CBT and Christianity E-Book

Michael L. Free

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 705

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

CBT AND CHRISTIANITY

“A surprisingly satisfying read that refreshed my perspective on, and deepened my understanding of, two topics that have long seemed overly familiar. This work underscores how much of contemporary thinking has been anticipated by the ancients or just how much ‘new thinking’ is a recapitulation of the old, but does so in a thoroughly original way.”

Murray J. Dyck, PhD, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Griffith University

While cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an empirically supported treatment, many behavioural and analytical psychotherapists also recognize the healing potential of religious belief. CBT and Christianity offers CBT therapists an authoritative, practical, and comprehensive resource for counselling clients with an allegiance to the Christian faith. This innovative new treatment approach compares the teachings of Jesus to contemporary cognitive and mindfulness-based therapies, describing a variety of successful assessment and treatment approaches with Christian clients by incorporating the teachings of Jesus into logical thinking, schema modification, and committed behaviour change. Clarity is further enhanced through a variety of specific examples, descriptions of generic methods, and supplemental resources provided by the author. By combining effective treatments with sensitivity to religious convictions, CBT and Christianity offers innovative insights into the spiritual and psychological well-being of clients with Christian beliefs.

Leseprobe

CONTENTS

Cover

Title page

List of Figures

List of Boxes

List of Tables

About the Author

Author’s Preface

Part 1: Rationale for the Use of the Teachings of Jesus in CBT

1 Introduction

A historical view of spirituality, religion and psychotherapy

The development and dominance of cognitive therapy as a psychotherapy

The importance of Christianity in the West

The appreciation of the role of non-specific factors in psychotherapy

Interest in the Buddhist technique of ‘mindfulness’

Findings relating religious adherence to positive mental and physical health

The growing respect for cultural and individual differences

The decline of logical positivism and the rise of postmodernism and social constructionist theory

The question of a logical connection between cognitive therapy and the teachings of Jesus

A general outline of the book

2 Introduction to Cognitive Therapy

General aspects of psychotherapy

The basis of cognitive therapy

Beck’s cognitive therapy

Rational emotive (behaviour) therapy

Schema therapy

Similarities amongst the three main schools of cognitive therapy

3 The Context of theTeachings of Jesus

Why we should consider the teachings of Jesus

The records of Jesus the person

The location of the teachings of Jesus

The approach taken in this book towards the teachings of Jesus

The historical context of the New Testament

The social context of the New Testament

Stages in the early dissemination of the teachings of Jesus

Jesus’ own context

The written Gospels

Conclusion

4 What Did Jesus Teach: A Biblical Scholarship Approach

The purpose of the chapter

Problems with direct use of the Gospels

Summary of factors influencing the content of the Gospels

The historical Jesus and the Jesus of faith (and the inerrancy of scripture)

Biblical scholarship: Tracking the words and deeds of Jesus

Conclusions about Jesus’ life, circumstances and characteristic behaviour

Jesus’ teachings as conveyed in words

The proverbial sayings (apophthegms/aphorisms)

Other kinds of sayings

Conclusion

5 Comparison of Jesus’ Teaching with Cognitive Therapy: Part I: Logic

Topics in Chapter 5

Content and process of thinking

The nature of logic

Logic in cognitive therapy

Logic in the teaching of Jesus

A method for comparing cognitive therapy with the teachings of Jesus

Jesus’ references to the use of logic

Conclusions

Comparison of Jesus’ logic with cognitive therapy

6 Comparison of Jesus’ Teaching with Cognitive Therapy: Part II: Content

The content of cognitive therapy

The content of Jesus’ deeds

The content of Jesus’ teachings as reported by experts

The implicational content in Jesus’ teachings

Relationship of themes identified in the teachings of Jesus to cognitive therapy

Part 2: Approach to Using the Teachings of Jesus in CBT with Christians

7 A Schema-Centred Model of Psychological Dysfunction

Topics in Chapter 7

A schema-centred model of psychological dysfunction

Assessment

Assessment as therapy

Choosing the intervention

Using the results of assessment in conjunction with the rest of this book

8 New Life in Cognitive Therapy

Topics in Chapter 8

Reasons for seeking therapy

Ways of doing therapy

The need to address Christian issues in therapy

Preliminary considerations for doing cognitive therapy with Christians

Use of the scriptures in cognitive therapy

Ways of using scripture in cognitive therapy

Making choices

Commitment

Is it appropriate for a Christian to use logic?

