidating Change	p. 157
Bringing It All Together: A Case Example	p. 166
Application
The SFPC Model: Further Development	p. 181
Solutions Conversation: Applied in the Life Context	p. 193
Solution-Focused Assessment Tools: T-JTA and M-BTI	p. 227
Counseling Models: Drawing from the Best	p. 234
Mental Illness: Is There Hope?	p. 255
Personal Integrity: Ethical Considerations	p. 267
Acknowledgments	p. 273
References	p. 274
Subject Index	p. 279
Name Index	p. 286
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