In this guest article, an SOC alumna shares an integrative healing approach germinated during her journey from a student to a seasoned counsellor
Journey to discovery When I accompanied my husband (Dr. Gilbert SooHoo) as he joined the SBC faculty, I did not see clearly how I would spend my time. After a few months of soul-searching, I decided to enrol as a student in the School of Counselling (SOC) more for emotional healing rather than to prepare for a counselling career.
My self-understanding and clarity of purpose increased as I progressed through the curriculum, eventually graduating. As a professional counsellor, I encountered a wide variety of mental and emotional issues shackling my clients. This prompted me to pursue further research in the literature whose authors proposed a number of treatment philosophies and techniques. The more humanistic approaches triggered some questions: “Where is God in this treatment? What does the Bible teach?” This inquiry led me to discover an integrative healing approach.
Divided within
The movie “Inside Out 2” popularizes the idea we have different parts within ourselves causing much conflict and disturbance within our lives: recall a time you debated with yourself where, it seems, part of you favoured one way and another part leaned toward another direction. Psychology recognizes multiplicity of mind, in which an individual has indeterminate number of parts. Each part is a different entity with its own unique emotions, memories, needs or agenda.
The “false self” is a defensive way for masking true feelings and image to protect oneself from a bad experience often at a young age. This cover up shows a more ideal fa?ade publicly so that we feel safer or avoid shame. The false self is the troubled part that relies on oneself without God. This causes dysfunctional behaviour that hinders spiritual growth.
Effects of trauma
After COVID-19, we have become more aware of the effects of trauma. The WHO World Mental Health Survey indicates that 70 percent of the world’s population have experienced trauma at least once in their lives.
Trauma is a horrific experience stuck in time that may cause great changes affecting the body, mind, and soul. It affects how people see themselves, others, and God, no longer feeling safe. Many trauma sufferers experience dissociation (fragmentation), which is a mental process of detachment from one’s thinking, feelings, or memories separating the self from the world. One researcher noted that the memory of trauma is stored in the body, resulting in both physical or psychological issues. Thus, our Christian lives would be greatly hindered.
Counselling to the rescue
Counselling in Asia has become more acceptable as a way for people to seek help in dealing with mental issues. However, many of the counselling techniques practised are based on secular approaches and some even advocate simply following your heart’s desire or emphasize being self-led, which steers a person away from God. Some may add a bit of spirituality, stating that since we are made in the image of God, we have the natural ability to pursue self-healing. But this perspective gravitates toward new-age spirituality.
Having counselled missionaries and Christians, I sought to develop a treatment that emphasizes God’s power working within us.
God-infused therapy
This therapy is integrative and experiential for people suffering pain or traumatic experiences. Some suffered adverse childhood experiences, for example, parents divorcing, abuse, bullying, or a major accident. The therapy highlights God’s presence and activity as the centre of the treatment and recovery by integrating theological and psychological principles. The focus is helping counsellees to experience God in building a secure attachment with him.
Both the counsellor and counsellee are filled by the Spirit, thus allowing them to bear the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22–23). The Spirit empowers the counsellee to experience God working within, guiding and helping the troubled parts heal.
Related biblical concepts
There are several important biblical principles related to this therapy. First, we possess the image of God (Gen 1:26–27). In Christ, that image is restored so that we can enter into a relationship with God. Second, we are a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). As a new creation, we can escape the entrapment of trauma. Third, the flesh is still active (1 Pet 2:11). We believers still have the flesh that may keep us from escaping.
Fourth, we must abide in Christ (John 15:1–5). Our dependence on Jesus permits his presence to help us face our trauma with hope. Fifth, the Holy Spirit can fully restore God’s image in us. We must be filled by the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18) in order to bear fruit (Gal 5:22–23), leading to healing. Sixth, we can and should care for others. God comforts us so that we can then comfort others in affliction (2 Cor 1:3–4).
Treatment process
Trauma may cause us to split into parts—the Apparently Normal Part (ANP) and the Emotional Parts (EPs). The adult is the ANP without a secure attachment with God, while the EPs are the troubled parts stuck in the time of trauma.
The counsellor guides the counsellee to heal progressively through experiencing God and bearing the fruit of the Spirit. The process takes time and the pace depends on the counsellee advancing toward an intimate personal relationship with God in the body, mind and heart, experiencing shalom so that they can function normally despite the challenges of the troubled parts.
This treatment can be effectively used by the professional counsellor and in church discipleship programmes for people who are hurt. It provides the means for people who are in pain to experience God and to bear the fruit of the Spirit. Their troubled parts do not have to define them or to determine their lives. There is victory in Jesus!
For Discussion
- Have you ever experienced a traumatic event in the past that may still affect you? Describe the effect on you mentally, emotionally, and physically.
- Do you then feel regret, anger, or shame? Do you desire to change and take control of this troublesome issue?
- Are you open to inviting someone to come alongside you in seeking healing from the past?
