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Counselling Connections Across Australia

When we consider human problems CONCLuSION Hart, A. D. (1987) Counselling the Depressed.
and how they develop, it is helpful to Melbourne, Word Publishing.
think in terms of three interlinking Depression is certainly a common
circles each of which represents a presentation in any counselling Lewis, C. S. (1940) The Problem of Pain. London:
different part of human beings and each practice but it is also a very complex Fontana Books.
of which helps us to understand the problem. A many factored response to a Lloyd-Jones, D. M. (1965) Spiritual Depression.
basic causes of human problems and multifaceted disorder takes into account Bromley: Marshall Pickering.
behaviour. Human beings consist of a the physiological, the psychological and
physiological, psychological and spiritual the spiritual components to the problem. Real, T. (1997) I Don’t Want to Talk About It. New
reality. Each of these impinges upon Professionally speaking, only a holistic York: Scribner.
the other and whilst they are discrete, approach will bring about the desired
they continually affect one another. Each outcome of relief for our clients. In the The Holy Bible. New International Version.
part of the problem must be considered. words of Biebel and Koenig (2004): ‘The (1973) Michigan: Zondervan. (Personal pronouns
Thus: the physiological component may most effective treatment for depression denoting Deity are capitalised as a mark of
require medication; the psychological is a cooperative, multidisciplinary effort reverence).
component requires professional that considers all arenas of the depressed
therapy; and the spiritual component person’s life.’ Tozer, A. W. (1961) The Knowledge of the Holy.
requires a grace directed spiritual Eastbourne: Kingsway Publications.
input consisting of faith, hope and love
undergirded by grace and truth. Bibliography What is Stigma? A brochure published by The
National Mental Health Strategy. Woden, ACT.
In helping people with the debilitating American Psychiatric Association. (2013) Wiersbe, W. W. (1974) Insight for the Pastor:
disorder of depression, we must offer Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Discouragement—an Occupational Hazard.
solutions which neither lets people Disorders Published in Moody Monthly, USA.
evade their personal responsibilities nor (5th Edition) USA.
adds false guilt to the heavy burden they
already carry. The question which arises, Bainton, R. H. (1950) Here I Stand: A Life of
therefore, is “how does one prepare a Martin Luther. Nashville: Abingdon Press.
management plan?” One might proceed
as follows: Biebel, D. B. & Koenig, H. G. (2004) New Light on
Depression. Michigan: Zondervan.
First, obtain a thorough back-ground Carlson, D. L. (1994) Why Do Christians Shoot
(case) history. Their Wounded? Illinois: InterVarsity Press.

Medical Practitioners are taught the Chaplin, J. P. (1975) Dictionary of Psychology.
maxim “diagnosis first, then treatment”. New York: Dell Publishing Co. Inc.
A maxim which can also be brought into
the counselling room. As Professional Crabb, L. J. (1987) Understanding People.
Counsellors, it behoves us to listen very Oakleigh, Victoria: S. John Bacon Pty Ltd.
carefully and be attune to every aspect
of a person’s story so that we may enter Crabb, L. J. (1988) Inside Out. Colorado:
into that person’s life not as those who Navpress.
can brush away cobwebs but as those
who can identify the spiders which Guinness, O. (1975) The Dust of Death. Illinois:
cause the cobwebs of emotional and InterVarsity Press.
psychological impairment in our client’s
life. Interestingly enough, Proverbs 18v13
(NIV 1973) states that: ‘He who answers
before listening—that is his folly and his
shame.’

One might explore the following:
precipitating events; personal presentation
being a mental status exam; principal
problem/s; personal and developmental
history; and Professional plan for
resolution and growth at three levels.

Second, one might explore other
possibilities; e.g., an Adjustment
Disorder with Depressed Mood or grief
and loss issues, etc.

Third, based upon the Counsellor’s
findings, establish a multifaceted
treatment plan.

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Edition 12 November 2020