1. The Interface of Christian faith and Counselling Training: A Qualitative Exploration
Jenny Watkins, Jan grove & Alison Rolfe
Newman University
Voluntary Counsellor

2. Why this? Personal experience Negative press Integration in therapy
Previous research

3. What is the experience of counselling trainees of christian faith?

4. Methodology 6 participants Academic Institution Practice placement
Methods
6 participants
Academic Institution
Practice placement
Word – of - mouth
Semi-structured interviews
Thematic analysis

5. Findings – FINAL THEMATIC MAP
Challenge
Opportunity
Experiences of difference and discrimination
Relationship with God
Internal Conflict
Developing a personal counselling model

6. Experiences of difference And discrimination - difference
“It was difficult being …one of the lesser people who had that faith and everyone is like…that’s a load of rubbish.”
“I remember feeling a bit… small in the group and not wanting to say anything ‘cos I think there was only me and perhaps another girl who were Christians..”

7. EXPERIENCE OF DIFFERENCE AND DISCRIMINATION – DISCRIMINATION
“whenever I thought about saying anything about my faith, you know or we talked about a subject, for me to say “as a Christian we would look at it …” I didn’t feel comfortable I felt I’d probably get shot down and no…. I don’t feel I felt comfortable really.”
“I’ve felt there’s quite an anti-Christian feeling… and that other groups, other beliefs even other ways of looking at life are more acceptable than being a Christian.”

8. EXPERIENCE OF DIFFERENCE AND DISCRIMINATION – DISCRIMINATION
One participant reported that during her training ….. “a lecturer said “there is no place for Christians in counselling”….and then laughed… and there was something about the tone of it that wasn’t a joke.”
“If people find out I’m a Christian, and I have beliefs, are they going to say “well you can’t work for us”.

9. Findings – FINAL THEMATIC MAP
Challenge
Opportunity
Experiences of difference and discrimination
Relationship with God
Internal Conflict
Developing a personal counselling model

10. Internal CONFLICT Underpinning philosophies
Personal views and counselling ethics
Challenges to personal faith

11. Internal conflict – underpinning philosophy
In the context of counselling theory one participant stated… “some of the ideas that people have come up with are very contrary to what I believe…and I’ve found as we’ve gone deeper into the sort of being as opposed to theory,……..there is conflict if you like.”

12. INTERNAL CONFLICT – personal views and counselling ethics
One participant described the difficulties of their internal struggle when there is a perceived mismatch between faith and counselling ethics saying.., “ I do struggle with things like abortion and gay marriage…… I don’t sit here and say well you shouldn’t do it…, it’s for that human being to decide what they want to do but ultimately I do believe that that is what the God I worship believes…so it’s difficult…”

13. INTERNAL CONFLICT – challenges to personal faith
Two participants described periods of questioning their faith.
“ A wobble”
“Is my faith a result of being stuck in magical thinking?”

14. limitations
Size of the study
My own stance as a Christian

15. Implications Increased openness to faith stances in training
Acknowledgement of the validity of religious experience as a valid way for clients and counsellors to express spirituality

16. CONCLUSION
All trainee counsellors need the challenge to explore their views, prejudices and counselling practices in an atmosphere of openness and acceptance, whether this is in training or supervision. This may be more important for the Christian counselling trainee who may be trying to integrate two different worldviews.

17. Any Questions?