“Christian Integration in Counselor Education” by John Allen King and Kristy Ford -Chapter 16 Summary, Interaction, & Application

Summary

The first author of chapter sixteen of “Christian Integration in Counselor Education,” by John Allen King and Kristy Ford is Dr. Charlotte Crosland. She works in South Carolina as an LPC, Addiction Counselor, Supervisor, and an Art Therapist. In the introductory video of the chapter, she discussed her calling into the counseling field and her specialty if addiction counseling and her passion to provide quality supervision for counselors in training. The second author of this chapter is Dr. Brad Imhoff who is a LPC in Ohio and who is currently working as the director of the Addiction Counseling Program at Liberty University and he works with clients who struggle with opioid addiction.

In the introduction of the chapter, it begins by expressing the complex nature for those who struggle with addictions, their families, and society at large as “substance use is estimated to cost more than $600 billion annually in the United States” (King-Ford, 2024). Following the introduction, the history and development of addiction counseling is discussed. Prohibition is referenced as a key occurrence in the past of the U.S. The foundation of the First Century Christian Fellowship by Frank Buchman, which was later titled the Oxford Group was also a key historical occurrence that helped fight the destructive nature of alcoholism in families. The formation of Alcoholics Anonymous and then the newer program called Celebrate Recovery are discussed. “By 1944 alcohol and drug use was identified as a public health crisis” (King-Ford, 2024). In 2009, CACREP made standards and accreditation requirements for master’s degree programs in addiction counseling (King-Ford, 2024). Core competencies for the specialty of addiction counseling have been since established and maintained.

Next, theories and models are discussed through God’s creation and the longing, or yearning, that creation possesses for their Creator. Scripture from Genesis, Ecclesiastes, Deuteronomy and Romans are used to exemplify that people are made in the image of God and that they have the intrinsic value for purpose and experiencing eternity. The design that people possess is counter to the experiences that addiction leads to. The moral model and the disease model are discussed as a basis to strive to give foundation as to how addictive behaviors originate in people. The biological changes within the brain that occur, form cravings that lead to the addictive behaviors are addressed in the following section of the chapter. The release of things like dopamine and serotonin transpires during the addictive patterns. The age of the onset of the addiction and genetics of the individual are considered within the addictive situation of the individual. Seeking relief from depression and anxiety are common reasons as to why many people form addictive behaviors to begin with.

The following portion of chapter sixteen discusses the psychological vulnerabilities that people experience, many times from childhood experiences that pertain to emotional needs being met or not by parents. Social factors are discussed, as the process of adolescent experimentation occurs and their influence and response to the media. People possess the need to fit in, or experience community, and many times this comes through negative friend groups who ignite addictive behaviors. The counterfeit experience that substance use provides takes the lead instead with those who have addictions instead of the true spiritual experience that God designed for people to experience through worship, prayer, and Biblical community.

Treatment and recovery are the next focal point in chapter sixteen. The healing and recovery process has the opportunity to begin when the counselor establishes a nonjudgmental environment that extends the grace and power that God extends daily to those who are in need. In the treatment process, motivational interviewing is explained as helping enlighten the client toward empowerment of making good life choices or to fulfill the true calling placed on their life, as opposed to succumbing to the darkness of the addiction. Affirmative and open-ended questions are used when working with clients who are battling addictive behaviors. When the client has exhibited that they truly have the desire to change their addictive behaviors, then more exact treatment methods can be utilized in the therapeutic process such as CBT and solution-based therapy. Trauma-informed care is addressed and its six key principles are shared within this model are provided. The chapter provides a heartbreaking case study that involves a woman who lost everything due to her drug addiction. The approach used with her was the usage of CBT and the integration of gently reintroducing her to the unconditional love that God always had for her, despite her rejection that she experienced from the people at her church that she had attended. Finally, the chapter ends with questions to consider for discussion and the references used.

Interaction

My initial reaction to this chapter was positive for a variety of reasons. The first reason, as to why I responded in a positive fashion, is because there was a lot of hope embedded into facilitating change for those who have been bound by addictive behaviors. Clearly, alcohol and drug addictions are major problems in society today. The second reason as to why I responded positively to this chapter is because I noticed that one of the authors, Dr. Charlotte Crosland, uses art therapy in her practice with addiction counseling. Growing up as a highly creative individual, I see the healing power and opportunity that artistic projects can help provide. I do postulate that many people who are more prone to addictive behaviors, commonly tend to excel in artistic expressions. God made people to be in His image and that definitely includes the desire to create and express oneself.

The first insightful observation that I made while reading this chapter was that the Holy Spirit truly has been warring hard to fight the wiles of the enemy, regarding the destruction of substance addiction. I say this, as I did not know that Alcoholics Anonymous was inspired by leaders who possessed Christian principles. Some research actually indicates that “AA interventions are more effective and other established treatments, such as CBT for increasing absence…” and producing “substantial healthcare cost savings” (Kelly-Ferri, 2020). I have not attended an AA group; however, I have been able to attend a Celebrate Recovery group and the model that the books provide within the topics are simply powerful. It doesn’t come as a surprise that AA and CR groups would be, in many cases, highly effective for treatment of addiction, as these groups establish a community setting. In the community-based setting, values, such as nonjudgement, forgiveness of self and others, and life purpose are all explored.

