BE FULLY PRESENT, LIVING IN THE MOMENT! – Brian Allison is a spiritual counsellor and life coach. He specializes in marriage counselling, couples and relationship counselling, family counselling, individual counselling, bereavement counselling, and life coaching. He is also the creator of the motivational modality called Hypnenergy, a revolutionary new technology of personal transformation that results in significant improvement in the overall health of one’s spirit, mind, and body. This new energy science may be much more effective than various psychotherapy.

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Select Psychotherapies (Christian and Non-Christian)

There are various psychotherapies. Though MCS’s approach is Christian and biblical, some truth may be found in these psychotherapies. The following is a general analysis, from Dr. Allison’s biblical perspective, of some of the major psychotherapies.

Key:

(y) = yes, can be supported by a Christian world-view
(y?) = yes, can be supported by a Christian world-view, with qualification
(n) = no, cannot be supported by a Christian world-view
(n?) = no, cannot be supported by a Christian world-view, with qualification

A. Classical Psychoanalysis (Sigmund Freud)

Motivation:

To expose and resolve the intrapsychic conflicts rooted in the unconscious.

Presuppositions:

  1. Reality is natural (i.e., antisupernatural) and definable (n)
  2. The mind is the focal point of personal existence (n)
  3. The person has the power to heal himself (n?)
  4. The individual is controlled by forces beyond his control (e.g. drives, instincts, libido, etc.) (y?)

Premises:

  1. The main problem is a matter of past bad experiences (n?)
  2. Hurts, pain, and unresolved issues are hidden in the unconscious (y)
  3. Identifying and revealing these hurts, etc. result in a catharsis (y)
  4. There are three main divisions of the psyche: id, ego, superego (n)

Propositions:

  1. Need to talk (y)
  2. The benefit of free association (y?)
  3. Need to get in touch with the past (y?)

B. Interpersonal School (Alfred Adler, Harry Stack Sullivan, Karen Horney, Eric Fromm)

Motivation:

To secure individual happiness by feeling integrated and self-confident

Presuppositions:

  1. The main goal of human existence is to be happy and fulfilled (n?)
  2. The human being is self-determined and self-sufficient (n?)
  3. True meaningfulness is found in the individual (vs. absolute reality) (n)
  4. The human being is free (y?)

Premises:

  1. Emotional problems result from self-defeating inferiority feelings (y?)
  2. Each person should pursue his own goal of happiness and fulfilment (y?)

Propositions:

  1. Develop and improve your self-concept and self-understanding (y?)
  2. Believe in yourself (y?)

C. Reality Therapy (William Glasser)

Motivation:

To fulfil intrinsic needs through responsible, right, and honest action

Presuppositions:

  1. The human being is free to determine himself and his destiny (y?)
  2. People have intrinsic needs (y)

Premises:

  1. The human being is responsible for himself and his behaviour (y)
  2. The human needs are: love and self-worth (y)
  3. The priority focus is behaviour, not feelings (y?)

Propositions:

  1. Face reality (y)
  2. Do right (y)
  3. Be responsible (y)
  4. Devise a responsible plan of action (y)
  5. Accept yourself (y)

D. Transactional Analysis (Eric Berne, Thomas A. Harris)

Motivation:

To assume autonomy and control over one’s life by regulating and directing the various parts of the psyche

Presuppositions:

  1. The human being has intrinsic needs (y)
  2. The goal of the individual is to be happy (y?)
  3. The person determines his own destiny (y?)

Premises:

  1. Self-view determines how one behaves and acts (y)
  2. There are three basic psycho-components: child, adult, and parent (n?)
  3. People fulfil certain roles and play certain ‘games’ (n?)
  4. Wholeness requires structural analysis/transactional analysis (n)

Propositions:

  1. Strive for an autonomous, self-chosen life-pattern (n)

E. Behaviour Modification (Ivan Pavlov, B. F. Skinner, Joseph Wolpe)

Motivation:

To achieve positive behaviour through learning and conditioning

Presuppositions:

  1. The human being is an animal (n)
  2. Materialism defines the nature of the cosmos (n)

Premises:

  1. Behaviour is learned and conditioned (y?)
  2. Incentives propel change (y)
  3. Positive and negative re-enforcements determine and shape behaviour (y)

Propositions:

  1. Identify and determine behaviour you want to change (y)
  2. Apply appropriate techniques which modify behaviour (y)

F. Rational-Emotive Therapy (Albert Ellis)

Motivation:

To discard an irrational belief system and to acquire a rational one

Presuppositions:

  1. The mind has the inherent power and sufficiency to heal itself (n?)

Premises:

  1. Change occurs by changing one’s thought patterns and habits (y)
  2. Feelings and behaviour are the result of perception and interpretation of events/situations (y) 3. Catharsis occurs through exposing irrational beliefs (y?)

Propositions:

  1. Review and alter irrational belief system, and develop a rational one (y)
  2. Be more realistic in evaluating events/situations (y)

G. Client-Centred Therapy (Carl Rogers)

Motivation:

To develop a positive self-image

Presuppositions:

  1. By nature, the human being wants to be happy (y)
  2. The person is controlled by inner drives (y?)
  3. The self is supreme and central (n?)
  4. The human being is essentially good (n)

Premises:

  1. Personal growth occurs by reducing the tension, anxiety, etc. which interfere with basic drives (y?)
  2. Problems arise when a person adopts the values of others, rather than affirming and living out his own (y?)
  3. Self-image and self-acceptance are foundational (n?)
  4. Growth occurs within the context of a warm, honest, and loving relationship (y)
  5. Feelings reveal the individual (y?)

Propositions:

  1. Develop a close relationship (y)
  2. Be honest with feelings (y)
  3. Share feelings (y)

H. Analytical Psychology (Carl Jung)

Motivation:

To discover the dynamics and mysteries of the unconscious

Presuppositions:

  1. The mind is the gateway to understanding essential meaning and truth (n?)
  2. The self is the central and determinative category in understanding human behaviour (n?)
  3. The ultimate good is to be happy (n?)
  4. There is an intrinsic urge/drive to acquire wholeness (y?)

Premises:

  1. An essential relationship exists between the conscious and unconscious (y)
  2. The unconscious has its own language (e.g. symbols) which need to be interpreted (y)
  3. There are three levels of mind: ego, personal unconscious, non-personal unconscious (collective unconscious) (n?)

Propositions:

  1. Interpret and analyze dreams (n?)
  2. Reveal and resolve repressions (n?)

I. Gestalt Therapy (Frederick Perls)

Motivation:

To become more self-aware and discover one’s self

Presuppositions:

  1. The self is central and foundational (n?)
  2. The human being is self-determining (n?)
  3. True fulfilment and happiness lie within the individual (n?)

Premises:

  1. Emotional health comes through self-awareness (y?)
  2. Human beings must be responsible for their actions and behaviour (y)
  3. The person must tap his potential (n?)
  4. Development of the self-concept is central to growth (y?)

Propositions:

  1. Self-discovery is key (n?)
  2. Self-acceptance is key (y?)