Neff and McMinn review Part A review final

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NEFF AND MCMINN REVIEW 1 Neff and McMinn Review Paper Justin Werlick School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University Author Note Justin Werlick I have no known conflict of interest to disclose. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Justin Werlick. Email: JTWerlick@liberty.edu

NEFF AND MCMINN REVIEW 2 ABSTRACT Neff and McMinn (2020) focus on several different ideas and concepts around Christian world view and counseling often, intermingling the two. The first concept that they discuss is the idea of lament. Neff and McMinn (2020) draw examples throughout the text from the bible to reinforce the idea of lament. Lament is used to create hope through suffering and connection with God (Neff & McMinn, 2020). The next concept is the idea of Hebel, Hebel means meaningless and nothingness (Neff & McMinn, 2020). So often we get caught up with pieces of life that seem important. Most often these bear weight on our lives, it is only a delusion. The third chapter focuses on the concept of Imago Dei “God’s image” (Neff & McMinn, 2020). It talks about how we create an image of God in our minds as well as how our view of God impacts our daily and professional lives. There are many parts that I agree with such as Lament and Hebel, however I feel that Imago Dei can be expanded upon. Being able to understand these concepts sheds light on how I algin myself with God.

NEFF AND MCMINN REVIEW 3 INTRODUCTION In this paper I review Embodying Integration: A Fresh Look at Christianity in the Therapy Room by Megan Anne Neff and Mark R. McMinn (2020), chapter one “Lament: How Do We Make Sense Of Deep Aches In Life”, chapter two “Uncertainty, Meaning, and Enjoyment Does Anything Make Sense When The World Is Such A Mess?”, and chapter 3 “Imaging God What Does My View Of God Have To Do With My Work As A Counselor Or Psychotherapist?”. I will provide a critique of Neff and McMinn’s (2020) work supporting my argument with refences from text and outside sources. Lastly, I will integrate my faith with information from Neff and McMinn and show how it impacts my personal and professional life supported by scripture. CHAPTER ONE Chapter one focuses on Christian theology, counseling processes and lament. In chapter one “Lament: How Do We Make Sense of Deep Aches In Life” Neff and McMinn (2020) identify lament as a four-step process. The first step starts with identifying suffering and pain then moves into the second step, giving the suffering a voice often found by someone crying out for help (Neff & McMinn, 2020). Neff and McMinn (2020) talk about the third step, identifying issues with the way things are and reaching out for someone to help us change our sorrow. The last step is forming a bond with the person who is listening to our suffering (Neff & McMinn, 2020). As a counselor we “bare witness” (Neff & McMinn, 2020, p.42) to our client’s lament. In a counseling session we might see individual lament or collective lament. Collective lament is lament held onto by a culture/background (Neff & McMinn, 2020).

NEFF AND MCMINN REVIEW 4 Throughout the history of the Christian church there have been stories with the focus on lament. Neff and McMinn (2020) reference that 40% of Psalms contain stories of lament. In current times there has been a shift to focus less on the lament of stories and too often focus on the happy conclusion or resolution. This background makes it harder for Christians to sit in lament with their clients because we are often looking to help our clients find happiness (Neff & McMinn, 2020). A key component for utilizing lament in a counseling session is to allow space for the lament to take place (Neff & McMinn, 2020). Allowing our clients to feel all their emotions and being present as the client expresses their emotions is vital in the counseling session. Having a secure attachment with God can help us to express our lament (Neff & McMinn, 2020). We can express anger hoping that God will understand and hold onto our anger allowing us to lament. God allows us to form a relationship with him which we can turn suffering into hope and understanding. CHAPTER 2 The world is full of uncertainty and unknown. Chapter two talks about the book of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes lives in the paradoxical world were uncertainty rules the way people act, think, and behave (Neff & McMinn, 2020, p.98). There has been controversy around the ideas in the book being positive or negative. Counselors use a whole person approach with patients that includes biological, social, psychological, and spiritual which is shown in Ecclesiastes. The mind does not like unpredictability but often relies on predictability to make sense of the world. The more vulnerable we feel the more we struggle to control our environment (Neff & McMinn, 2020). Neff and McMinn (2020) reference Hebel as meaningless, here one moment and gone the next and a delusion. Hebel is important because it makes

NEFF AND MCMINN REVIEW 5 us aware of the “meaningless” in life. Oqoheleh teaches us how to be mindful and live in the moment and be content (Neff & McMinn, 2020). If we free ourselves from the “meaningless life” we can learn to enjoy life. When working with Hebel in counseling sessions it is important to have deep empathy which differs from empathy. Deep empathy has no goal in mind, it is not finding the answer or focusing on hope. Deep empathy is the connection between two individuals sitting together with questions that can not be answered (Neff & McMinn, 2020). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) models this idea by accepting what is going on and being present in the moment (Neff & McMinn, 2020). ACT is an example of accepting where we are and not focusing on the Hebel or delusion we have created. CHAPTER 3 Chapter 3 focuses on the idea of “Imago Dei” being created in God’s image and its impact on us. There are many overlaps between ancient Near Easter account of creation and Gods. One key difference is that in many of the cultures human wear designed out of the need to serve God and were not in direct contact with their God. In Hebrew literature humans became “agents called to do God’s work” (Neff and McMinn, 2020, p.139). God is different to each one of us and we identify differently with God. We create an image of God based on what our beliefs in God are (Neff & McMinn, 2020). Our Brain process information and associates different ideas together to create patterns and make remember concepts easier. There are four concepts that help us to create an understanding of God. The first is how we talk and write about God. The second is how we live, including our values and morals. Third is that we take our experiences into account and lastly is the difference

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