Sources of Gain in Christian Counseling and Psychotherapy

Four major assumptions about change undergird Christian counseling. Proponents of the Christian therapies-emphasize these assumptions in varying ways and to varying degrees. Many of these theorists also claim that their approaches are effective. Yet, their underlying assumptions have not been critically examined, and empirical support for these theories is conspicuously unavailable. This article examines each assumption and then discusses their applications for therapy and research. It is argued that the lack of careful assumptive reflection among theorists of Christian therapy leads to numerous pragmatic and scientific difficulties, including the current dearth of credible treatment investigations.

Overview