Using logic like Jesus

Jesus’ view of logical errors

Values

Conclusion

9 Introduction to Content Interventions

Overview of content intervention

Working with propositional content

Working with implicational content

Part 3: Resources for Using the Teachings of Jesus in CBT with Christians

10 Jesus and the Value of People

Topics in Chapter 10

Teachings relevant to the value of people

Social inclusion

Implicational work

Interpersonal considerations

The value of people

Loving

Conclusions

11 Relationship to God, the World and the Future

God, the world and the future

Acceptance and trust versus fear and anxiety

Knowing the future

Spiritual versus material concerns

The relationship of Jesus’ teachings to the Jewish Law: Principle versus literal/old versus new

The inconsequential becomes greatly valuable

12 The Christian’s Behaviour

Topics in Chapter 12

The relevance of Jesus’ teaching to the Christian’s behaviour

Commitment, allegiance, readiness

What is important versus what is not important

Assumption of status

Asking for desires/praying

Prophecy, signs, logic

The relationships amongst intention, fantasy, action and responsibility

Conclusions

13 Following Jesus: The Ongoing Dialectic

Dialectics in clinical psychology

Consistency between cognitive therapy and the teaching of Jesus

Assessment for treatment

Commitment to therapy

Using logic like Jesus

Values

Content interventions

Tensions in the content of Jesus’ teaching

Resolution

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Appendix 3

Hermeneia

The Anchor Bible

The New International Commentary on the New Testament

The Sacra Pagina New Testament Commentary Series

References

Index

End User License Agreement

List of Tables

Chapter 04

Table 4.1 Criteria for determining authenticity.

Table 4.2 Examples of ‘reversal’ in the parables.

Table 4.3 Examples of different categories of content in Jesus’ sayings.

Chapter 05

Table 5.1 Examples of analogies in the Gospel of John.

Chapter 06

Table 6.1 Idiosyncratic ideational content in different emotional disorders.

Table 6.2 Groupings of material in ‘The Gospel of Jesus’.

Table 6.3 Themes evident in the parables.

Table 6.4 Consistencies between Jesus’ deeds and teaching and the cognitive therapies.

Chapter 08

Table 8.1 Gospel passages relevant to intentional action.

Table 8.2 Gospel passages that relate to commitment.

Table 8.3 Examples of Jesus’ use of logic.

Table 8.4 Logical errors identified by Jesus and the alternate logic that he advocates.

Chapter 10

Table 10.1 Passages relevant to inclusion.

Table 10.2 Gospel passages relevant to forgiving, judging and loving.

Table 10.3 Gospel passages relevant to judging.

Table 10.4 Gospel passages relevant to the value of people.

Table 10.5 Passages relevant to the question of whether Jesus loved other people.

Table 10.6 Passages relevant to whether Jesus encouraged his disciples to love others.

Table 10.7 Passages relevant to love of self and other(s) that are useful in implicational exercises.

Chapter 11

Table 11.1 Gospel passages relevant to acceptance, trust and fear.

Table 11.2 Passages that relate to Jesus’ knowledge of the future.

Table 11.3 Passages that relate to spiritual versus material concerns.

Table 11.4 Passages relevant to Jesus' teachings about principled versus literal interpretation of the Law.

Table 11.5 Passages concerned with the inconsequential becoming greatly valuable.

Chapter 12

Table 12.1 Passages associated with commitment, allegiance and readiness.

Table 12.2 Passages associated with commitment in particular.

Table 12.3 Passages that relate to watchfulness and readiness.

Table 12.4 Passages that relate to what Jesus considered important versus not important.

Table 12.5 Passages that relate to the assumption of status by disciples.

Table 12.6 Passages that relate to asking or praying for one’s desires.

Table 12.7 Passages that relate to prophecies, signs and logic.

Table 12.8 Passages relevant to the relationships between intention, fantasy, action and responsibility.

List of Illustrations

Chapter 03

Figure 3.1 Sources of the Gospels.

Chapter 06

Figure 6.1 Relationships amongst fundamental schema content.

Figure 6.2 Positive and negative fundamental schema content.

Chapter 07

Figure 7.1 A schema-centred model for cognitive-behavioural formulation of distressing emotion and counterproductive behaviour.

Chapter 08

Figure 8.1 Dimensions of therapy.

Guide

Cover

Table of Contents

Begin Reading

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CBT and Christianity

Strategies and Resources for Reconciling Faith in Therapy

Michael L. Free

This edition first published 2015© 2015 Michael L. Free

Registered OfficeJohn Wiley & Sons, Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK

Editorial Offices350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148-5020, USA9600 Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2DQ, UKThe Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK

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The right of Michael L. Free to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher.

