Prayer in Counseling Essay

In Eriksen and Weld’s journal article, the writers contend that spirituality and prayer is being utilized more and more by mental health practitioners and counselors. The concept of prayer within the counseling session is something that was considered for a long time but the actual use of spirituality practices is more frequently being used today. This particular article is based upon the data retrieved from two tests that were done on first time counselees and their practitioners. All of the counselees were Christians and results were based on what their expectations were regarding prayer and spirituality inventions. The test also surveyed what the beliefs and practices were of the counselors. Ultimately, the test showed that most counselees preferred the introduction of prayer within the sessions. They wished audible prayer was initiated by the counselor. Additionally, the test results also showed that clients expected prayer and even prefer that counselors or practitioners pray for them outside the prayer sessions as well. Another interesting thing that the test results showed was that religious natured conservatives preferred prayer more than the liberals of a religious nature. Overall, the studies from this article resulted in a confirmation that prayer is therapeutic and healthy for the clients. According to the article, spirituality has already been linked to a sturdy well-being and even secular counselors have used prayer intervention in sessions. There are many therapists that do not believe in mixing psychology with theology, however; the results seem to point to the fact that prayer intervention and spirituality produces effectiveness in psychotherapy sessions. There has been some controversy about using prayer in counseling such as improper use of prayer in counseling. In some cases, practitioners may not be trained properly to incorporate prayer and this could result in a damaged relationship between client and counselor. In some cases there are counselors that may not value prayer within the session but their clients may find it important. On the contrary, one of the studies showed that there were more counselors that valued prayer than their counselees. With these barriers to consider, research and examination of spirituality and prayer in counseling will be pursued further. Interaction It was quite amazing to see how high of a percentage of practitioners actually incorporate prayer with the counseling. There was a time when educators did not suggest using prayer or spirituality in the counseling sessions due to the delicacy of the subject of religion. Also, as a former secular counselor, there was some concern that many of the clients were not Christians and there may be offense taken by the client. After reading this journal article, it is enlightening to find out that many clients prefer prayer especially since many counselors are Christians now. Since there is very little research on the subject of prayer intervention, further research is crucial so that counselors can learn the proper way to incorporate prayer into the therapy session. Although the authors covered a pair of research studies on how effective prayer is to the success of the counseling session, it wasn’t sufficient enough to say that the majority of people who come to counseling prefer prayer. The article covered a lot about proven effectiveness of spirituality with counseling but there needs to be more on how to properly incorporate the two entities. Prayer is enlightening to many counselors but it is still a sensitive subject and needs to be weaned in the right way. It is this author’s assertion that prayer can be enlightening and beneficial to the mental health from personal experiences. The application of prayer and Biblical scriptures has been so uplifting for many clients but there are many out there that do not know the benefits of prayer. Dialogue is crucial when initiating prayer in the counseling session so the counselor needs to be well educated on the techniques. Spirituality and prayer has been utilized by this counselor and has been an integral tool in problem solving and keeping clients happy. As a Christian counselor, prayer for the client can be done after sessions whether the client wants it or not but during sessions should be carefully applied. It is because of this article that this author will study and investigate how to incorporate prayer carefully into the counseling session. Application It is because of this article that this author will study and investigate how to incorporate prayer carefully into the counseling session. Eriksen and Weld’s journal is an important tool and this author has definitely learned a lot from this reading. A client that comes in for grief counseling or depression would benefit from the therapeutic use of prayer. This author would carefully incorporate the Biblical scriptures as well as prayer on and off sessions because it is expected of a Christian. Since religion of any form is very sensitive for many people, this counselor will make sure to learn the best way to initiate it and use it throughout the counseling sessions. Another benefit in utilizing prayer is the trust building of the client for the practitioner so therefore; this author will utilize prayer to promote a great relationship. This author will make sure that the client is confident enough to share their feelings about prayer and spirituality. First and foremost, it will be disclosed in the very beginning that the author is a Christian. After listening to the client and finding his or her comfort level, Spirituality will somehow be introduced in the session whether it is in the form of reading Biblical scriptures or facilitating a prayer. In the past, this author has used prayer with counselees in and after sessions, but now realizes the sensitivity of how to apply it. It has been welcomed by both non-Christians and Christians but the article has shed the light on how detrimental an improper application of Spirituality and prayer can be to the counseling relationship.

