Competent to Counsel by Jay Adams - Essay Example

According to the author, "psychiatry, that illegitimate child of psychology which historically has made the most grandiose claims, is itself in a serious trouble." (Adams, 1986, P 1). The main subtopics of the chapter include 'Psychiatry is in Trouble', 'The Freudian Ethic', 'Freudian Theory and Therapy', 'The Revolution in Psychology', 'Freud: An Enemy, not a Friend', and 'Where Does This Leave Us'.

The ideas disseminated through the various chapters of the book, especially with regard to nouthetic counseling, have great relevance to the ministry of a pastor in developing a general approach to Christian counseling and specific response to particular problems faced by the people. The second chapter of the book, 'The Holy Spirit and Counseling', establishes that counseling is the work of the Holy Spirit and effective counseling cannot be done apart from Him. "Counseling, to be Christian, must be carried on in harmony with the regenerating work of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is called 'Holy' because of his nature and his work. All holiness stems from His activity in human lives. All of the personality traits that might be held forth to counselees as fundamental goals for growth (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) God declares to be the 'fruit' of the Spirit." (Adams, 1986, P 20). Through the main sub-topics of the chapter, 'Counseling is the Work of the Spirit', 'How does the Holy Spirit work in Counseling', 'The Holy Spirit's works through Means', 'The Holy Spirit's Work is Sovereign', and 'The Holy Spirit Works by means of His Word', the author establishes the link between counseling and the Holy Spirit.

The next chapter, "What is Wrong with the Mentally Ill", deals with the issues related to the psychological problems of the individuals through the analysis of the case of Leo held. To the author, mental illness is a misnomer and he discusses other topics such as 'People with Personal Problems often use Camouflage', 'Homosexuality Fits the Pattern', and Adrenachrome or Schizophrenia' In the fourth chapter of the book, "What is Nouthetic Counseling", Jay Adams investigates the various aspects of nouthetic counseling in relation to the works of the Church and the main points include 'Nouthetic Confrontation: By the Whole Church', 'Peculiarly the Work of the Ministry', 'Three Elements in Nouthetic Confrontation', Nouthetic and the Purpose of Scripture', 'Nouthetic Involvement', 'Love is the Goal', 'Authoritative Counseling', 'Failure in Nouthetic Confrontation', 'Some Reasons for Failure', 'Qualifications for Counseling' and 'Pastoral Applications'.

As the author establishes in the chapter, Jesus Christ is at the center of all true Christian counseling and the nouthetic activity specifically characterizes the work of the ministry. "Nouthetic confrontation consists of at least three basic elements. The word is used frequently in conjunction with didasko (which means 'to teach') Nouthetic confrontation always implies a problem, and presupposes an obstacle that must be overcome; something is wrong in the life of the one who is confronted." (Adams, 1986, P 20).

Therefore, the author gives a convincing explanation of Nouthetic confrontation and helps us realize nouthetic counseling in detail.

The fifth chapter of the work, ‘The Pastor as a Nouthetic Counselor”, deals with what is a pastor, evangelism and counseling, Nouthetic evangelism, sanctification and counseling, and sanctification as change. In the next chapter called “Nouthetic and Rogerian Counseling”, Jay Adams discusses the basic presumptions of Rogers and connects them to Nouthetic counseling. “Confess Your Sins”, the seventh chapter of the book, gives a greater outlook on the topic of counseling in relation to Christianity. The author takes up the challenges in solving the problems nouthetically in the next chapter called “Solving Problems Nouthetically”. The ninth chapter of the book, “Some Principles of Nouthetic Techniques”, provides the basic guidelines in the work of a person who is engaged in Nouthetic counseling, and the tenth chapter, “Communication and Multiple Counseling”, deals with topics such as ‘God’s Solution for His Church’, ‘Anger and Resentment’, ‘Attacking Problems instead of People’, ‘The Conference Table’, ‘Multiple Counseling’, ‘Clients as Counselors’, ‘If Only One Will Come’, ‘Daily Devotions’, and ‘Compatibility in Marriage’. The final chapter of the book, under the title “Christian School Teachers as Nouthetic Counselor’, provide convincing guidelines to the practitioner of Nouthetic counseling in the background of schools.

In conclusion, the book Competent to Counsel by Jay Edward Adams has been an important contribution to the practitioners in Christian ministry including the pastors, students, laypersons, and Christian counselors, etc in order to develop a general approach to Christian counseling as well as a specific response to particular problems. The book establishes the basis for and an introduction to a counseling approach that is being used in pastors’ studies, in counseling centers, and across dining room tables throughout the country and around the world.