Abstract
The Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
(Tan, S., 2007)
This article covers the appropriate and ethical use of prayer including inner healing prayer, and Scripture, in a Christian approach to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Expanded CBT now includes Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Implicit and explicit integration in therapy are briefly described. A composite clinical case example is included to illustrate how prayer and Scripture can be explicitly used in Christian CBT. Results of outcome studies on the efficacy of religiously-oriented CBT are also briefly mentioned.
Some Core Concepts
Use of Prayer and Scripture in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Author:Siang-Yang Tan
Key Terms/Concepts:
☐ Focuses on a Biblical, Christian Approach to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
☐ Discusses the ethical use and integration of prayer and scripture with CBT.
☐ Discusses eight key features of his approach, which the author developed over 25 years.
  1. Primacy of agape love and developing a warm, empathetic relationship with client
  2. Using “inner healing prayer” to target a person’s unresolved developmental issues
  3. Paying special attention tospiritualexperiences, while not overemphasizing reasoning and thinking
  4. Thinkingproblems underliefeelingproblems; biblical truth is used to restructure thinking and change behavior.
  5. Emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s role in bringing about inner healing, as well as cognitive, behavioral, and emotional change
  6. Extend therapy to include broader influences such as family, culture/society, and the church and church members
  7. Only utilize techniques that are consistent with biblical truths
  8. Base interventions on empirical research on CB
☐ Two major models of integrating Christianity and CBT
  1. Implicit Integration: refers to a more covert approach that does not initiate the discussion of religious or spiritual issues and does not openly, directly or systematically use spiritual resource
  2. Explicit Integration:refers to a more overt approach that directly and systematically deals with spiritual or religious issues in therapy, and uses spiritual resources like prayer, scripture or sacred texts, referrals to church or other religious groups or lay counselors, and other religious practices
☐Intentional Integration:is the key in professional practice: prayerfully depending on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide the therapeutic session, using implicit or explicit integration or both in a professionally competent, ethically responsible, and clinically sensitive way for the benefit and growth of the client.
☐ Informed consent is critically important
☐ Two major sources of integration:PrayerandScripture
☐There are Different Forms of Prayer: Discusses:intercessory, contemplative, inner healing, listening
☐Inner Healing Prayer:helps clients with painful memories or even traumatic past experiences that are continuing to negatively impact them. Form of prayer to help a client’s ability to process affectively painful memories and ask for the presence of Christ. Seven steps of inner healing prayer are discussed.
☐ Author presents a composite case study of mild depression to illustrate integration techniques
☐ Discusses the use of Scripture as a major intervention technique in Christian CBT.
☐ Using the inspired word of God can be extremely helpful in counseling
☐ Caveat for using scripture: unthoughtful use of Bible can be potentially damaging
☐ Need to pay attention to: purpose, context, and client/counselor rapport
☐Author’s Conclusion: Prayer and Scripture can therefore be ethically and effectively used in Christian CBT, especially when explicit integration in the therapy room is appropriate, with clients who have given informed consent for such an approach to be taken.
☐This is not a research article. No experimentation was involved.