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 23

â€Å"Two,† he said after a moment's hesitation. â€Å"Just two.† â€Å"Just two,† I repeated flatly, thinking oh shit. â€Å"Is that including you?† â€Å"Yes.† I rubbed my temples, wondering how I could warn Jerome and Carter that we had two nephilim to deal with now. No one had mentioned that possibility. â€Å"Someone should have known that,† I muttered, more to myself than to Roman. â€Å"Someone should have sensed it†¦ there would have been two different nephilim signatures. That's how Jerome knew it was you. You have a unique signature – no one else has it.† â€Å"No one else,† Roman agreed with a smirk, â€Å"except my sister.† Oh shit. â€Å"Jerome didn't mention more than one – ah.† I blinked in sudden understanding. Jerome, by his own admission, hadn't actually been around for the birth. â€Å"Twins? Or†¦ more?† The archdemon could have fathered quintuplets for all I knew. Roman shook his head, still highly amused at my deductions. â€Å"Only twins. Just the two of us.† â€Å"So this is a family act then? You two hit the road together, going from town to town, wreaking havoc†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Nothing so glamorous, love. Usually it's just me. My sister tries to keep a low profile – spends more time on her job and living her life. She doesn't really get caught up in grand machinations.† â€Å"Then how'd you rope her into this one?† Again, I thought about Erik's words, how most nephilim simply wished to be left alone. â€Å"She lives here. In Seattle. We're on her turf, so I talked her into going in on the final kill with me. She wasn't really into any of the stuff with the lesser immortals.† â€Å"Except beating on me,† I pointed out. â€Å"I am sorry about that. I think you pissed her off.† â€Å"I don't even know her,† I exclaimed, wondering which was worse: a nephilim in love with me or a nephilim holding a grudge. He just smiled. â€Å"I wouldn't be so sure of that.† He reached out to touch me, almost casually, and I backed away, making his smile slip. â€Å"Now what's wrong?† â€Å"What do you mean? You think you can just dump this on me and then expect things to be all peachy between us?† â€Å"Well, why not? Honestly, what have you got left to worry about?† I opened my mouth to protest, but he continued before I could speak: â€Å"I've already told you, I'm not going to hurt you or any of your friends. The only person left on my list is someone you don't even know or care about. That's it. End of story.† â€Å"Oh yeah? What'll happen then? After you kill Carter?† He shrugged. â€Å"Then I leave. I'll find someplace to hang out for a while. Probably teach again.† He leaned toward me, holding my gaze. â€Å"You could come with me, you know.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Think about it.† He spoke eagerly, excitement growing with each word. â€Å"You and me. You could settle down and do all the things you like to do – your books, your dancing – without any immortal politics to muck your life up.† I scoffed. â€Å"Hardly. It's not like I can stop being a succubus. I still need sex to survive.† â€Å"Yes, yes, I know you'd still have to tag the occasional victim, but think about the times in between. You and me. Together. Being with someone you don't have to worry about hurting. Being with someone simply for the pleasure of it, not for survival. No superiors to harass you about meeting your quotas.† Seth came to mind just then, part of me idly wondering what it'd be like to be with him â€Å"just for pleasure.† Shifting back to my harsh reality, I told Roman, â€Å"I can't just run off. Seattle is my post. I have people to answer to; they wouldn't let me leave.† Cupping my face in his hands, he whispered, â€Å"Georgina, Georgina. I can protect you from them. I have the power to hide you. You can live your own life. No more answering to the bureaucracy above. We can be free.† Those hypnotic eyes hooked me like a fish on a line. For centuries, I had lived out immortality achingly alone, bouncing from one short-term relationship to another, ending any connection that got too deep. Now, Roman was here. I was attracted to him, and I didn't have to push him away. I couldn't hurt him through physical contact. We could be together. We could wake up together. We could live out eternity together. I would never have to be lonely again. Longing surged up within me. I wanted it. Oh God, I wanted it. I didn't want to hear Jerome chastise me for my â€Å"all lowlifes, all the time† seduction policy. I wanted to come home and tell someone about my day. I wanted to go out dancing on the weekends. I wanted to take vacations together. I wanted someone to hold me when I was upset, when the ups and downs of the world pushed me too far. I wanted someone to love. His