Theocentric Counseling As Treatment For Depression 7
Importance of Theocentric Counseling As An Intervention
For Depression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Strategies and Techniques Used for Depression by Theocentric Counselors 9
THEOCENTRIC COUNSELING AND DEPRESSION
On a world wide basis, over 100 million people are estimated to be suffering from clinical depression; between 10 and 16 million of these people are Americans (Gold, 1986, Gotlib, 1992). The purpose of this report is to examine the literature on the efficacy of theocentric counseling (commonly termed christian counseling) for the treatment of depression.
The report begins with a description of the clinical symptoms of depression and a discussion of those particular groups that are at high risk for the disorder. This is followed by a brief review of psychoemotional and biogenetic factors believed to be involved in the etiology of the condition. Following this description and discussion, the paper examines research and theory related to christian or theocentric counseling intervention for the condition.
According to Sue, Sue and Sue (1994), there are four core symptomalogical dimensions of clinical depression. The first dimension consists of a cluster of affective (emotional) symptoms. These symptoms include sadness, dejection, apathy, feelings of worthlessness, wild weeping in response to anger or frustration, and feelings of having lost the joy of living. The authors note that when such symptoms occur as the result of bereavement, they should be considered normal unless they last for an excessively prolonged period.
The second core dimension of depression symptoms discussed by Sue, Sue and Sue (1994) are cognitive symptoms consisting of certain thoughts and ideas clearly related to the depressive reaction. These symptoms include profound pessimism about the future, disinterest in everyday life, self-accusation of incompeten...