Sneak a peek at today’s average counseling client …

If you’re not a counselor, you might think going to see a counselor or clinical therapist should be a simple matter: You have a problem, you tell the counselor what it is, you work through a treatment for the problem, then you’re all better.

It’s not that simple.

Neither are people.

A person visiting a therapist for the first time may identify something as being their problem, only to discover it’s not really their primary problem. And human beings are so complex that rarely is it the case someone walking into a counselor’s office has an issue that touches only on a single part of their lives.

Let me invite you to take a sneak peek at what therapists often observe during an intake session of an “average” client in the 21st century. As an example, let’s say a man makes an appointment with a Christian counselor and states that he is struggling with patience and anger in a variety of relationships. Beyond that stated problem, the counselor will likely also identify the following issues …

Spiritual anemia – If the person is an authentic follower of Christ, more times than not someone coming for counseling has become “spiritually anemic” — at the least there’s a lack in the consistent practice of spiritual disciplines that help us maintain a vibrant spiritual life.

Irrational thinking, habitualized cognitive distortions – For most clients, their practice of their thought life has gone awry somewhere. Helping them identify patterns of irrational thinking and habits of cognitive distortions can help a client transform their thought life.

Patterned behavior, negative coping mechanisms – Where there is distorted thinking comes distorted behavior, such as developing patterns of negative coping mechanisms that may include repression, denial, rationalization, projection, reaction formation, displacement, suppression, sublimation, and other negative behaviors that need to change.

Unmet/inappropriately met temperament needs – Beyond our surface-level personality, and even beyond our character (learned behavior) is our “temperament” which is how God has wired us – temperament is our in-born needs that determine how we respond to people, places, and things. Not having a healthy understanding of our temperament can easily result in temperament needs going unmet, or to be met inappropriately. This will have to be identified by a competent counselor trained in temperament.

Stress – People today commonly present as experiencing stress, from mild to severe, with both mental and physical symptoms. Clients will need to learn how to reduce and manage stress.

Anxiety disorders – Many clients today present as anxious persons, from mild to severe, with both mental and physical symptoms. Treatment for anxiety will need to be included in an overall treatment plan.

Depression – This may be as simple as feelings of depression rooted in their thought life based on their current struggles, or may have biological roots and can range to clinical depression. If symptoms of depression are present, the root cause must be identified and treatment for that must be included in the overall treatment plan. This may include the need to refer the client to a physician or psychiatrist.

Mental Illness – The client may present actual symptoms of a mental illness they may or may not be aware of. If symptoms are presented or suspected, an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan must be made.

Weak or absent support structures – No one is an island, but having to try to navigate life alone can create problems of their own. Having weak or no support structures must be addressed in the overall treatment plan.

Poor communication – Lacking effective communication skills directly affects a person’s capacity to deal with any issues in their lives. Equipping clients with new skills to be effective in communication will be needed.

Physically de-conditioned – With obesity rates skyrocketing, it is common for clients to present as physically de-conditioned. Not only is it common for people to be unfit, but many are not healthy. A lack of or no exercise, and poor nutritional habits are key components to poor physical condition. Helping the client understand how physical condition can impact their overall well-being and quality of life can be a vital part of an overall treatment plan.

Poor sleep patterns – The exhaustion caused by poor sleep patterns impact people mentally, emotionally, physically, and even spiritually. It’s important that the counselor address this issue if presented.

Lack of self-discipline – With all of the above issues, or some assortment thereof, it’s common for someone coming for counseling to be lacking in self-discipline, ranging from slight impediments to a sense of having “given up.” This will have to be addressed directly, as it is the client who has to “do the work” of changing their life.

Confusion – With the above at play, it’s common for a person to be confused about life and the direction they need.

Deficits – Not having in our lives what God has designed as needs can result in real deficits that result in real damage to a life. For example, it’s God’s design that we have a loving father and mother who nurture us to being adult disciples of Jesus Christ. If one or more parents were abusive, whether emotionally or physically, that creates a deficit. There are different deficits that clients could be suffering from that need resolution.

Sin – Not everyone who needs to see a clinical therapist have problems resulting from sin, but sin is more often than not a key factor in our troubles in life. A Christian counselor needs to be able to identify sin, and patterns of sin, and address them with the client.

So that new client who comes and says he’s struggling with patience and anger with people (or whatever the identifying issue is) very often also presents most or all of the above issues as well. These issues can generate even more issues, such as:

Relational distress – With irrational thinking, cognitive distortions, spiritual anemia, and poor communication skills, you’ll likely find a person who is experiencing problems with their relationships.

Compulsivity – This is one of the most important and powerful issues that can be identified. Compulsivity is the driving force behind addictions of all sorts. When compulsivity is identified, it will need a comprehensive treatment plan.

Biological factors – A variety of biological factors may also be present with a client coming to an intake session. For example, a client with a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder can benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy, but such treatment needs to be offered in conjunction with the client being treated by a physician or psychiatrist.

Effective and competent Christian counseling identifies all of the contributing factors to life issues clients experience and addresses each one in priority and conjointly in an overall treatment plan. That is necessary in order for a counselor or therapist to help a client achieve real, sustained, comprehensive life change.

To understand why this is important, consider something most of us have done previously — pulling weeds. When weeding a yard or garden, if you don’t get the roots of the weed, what will happen? It grows back. The same is true with our problems in life – we have to address what the root issues are, as well as contributing sources, and address them all in order to fully and completely alleviate a problem. A competent Christian counselor or clinical therapist can help you do that.

Scotty