words blazed through me, piercing my heart. I knew, however, they were only that: words. Eternity is a long time; we couldn't hide forever. Eventually we'd be found, or when Roman finally got destroyed on one of his â€Å"protest† missions, I'd be exposed and have a lot of angry demons to answer to. He was offering me a child's dream, an impractical fantasy with a short-lived, doomed run. Furthermore, running off with Roman meant complying with the outcome of this insane plot of his. Logically, I could understand his angst and desire to lash back. I felt for his sister – even if she inexplicably hated me – who simply wanted to live an ordinary life. I had seen slaughter and bloodshed over the years, the extinction of entire populations of people whose names and cultures no one remembered today. To live with that over and over throughout these long millennia, to always be on the run, hiding simply because of an accident of birth†¦ yes, perhaps I would be pissed off too. Yet, I still could not see that as sufficient reason for the random killing of immortals, simply to â€Å"prove a point.† The fact that I knew these immortals personally made it worse. Carter's attitude still unnerved me, yes, but he had saved my life, and my days with him hadn't been unbearable. If anything, Roman should laud the angel. The nephilim's biggest complaint was that immortals stayed locked into archaic sets of rules and roles, but Carter had broken the mold: an angel who chose friendship with his hypothetical enemies. He and Jerome typified the kind of rebellious, nonconforming lifestyle so advocated by Roman. Too bad that didn't seem to be enough to dissuade the nephilim. I wondered if I could. â€Å"No,† I told him. â€Å"I can't do it. And you don't have to do it either.† â€Å"Do what?† â€Å"This plot. Killing Carter. Just let him go. Let it all go. Violence only begets more violence, not peace.† â€Å"I'm sorry, love. I can't. There's no peace for my kind.† I reached out and touched his face. â€Å"You call me that, but do you really mean it? Do you love me?† He caught his breath, and I suddenly realized he could be just as hypnotized by my eyes as I was by his. â€Å"Yes. I do.† â€Å"Then do this for me if you love me. Walk away. Walk away from Seattle. I†¦ I'll go with you if you do.† I hadn't realized I'd meant it until the words escaped my lips. Running off was a child's fantasy, true, but it would be worth it if I could avert what was to come. â€Å"You mean it?† â€Å"Yes. As long as you can keep me safe.† â€Å"I can keep you safe, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He stepped away from me and paced around, running a hand through his hair in consternation. â€Å"I can't walk away,† he finally told me. â€Å"Almost anything in the world I would do for you, but not this. You can't imagine what it's been like. You think immortality's been cruel to you? Imagine what it's like always running, always watching your back. I have just as much trouble settling down as you. Thank God for my sister. She's the only one I have, the only mainstay in my life. The only one I loved – until you, at least.† â€Å"She can come with us†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He closed his eyes. â€Å"Georgina, when my mother was still alive – millennia ago – we lived in a camp with some of the other nephilim and their mothers. We were always running, always trying to stay ahead of those pursuing us. One night†¦ I'll never forget it. They found us, and I swear, Armageddon itself could never be so terrible. I don't even know who did it – angels, demons, or whatever. I mean, when it comes down to it, they're all the same really. Beautiful and terrible.† â€Å"Yes,† I whispered. â€Å"I've seen them.† â€Å"Then you know what they can do. They swept in and just destroyed everyone. It didn't matter who. Nephilim children. Humans. Everyone was considered a liability.† â€Å"But you escaped?† â€Å"Yes. We were lucky. Most weren't.† He turned back to look at me. His heartache made my eyes burn. â€Å"Do you see now? Do you see now why I have to do this?† â€Å"You only further the bloodshed.† â€Å"I know, Georgina. For Christ's sake, I know. But I have no choice.† I saw in his face then that he hated being a part of that bloodshed, part of the same destructive behavior that had haunted his childhood. But I also saw that he was inextricably tied to that. He could not escape it. He had lived too long, so much longer than me. The years of fear and anger and blood had twisted him. He had to see this game played out. Ifight every day to not let the past overtake me. Sometimes I win, sometimes it does. â€Å"I have no choice,† he repeated, face desperate. â€Å"But you do. I still want you to come with me when I'm done.