The second insightful observation that I made while reading this chapter was that the reason that addiction onsets with a given individual is complex. Some people could have experienced high levels of rejection from an early age, due to abusive parental relationships and this form of rejection forms layers of emotional pain. Due to the continuous stress and pain, it is only natural for a person to seek an escape from that pain. Alcoholism and drug addictions can easily slide in as a self-prescriptive mechanism. Another layer to the onset of alcoholism, is grief. Many people experience the loss of a loved one or they go through divorce where they are grieving the loss of their former relationships. I firmly believe that grief requires company of some kind. If grief is met with gentle support, understanding, and patience, then it has the proper company that God designed. If grief does not have that form of company, then it will seek the company that addictive behaviors provide temporarily. “The impact of grief on human lives is increasingly evident as the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental disasters, and--in the United States in particular--gun-related violence” (Charles-Reynolds, 2023). Because we are living in the latter days, disasters and societal stress is high and there are many different reasons that people may experience grief. All this to be said, there are increasing reasons as to why people may fall into the slippery slope of addictions of various kinds.

The third insight that I had while reading this chapter is that there is always room to subtly welcome the love of Jesus Christ into the treatment process. I realize the importance of asking the right intake questions when beginning the counseling relationship with a client. Asking questions about the client’s current religious beliefs is important in order to know the basic framework of where they are at in their life is highly crucial. Asking if that would like to incorporate their religious experiences into the counseling discussions is important to determine their level commitment to their beliefs. Even if a client claims to be non-religious, there is plenty of opportunity in providing the validation, compassion, and empowerment that all people crave regardless of their spirituality. Personally, I feel highly reassured knowing that the Christian values that I have grown up holding closely, are always carried along with and welcomed in the counseling profession. However, there is a long way that the counseling profession ahs to go with the training pertaining to spirituality and region and the integration of it in practice. I say this as, “According to the most recent data available, only 25% of clinical psychology training programs and 30% of social work programs provide a course on spirituality/religion and mental health” (Pearce-Pargament, 2024). These percentages are lower, and I believe there is still great improvements that counseling programs can make in order to include more training pertaining to the spirituality that can be integrated into the counselor-client relationship.

Application

This chapter hits close to home for me, as I have experienced my own addictive tendencies that God has helped me address over the years. I believe that this chapter has helped me see the powerful gift and opportunity that I have as a future counselor to be the embodiment of the characteristics that Jesus set. He set the example with the disciples and people that needed healing when he was on earth. Because they were human, many of them also experienced different forms of addictions at the time. I see addiction as misguided worship. Addiction is simply a weapon of the enemy, which reminds me of Isaiah 54:17, that declares, “‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,’ says the LORD” (New King James Bible, 1982). Though the weapon of addiction may feel as if it is taking over the lives of many people and destroying families all around the world, God has been at work.

I feel God at work in me, as I realize the counseling profession all started because of God’s heart to heal people through the aid of extending compassion, effective therapeutic techniques, and solution-based therapy that provides the practicality that many clients require. When I originally entered this degree program, I was underwhelmed by, what appeared to be a more clinical focus that has less integration of the Christian value system, but through this chapter I see, yet again, how the integration of Christian principles is ever-present through every phase of the learning process and professional development. Lastly, I feel inspired by Dr. Charlotte Crosland’s added certification of being an Art Therapist in correlation to addiction therapy. I believe that I will pursue more information about Art Therapy and Music Therapy and how they can coincide aiding in therapeutic practices for those who need addiction counseling help.

In conclusion, chapter sixteen of “Christian Integration in Counselor Education” by John Allen King and Kristy Ford has given me a more specialized outlook on addiction counseling, in some of its unique competencies, and the truly beautiful fashion that Biblical principles are pillars of opportunity for people who have been bound by addiction. The inception of addictive behaviors is multifaceted from biological, psychological, social and spiritual reasons but there is always hope for all people regardless of the algorithm of complexities as to how the addiction originated.

References

Grief and Prolonged Grief Disorder, edited by Charles F., III Reynolds, et al., American Psychiatric Association Publishing, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30751522.

Kelly JF, Humphreys K, Ferri M. Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs for alcohol use disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2020, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD012880. DOI: 10.1002/14658.CD012880.pub2. Accessed 25 July 2025.

King-Ford (2024). Christian Integration in Counselor Education. Kendall Hunt Publishing - Custom Wholesale. https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9798385150601

New King James Bible. (2004). Thomas Nelson (Original work published 1982).

Pearce, M. J., Pargament, K. I., Wong, S., Hinkel, H., Salcone, S., Morgan, G., & Derek Kemp Brady Brock Esther Kim Holly K. Oxhandler Cassandra Vieten Jesse Fox Edward C. Polson. (2024). Enhancing training in spiritual and religious competencies in mental health graduate education: Evaluation of an integrated curricular approach. PLoS One, 19(9)https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0306114