Biblical View On Human Nature

Biblical View on Human Nature in Psychotherapy: 

 Secular And Scriptural Perspectives

Psychotherapy and counseling emerged as distinctive scientific disciplines at the beginning of the 20th century as a result of the development of a new paradigm for treating acute psychiatric disorders. The new approaches reached beyond the biological factor to include a person's cognition, behavior, emotions, and belief system. Initially known as "talk" therapy and primarily applied as an assessment tool, it soon evolved to a much more elaborate level, including complex therapeutic interventions and their secular applications.

The development of trauma therapy could be likened to a miniature pattern of the development of the field of individual therapy, replicating the known therapeutic approaches but in condensed, by time and space, forms. The therapeutic strategies for treating traumatic experiences can be classified into four groups: Biological/mental, cognitive-behavioral, emotional, and spiritual. Secular and Christian counselors view the application of the above approaches differently because their views on human nature differ. Secular counseling embraces the view of human nature as a dichotomy: soul (cognition/emotion) and body (behavior) relationship. Christian counseling views human nature as a trichotomy: soul (cognition, emotion), body (behavior), and spirit relationship.

Contemporary psychotherapy embraces the dichotomous approach. It is based on the cultural determinism of Emile Durkheim (1858-1917), a system built on the Marxist belief of perfecting the masses (in mind and cognition) through a change in the environment. Historically, this approach had a more direct impact on social policy-making than on direct therapist/client interaction. It promotes lobbying for changes in social laws that will improve society. The rationale behind this approach calls for change in a person by providing a better environment that will ultimately usher in the brotherhood of global humanity. By its definition, the dichotomous approach looks only at a two-dimensional soul/mind and body human structure. 

Secular psychotherapy recognizes that a therapeutic change is achieved when the healing of memories, changes in habits, and relationships happens. Healing occurs when the therapist provides satisfying insights into how past life events caused psychological changes and contributed to an individual's problematic functioning. In behavior therapy, healing occurs when new, socially acceptable forms of behavior are introduced to override the old, flowed habits, exerting self-control, which should lead to changes in a person's general demeanor. 

In contrast to secular psychotherapy, EHAD with GOD applies the trichotomous approach, which adds an additional dimension, that of the spirit, to the structure of human nature. The EHAD framework for trauma therapy, introduced earlier, is consistent with the Judeo-Christian tradition of understanding human nature as trichotomy: body, mind/soul, and spirit. Treating personality dysfunctions and relational problems begins with addressing the state of health/illness of the human spirit. This framework looks at healing as a process that starts with the gradual redemption of the old nature by systematically submitting it to spiritual dead. Death is not an end but a prerequisite for renewed life. Therapeutic interventions are tailored according to the doctrines of healing and recovery through sanctification and transformation in the image of Christ. 

Forgiveness–Where Secular And Spiritual Intersect

All religions have a forgiveness component in their belief structures, and they all practice forgiveness as a volitional, spiritual act of absolution of guilt. A person does not have to be religious to benefit from forgiving others. Forgiveness is universal. One can judge by the sheer mass of professional publications on forgiveness to see that secular counseling has recognized the benefit of forgiveness. Often, forgiveness is understood as "being sorry" or "being apologetic." It is a part of most contemporary therapeutic approaches woven throughout different therapeutic techniques. 

The Root Problem 

Large numbers of Americans profess strong Judeo-Christian beliefs, and yet these believers are not exempt from suffering and pain. Christians and non-Christians suffer from trauma afflictions alike. The despair, the pain, and the damage to the hearts besiege both believers and nonbelievers. Both groups seem equally susceptible to trauma. 

While the trauma afflicts Christians and non-Christians alike, both groups differ drastically in regard to the approach to which they seek cures. The reason for this difference lies in understanding the trauma's root problem and its treatment, respectively. Depending on the personal convictions of the counselors, the ill effects of trauma are seen as broadly as being part of the package of human existence and as narrowly as being spiritual, psychological, or social. This variety of opinions leads to a variety of approaches for treatment. Secular counseling builds treatment strategies to address the physical manifestations of the trauma. Depression, social anxiety, promiscuity, anger, rage, addictions, panic attacks, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and the like conditions are treated through a combination of medication and therapy. Therapy builds on cognition, emotions, behavior, and the many versions of their combination. The most recent therapeutic approaches applied to trauma treatment include the method of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) that targets the memory associated with the trauma by desensitizing them, e.g., making them less painful. 

These approaches omit the state of health of the human spirit. Without addressing the spiritual aspects, suffering, pain, and despair remain just desensitized. The trauma is buried deep in the victim's subconsciousness and, from there, can be triggered by unexpected life events. 

EHAD with GOD methodology for healing from trauma is trichotomous. It looks at trauma as rooted in the brokenness of the God-human relationship. A large group of professional Christian counselors shares this understanding. Life in pain proceeds from alienation from God for those who are outside the Kingdom of God and from immaturity in growing in the image of Christ for those who are saved and already belong to the Kingdom of God.