† A choice. Yes, I did have a choice. A choice between him and Carter. Or did I? Was there anything I could do to save Carter at this point? Did I want to save Carter? For all I knew, Carter had slaughtered countless nephilim children over the years in the name of good. Maybe he deserved the punishment Roman wanted to mete out. What were good and evil, really, but stupid categories? Stupid categories that restricted people and punished or rewarded them based on how they responded to their own natures, natures they really didn't have any way to control. Roman was right. The system was flawed. I just didn't know what to do about it. What I needed was time. Time to think about all of this, time to figure out a way that would save angel and nephilim both, if such a feat were possible. I didn't know how to buy that time, though, not with Roman standing there staring at me, aflame with his romantic notion of running off together. Time. I needed time and had no idea how to get it. I had no powers to help in a situation like this. If Roman decided I was a threat, I would be unable to fight against him. A nephilimcould easily blow one of you out of the water. I could not pull divine strings and contracts like Hugh, had no superhuman reflexes and strength like Cody and Peter. I was a succubus. I changed shape and had sex with men. That was it. That was it†¦

Hope Focused Marriage Counseling Essay

Unlike other explorations insinuated in the context of research, marriage counseling has been one of the unspecialized fields emerged with theoretical assumptions and practice (Stuckert, 2003). This however, has been the challenge to psychologists and practitioners in defying the thought that marriage cannot be taken into research since its hypotheses and results of practice have been acclimated, nevertheless the volume available for study is accumulated. Everett L. Worthington Jr. , a psychology professor and the proponent of over 150 articles tackling issues on marriage, forgiveness and reconciliation was able to find standard procedures on how to keep marriages anchored on Christianity based marital therapy. More specifically, through the light of his year 1999 published book, Hope-Focused Marriage Counseling, couples are to be taken to a self rehabilitation which will give hope to individuals who are living in a room full of skeptic viewpoints about marriage and eventually open a realization that his substantial research shall lead them to a path where â€Å"miracles do happen in the real world. † (Worthington, 1999) Overview Marriage is a shadow of the relationship that we are expected to have with Jesus—permanent, loving, committed. (Eph 5:32) Everett L. Worthington begins his book with a verse in the bible which depicts the meaning of marriage in the most moral and Christian way thus giving a connotation that helping troubled couples is not an easy task. However, she points out the fact that the extent of healing relationships is through developing a character of Christ embodied in every individual’s personality and manifest such with one’s relationships to his or her social network as well (Worthington, 1999). Further, he stresses that when a relationship has Christ as vanguard, life will be inhabited with the verity of love, faith and hope and that then is the start of a bright thing. Strengths What makes his book amazing falls on the grounds of analytic and realistic situations as the core of the gist of the whole scenario. Initially introducing theories then later putting the theories into practice makes readers able to divulge their selves in the dimension that the author intends them to live with. His strategies (advices, so to speak) draws out a hysteria which will make readers know their respective state in life at first, hence, for having been given the momentum to realize what is happening in their lives, they will seek for answers on how to save them from their presumed agony. Further, his approaches through exercises which are efficient to exhibit (Worthington, 1999)—drawing fundamental values, the promotion of confession and forgiveness, communication intensification, aiding conflict resolution, alterations of the pattern of thinking, intimacy development, and the cementing of commitment—gives grandeur to the book as readers can implement these exercises with their partners or core groups. Realistically crafted, he gives marriage counseling a twist by inculcating his own experiences which gives conviction to the statements and recommendations written in his book. One fascinating fact on the book is its distinctiveness in course, since unlike other books on marriage counseling, typically establishing manuals which synonymously suggest divorce or annulment so as not to complicate the situation, this book thinks otherwise. Though the author admitted that is hard