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Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. It is sold on the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services and neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Free, Michael L. CBT and christianity : strategies and resources for reconciling faith in therapy / Michael L. Free.  pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index.

 ISBN 978-0-470-68325-5 (cloth) – ISBN 978-0-470-68324-8 (pbk.) 1. Cognitive therapy. 2. Psychology and religion. I. Title. RC489.C63F724 2015 616.89′1425–dc23

      2015004422

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Cover image: Illustration of Jesus teaching humility, from Henry Davenport Northrop,Charming Bible Stories, 1893. Clipart courtesy FCITCover design by Simon Levy Associates

To Marian

List of Figures

3.1

Sources of the Gospels

6.1

Relationships amongst fundamental schema content

6.2

Positive and negative fundamental schema content

7.1

A schema-centred model for cognitive-behavioural formulation of distressing emotion and counterproductive behaviour

8.1

Dimensions of therapy

List of Boxes

2.1

Techniques used in cognitive therapy

6.1

Categories of parables based on content

7.1

Dimensions of temperament

7.2

Examples of specific predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating factors relevant to Christian people

8.1

Initiating change versus using scripture

9.1

Examples of propositions and associated principles

List of Tables

4.1

Criteria for determining authenticity

4.2

Examples of ‘reversal’ in the parables

4.3

Examples of different categories of content in Jesus’ sayings

5.1

Examples of analogies in the Gospel of John

6.1

Idiosyncratic ideational content in different emotional disorders

6.2

Groupings of material in ‘The Gospel of Jesus’

6.3

Themes evident in the parables

6.4

Consistencies between Jesus’ deeds and teaching and the cognitive therapies

8.1

Gospel passages relevant to intentional action

8.2

Gospel passages that relate to commitment

8.3

Examples of Jesus’ use of logic

8.4

Logical errors identified by Jesus and the alternate logic that he advocates

10.1

Passages relevant to inclusion

10.2

Gospel passages relevant to forgiving, judging and loving

10.3

Gospel passages relevant to judging

10.4

Gospel passages relevant to the value of people

10.5

Passages relevant to the question of whether Jesus loved other people

10.6

Passages relevant to whether Jesus encouraged his disciples to love others

10.7

Passages relevant to love of self and other(s) that are useful in implicational exercises

11.1

Gospel passages relevant to acceptance, trust and fear

11.2

Passages that relate to Jesus’ knowledge of the future

11.3

Passages that relate to spiritual versus material concerns

11.4

Passages relevant to Jesus’ teachings about principled versus literal interpretation of the Law

11.5

Passages concerned with the inconsequential becoming greatly valuable

12.1

Passages associated with commitment, allegiance and readiness

12.2

Passages associated with commitment in particular

12.3

Passages that relate to watchfulness and readiness

12.4

Passages that relate to what Jesus considered important versus not important

12.5

Passages that relate to the assumption of status by disciples

12.6

Passages that relate to asking or praying for one’s desires

12.7

Passages that relate to prophecies, signs, and logic

12.8

Passages relevant to the relationships between intention, fantasy, action and responsibility

About the Author

Michael Free trained as a clinical psychologist at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, qualifying in 1980. He then worked for the Queensland Health Department in a variety of positions in adult psychiatry for 12 years. From 1993 till July 2008 he held a part-time position as a lecturer in clinical psychology at Griffith University, Brisbane. He obtained his PhD in 1997 for research on the relationship between biological and psychological processes during recovery from depression. He has been in part-time private practice since 1997 and in July 2008 commenced full-time private practice. Dr Free’s expertise is in complex anxiety and depression including emotional and behavioural issues derived from childhood experiences. He works with adults and adolescents both in individual therapy and group therapy programmes. He has written a book on group cognitive therapy now in its second edition. He is married to an Anglican priest and they have three adult children and one grandchild.

Author’s Preface

This book has been a long time in the making. I have been a practising Christian for most of my adult life, and am married to an Anglican priest and Biblical scholar. In the late 1990s I started a half-time private practice in a regional city in Queensland, Australia, and came across a number of clients who told me things their pastor had reportedly said to them about the teaching of Jesus. Many of those things seemed inconsistent with my experience and understanding of Jesus and his teaching, and were not very helpful with my clients’ mental health difficulties. I had been a cognitive therapy practitioner for all of my career and had just completed a book for Wiley called Cognitive Therapy in Groups (Free, 1999) so I was very familiar with the cognitive therapy paradigm. My intuition was that there was compatibility between cognitive therapy and the teachings of Jesus, that was different from what my clients were being led to believe, so I resolved to investigate that further, and as systematically as I could. Being married to a Biblical scholar, it was not long before I was introduced to the idea that the words of Jesus, as recorded in the Gospels, have a relatively tenuous relationship to the actual words that scholarship suggests he actually said. I therefore resolved to obtain the most accurate representation of what the historical Jesus actually taught, before attempting to integrate that with cognitive therapy.

