Psychologist will utilize personal and group therapy as their primary method of assisting their patient
The big difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist is the psychiatrist has an MD as well as a PhD and that at his or her option can prescribe medication that can assist their patient with their particular problem. A good Psychologist will utilize personal and group therapy as their primary method of assisting the patient.
If we take it one step further, the Christian Psychologist will also utilize “lifestyle” teaching and scripture within his or her personal or group therapy sessions as additional tools to assist their patient with their particular problem.
One of the greatest challenges of the Christian psychologist is knowing what teaching and scripture to apply to the situation without turning the session into just another “ad hock” small group or Sunday School class. It’s always important to keep it professional.
People with problems want and need solutions. Getting to the heart of the problem is essential.
As I work through my counseling sessions with my patients, I try to keep them focused by keeping them on point and periodically referring back to what they believe to be their problem; what they believe is not always the case.
I try best as possible to refer them back to Philippians 4:8-9 “ whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”
People need to focus on and accentuate in their lives the “positive things”; they’re what really matters.
If people focus on the positive long enough, it won’t be long before they’re feeling much better about everything.
I also like to ask my patients within the session, “How do you feel about that?” when discussing a potential solution to their problem.
If the patient feels better, he is twice as likely to get better faster because he helped solve his own problem.
So, “How do you feel about that?”
© 2021 Dr. Lee W. Outlaw III