and rarely possible in the contemporary society—divorce is legal and other forms of law that allow couples to â€Å"live† without the need of marital rites—still, he fervently believes that the sacred matrimony must be preserved even if others no longer accept as true the tradition and the essence of spiritual intimacy. These ideas represented in the book will coin back the integrity, accountability, prudence and proper teaching among couples. Weaknesses â€Å"Hope-focused rather than problem-focused† (Worthington, 1999) this is the toweringly hopeful campaign of the author. Thus, because of globalization, cultural diversity and the differences of every individual, there may be some who may not appreciate the book for reasons that inhibit the issue on dissimilarity of character, viewpoint in life, tradition and environmental influences. It is evident that the target audiences of the book are Christians—although optimistic individuals would also be interested in reading the book—hence this leads us to a remorseful realization that it will not drive â€Å"naysayer† or a pessimist to read it. Still, fingers are crossed on the intent of the book, and that is to spread the thought that â€Å"change is possible† and in the long run, every couple will be given a new outlook on their marriage for the benefit of their family. Conclusions and further remarks The functions of the husband and the wife bear a multifaceted blueprint of expectations of the responses which are to come from one another. Hence as humans, challenges and trials are inevitable aspects in life and must therefore be taken with full accountability after having vowed under the sacred matrimony and under the blessing of the church. However, in the present era, where several factors influence every person’s character and personality, asking for help and intervention from one who truly understands the quintessence of love and marriage is a an ideal act to do (Stuckert, 2003). Communication mostly is the main problem of couples and Worthington is able to help by producing a masterpiece which, with confidence, he believes will save troubled marriages. Forgive. Reconcile. Change can happen if one will listen while the other speaks. References Stuckert, R. P. (2003). Role Perception and Marital Satisfaction. A Configurational Approach. Marriage and Family Living, 25(4), 415-419. Worthington, E. L. (1999). Hope-Focused Marriage Counseling: A Guide to Brief Therapy. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Ctguji

We had Just gotten back from a very disappointing game. I don't remember what the score was but we got lose pretty bad. So there are a number of us chilling around the park talking afterwards and we all decided that we needed to get some weed and go hangout somewhere and try and forget about the beating we had Just gotten in the game earlier that night. We all chipped in and one of the guys made a weed run. When he got back we decided that it wasn't a good idea to stick around the park and smoke so we were trying to figure out someplace to go and chill.Then Dave chimes in hat his family had Just moved from their home a couple weeks earlier and the place was still empty and he still had his key. It sounded like a pretty good place to go to the rest of us so we Jumped in our cars and headed on over to Dave's old house. We pull up to the place and Dave Jumps out goes and unlocks the door for us. We all get inside and start playen some music and smoking and haven a good '01 time. So we'r e all having a pretty good time until after a while Dave, the guy whose place it was, starts throwing bottles around and trashing the place.My friends and I saw this and new something was up so we all decided to split. After we left it wasn't to late yet so some of us take a little Joyride around town before we head home. Well, when we got back to school the following Monday we thought it was going to be Just another day at school but later in the morning the cops show up. One by one all of us who had been at the party end up getting called down to the front office and are questioned by the cops. 5 guys ended up getting arrested that day (l wasn't one of them). It turns out that the house we went to that night wasn't actually Dave's.His Family had Just been renting the house and had been evicted from It a couple weeks earlier. The cops tracked us down because they got fingerprints from the house and a couple of the guys already had a record with the cops and they got pulled In first which lead them to the rest of us. It was a whole big mess, the cops had a paddy wagon there and News Crews were set up across the road filming as they took guys out In cuffs. Our football team Just kind of fell apart after that happened. We ended the season with 15 people on the team.

