proaches that may be adopted by the pastoral counselor. These approaches typically include a choice of one of the three described below or some combination of them:
The goal of the therapist is to create a ôChristianö client or ôChristianö marriage.
The counselor believes that all therapy must have direct scriptural justification or at the least be rooted in the practices of spiritual guidance techniques used within the church for ages.
The theorist relies upon methods developed by secular theories of counseling but deals directly with the spiritual thoughts, behaviors and lifestyles of clients.
In an article written as a response to his book on a Christian approach to counseling, Worthington (1990, p. 22) argues that whatever approach is adopted by the pastoral counselor the goals of Christian marital therapy are the same: ôTo help people grow spiritually and psychologically through helping them solve their marital problems.ö In the definition of the goal of Christian marital counseling, the author basically implies that pastoral counseling of married couples aims at spiritual and psychological growth and development as the means to resolving marital discord. Despite this universal goal, there are four components or elements of practice that remain distinct to Christian counselors and counseling. According to Worthington (1989, p. 23), these four distinctives of Christian counseling are:
It should be consistent with Christian assumptions, such as the fundamental truths of Christianity described by apologists.
It should be consistent with GodÆs revelationsùboth his special revelations and his general revelations.
It should have Christ at the center.
There are a number of issues and situations that test the commitment of individuals in a marriage. When commitment is undermined, individuals begin to question the viability of their marriage and often turn to separation or divorce as a consequence. Ho...