maturing into professionalism, and exploring one's faith is an important aspect of self-understanding (Benshoff & Spruill, 2000, p.70). Each individual has to examine one's own eclectic background and develop a personal model, which is a blend of values and counseling theory, with the resulting counseling style that reflects the faith of the counselor. This is the responsibility of the counselor, and with the help of interested mentors, the individual can gradually move through various increments to an increasingly higher order of integration of the professional self with the personal self (Benshoff & Spruill, 2000, p.71).
The process may be ongoing throughout one's adult life, but it probably will start during the early stages of graduate counseling and practicum courses. What Benshoff and Spruill term Phase I of developing a framework for theory building is the stage of growth that focuses on pre-training personal beliefs, including spiritual and religious beliefs. At this time the counseling student examines a belief in a supreme being and the nature of that belief, various personal strengths and weaknesses, and a worldview with an understanding of man's place in relation to the supreme being. The developmental process will vary somewhat from person to person, because it is unique to the individual.
Due to the fact that so much graduate work is externally driven, the student will necessarily have to shift gears and focus inward, as the process of building an understanding of one's own faith in relation to counseling work is quite introspective (Benshoff & Spruill, 20000, p.72). One has to let go of approval-seeking, validating externalization and move more to an internal locus of control, exploring personal beliefs until a clear set of personal and religious values emerge. Other important mentors may be a part of the process, or it may be largely solitary, encouraged by reading significant books or a particular spiritual...