Cleopatra Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cleopatra - Essay Example To draw the comparison of Cleopatra’s portrait figured in films during 1963 and late twentieth and early twenty-first century, it is quite essential to draw the reference and go through a thorough analysis for the first appearance and portrayal of the image of the oriental queen on the silver screen. Cleopatra was first unveiled as a queen on the silver screen, in the year 1917. The first role of Cleopatra was played by Theda Bara where she was projected as an enchantress and iconic figure of mysterious orient with all her mystical aura which culminated into a figure that was sexually manipulative, threatening to be married and abandoned men with all her exotic appeal. The press clubbed this exotic predator as â€Å"the torpedo of domesticity† Here the intention and the objective for the portrayal of the oriental queen were transparent and evident. She was projected as the mistress of oriental extravaganza and empress of a mystic land with an aura half-veiled around her . This iconic portrayal of the queen became analogous with her name until in the year 1934, Cleopatra was reincarnated as a modern brand queen in the epic of Cecil B De Mille. Cleopatra revisited the minds of her audience as a flirtatious queen gazing at the hollow pomp of the Caesar and is less threatening.

Describe major aspects of British colonialism in India and its Essay

Describe major aspects of British colonialism in India and its influence on the Indian population - Essay Example New inventions of the 18th century gave rise to a new production process in the Great Britain – called factory production. It was the beginning of Industrial Revolution in Europe. Industrial revolution (â€Å"The origins of Industrial Revolution in England†) created a need for new markets for sales of the finished product and search for raw material. British quest for a new market was the primary reason for colonizing India. In 1600, a trading company, by the name East India Company (â€Å"South Asian History – Colonial India†) was formed in London with the blessing of Queen Elizabeth I. East India Company’s main activity was trading with India. East India Company made twelve voyages (â€Å"South Asian History – Colonial India†) to India in the year of 1601 – 1613. By that time, other traders from Europe, Dutch, French, Portuguese, were also present in India. Until 1614, the Company was struggling to get the right to trade in In dia along with other European countries. In 1614 (â€Å"Indian History†) British envoy secured approval for trading from the Moghul Emperor Jahangir. Unlike traders from other countries, East India Company was able to penetrate (â€Å"Indian History†) deep inside the India. East India Company set up factories (â€Å"Indian History†) in different cities of India including in Bengal. English settlement rose in Bengal. Later East India Company made Calcutta in Bengal its trading center. During the year 1740 and later, hostility between England and France was on pick. British government heavily backed arming of East India Company. The Company fought several battles with France in those years to establish dominance over Hydrabad and Carnatic regions of India. By mid 18th century, the Company had his own army consisting of British and local people. East India Company fought the first battle in 1757 against the Ruler of Bengal (â€Å"Indian History†) and won the battle. This was the beginning of fall of India under

Theories and ideologies #3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Theories and ideologies #3 - Essay Example The changes in both Marxism and anarchism are aimed to better the society if adopted. Capitalism has for long been the evil wheel spinning the society and has resulted to production of immense inequality both politically and socially. Capitalism leads to an economic mode of production that sees the rich continue becoming richer and the poor become poorer. The leaders of capitalism pay low wages to the laborers just enough to keep them alive but not to engage in other profit making activities that can compete with them. Meanwhile, they continue making a lot of profit and expanding their own economic empires. With economic power comes political power and hence the rich also hold and control the political power. Communism brings equality to all both economically, socially and politically. Everyone has what is necessary and even the surplus is subdivided among the people. Political power is equally shared and controlled by the people. Social classification is unknown in this society and the common theme is communal ownership hence peace prevails1. A society without individual ownership or a singular form of leadership is the ideal society. People are at liberty to own join property and be in control of the organizations and authority. There is no government to coerce people and neither is their political governance to control the people2. Humanity is at liberty to exercise their rights and aid each other as they wish. Social inequality is unknown as every property possible is shared among the people and no one owns anything. Without personal property, leadership and authority, peace prevails among the people as there is no cause for conflict. Social and economic issues are handled by the whole community in general and hence no place for political ideologies. Workers are in control of the industries and each industry is an independent entity meaning no one has control over it as an individual but rather it is a community property