That led me into Biblical scholarship, and historical Jesus scholarship, and inevitably to the ‘Jesus Seminar’, as one attempt to obtain some consensus on the things that the historical Jesus said and did, rather than those things that have been added or changed after his death, as a result of the passing on of oral tradition, the collation and writing down of that tradition, and the subsequent processes of redaction, copying and translation into modern languages, that have produced the four canonical Gospels.

This book is the result of that exploration, my evaluation of my original intuition that there was consistency between the teaching of Jesus and cognitive therapy and my attempt to develop a synergy of the teaching of Jesus with the practice of cognitive therapy. As such, it is meant to be a resource for cognitive therapists who wish to use cognitive therapy with Christian clients. It therefore summarises my understanding of cognitive therapy, introduces the reader to the fundamentals of Biblical scholarship and investigates the consistencies between findings of Biblical scholarship related to Jesus’ teaching and cognitive therapy. The book provides resources for therapists to use with Christian clients, organised according to major and minor themes that seem evident in both traditions: relationships to self and others, relationships with God and the cosmos, and one’s own desired and desirable behaviour.

I hope that the book is also accessible to non-therapists, and indeed to any person who wants to improve their emotional and behavioural functioning using an integration of the principles and methods of cognitive therapy with an informed view of the teaching of the historical Jesus.

The interest amongst my friends, colleagues and clients in this book has been amazing, and I thank them all for their support. I also thank Wiley, now Wiley-Blackwell, for persisting with me on this project, which is now being completed two years after the contracted date. I thank my previous editor, Allison, for her encouragement and assistance in resurrecting the project in 2007, and my current editors Darren and Karen for their patience and support. Thanks also to Bec, and Nikki for reading drafts of the manuscript and making comments. Thanks to Paula Gooder for helpful advice at crucial times.

Thank you to Marian who has been with me every step of the way in the development of this book, including editing an advanced draft in her own holidays in November 2012. Her scholarly, intellectual and personal support has been critical to any value this book may have and to my survival of the process of writing it. Lastly thank you to God who has guided me inexorably to the completion of this task.

Nevertheless, the work is my own. While I am not a Biblical scholar, I have attempted to use a range of reputable and respected commentaries, and I have tried not to go beyond their core statements and conclusions. Even so, it is possible that some errors of interpretation have crept in. I take full responsibility for any such, and apologise in advance. I do hope that any errors are trivial and that the bulk and main thrust of the work is sound and useful to therapists and their clients and anyone interested in using cognitive therapy and the teachings of Jesus for any beneficial or benevolent purpose.

Michael Free, Chapel Hill, Queensland,AustraliaJuly 2014

Part 1Rationale for the Use of the Teachings of Jesus in CBT

1Introduction

Topics in Chapter 1

A historical view of spirituality, religion and psychotherapy

The development and dominance of cognitive therapy as a psychotherapy

The importance of Christianity in the West

The appreciation of the role of non-specific factors in psychotherapy

Interest in the Buddhist technique of ‘mindfulness’

Findings relating religious adherence to positive mental and physical health

The growing respect for cultural and individual differences

The decline of logical positivism and the rise of postmodernism and social constructionist theory

The question of a logical connection between cognitive therapy and the teachings of Jesus

A general outline of the book

A historical view of spirituality, religion and psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, a form of treatment for people suffering from emotional and behavioural disorders such as anxiety disorders, had its major period of development during the twentieth century. With rare exceptions, for most of this time there was seen to be little connection between the conduct of psychotherapy on the one hand, and spirituality and the practice of religion on the other. Two very significant figures in the development of psychotherapy, Sigmund Freud and Albert Ellis, have taken an essentially negative view of religion. Freud saw it as an illusion and the result of wish fulfilment in terms of longing for the father (Wulff, 1996). Ellis (1980) contended that all forms of religious belief were pathological and lead to neurosis. For much of the twentieth century the view prevailed that values, including religious values, could be kept out of psychological theory, research and practice (Patterson, 1958, cited in Bergin, Payne & Richards, 1996).