Josh McDowell’s Handbook on Counseling Youth, (Thomas Nelson, 1996) is a book co-authored by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler. McDowell and Hostetler have developed this resource of the fifty major issues facing today’s youth for pastors, parents, teachers and youth workers. The authors address these fifty issues, knowing many teens find themselves in struggles and crises that are difficult even for adults. Those who care for these troubled youth have frustrations and fears about how and what to communicate to these young people. They truly want to help them face the challenges of life with emotional caring and compassion with a sound foundation of biblical absolutes. Josh McDowell’s Handbook on Counseling Youth is a resource written to offer this kind of help for both the young person and the ones caring for him. McDowell and Hostetler offer this book to concerned adults who feel ill equipped and in over their heads to help the teens who come to them. This resource is not intended to take the place of nor delay the counsel of a trained counselor or crisis intervention if needed. The authors recognized the need for a work specifically targeting issues facing today’s youth and providing information and support for those who care for them.
Before addressing the major issues facing today’s youth, McDowell and Hostetler lay some foundations for Christian counseling. Although there has been a growing acceptance of and interest in Christian counseling, problems still arise between the church and psychology, primarily due to one of two extremes: (1) Some highly respected Christian voices attack attempts to introduce psychological theories and counseling techniques into the church. They say Jesus is the answer…one just needs to trust Him, pray more and everything will be ok. Some say we don’t need to understand our feelings; that God just calls us to know and obey His will. (2) Others take the opposite approach. They say the only thing people need is to get in touch with their past and it will work out. Deliverance is found in support groups and 12-step groups. They couch their ideas in Christian language, but their approach is indistinguishable from that of a non-Christian.
McDowell and Hostetler say there is truth in both positions and justifiable fears behind the criticisms. Jesus is the answer, obedience to God’s will is a key issue; on the other hand, understanding one’s past is often revealing and healing and crises do often require help from other caring people – sometimes professionals. Dr. Gary R. Collins is quoted on this issue by the authors: “According to the Bible, Christians are to teach all that Christ commanded and taught us” (p. 6). Jesus taught about issues relating to theology and to relationships. These issues bring people to counseling today. Continuing with the quote, Collins says “When Jesus dealt with (such) people he frequently listened to the inquirers and accepted them before stimulating them to think or act differently. At times he told people what to do but he also led people to resolve their problems by skillful and divinely guided questioning” (p. 6).
Even among Christians who acknowledge the place of counseling in the church, there is debate about true biblical counseling. McDowell and Hostetler are not trying to prove, reprove or improve differing views on true biblical counseling, but do communicate several assumptions that underlie the content and recommendations in this book. These assumptions are based on the principles and teachings of the Bible, which they believe to be the authoritative, infallible Word of God. Their assumptions are: (1) God is love and God is truth, (2) Though not all crises or problems are spiritual (in their cause origin their correction), they are interrelated with a person’s spiritual beliefs and spiritual state, (3) A crucial (and integrating) factor in achieving healing and wholeness is a personal relationship with Christ, (4) Healthy relationships are the linchpins of mental, emotional, and spiritual health, (5) Healing of the mind, emotions, and spirit is possible, (6) The goal of biblical counseling is not happiness, but Christlikeness, and (7) Healing and wholeness will not come without sound biblical teaching and obedience to the Word and will of God.
William Backus, Ph. D is quoted as saying, “The major premise of Christian counseling is that truth makes people free when they believe it and obey it” (page 7). Dr. Larry Crabb says, “Wholeness cannot be achieved apart from Jesus Christ” (page 7). McDowell and Hostetler state that “more important than techniques, however, will be a thorough and constant reliance upon the Holy Spirit of God” (page 7). The usefulness of this resource book is definitely connected to a fundamental belief in the foundational principles taught in the Word of God.
Some qualifications for ministering specifically to youth include: (1) empathy, (2) warmth, (3) genuineness, (4) a humble spirit, (5) emotional stability, (6) relationship with Jesus Christ, (7) reliance on the Holy Spirit, and (8) a knowledge of fundamental biblical teachings.
Many would say, if asked, that the goal of them receiving counseling is to be happy. The authors state, however, that the object of ministering to youth is “not happiness but wholeness” (page 12). Wholeness would include spiritual wholeness, emotional wholeness and relational wholeness.
Dr. Gary R. Collins identifies five basic techniques of ministering to youth: (1) attending, (2) listening, (3) responding by reflecting, questioning, confronting, informing and supporting and encouraging, (4) teaching, and (5) filtering.
In counseling youth, one must be aware of his or her limitations and obligations. The involvement of the youth’s parents is usually crucial. The goal of the counselor should be to bridge any gap between parent and child as soon as possible. The issue of confidentiality may arise. Never promise to not tell anyone until you hear the whole story. There may be legal requirements to report any sexual abuse or illegal behavior. The counselor should be aware of some risks involved in working with youth: manipulation, dependence, and countertransference. Never counsel anyone behind closed door - meet in public places, set clear limits regarding your involvement, limit interaction with members of the opposite sex to group settings, make your obligations and limitations clear. One should also know if and when it is time to make a referral and be aware of behavioral, emotional and physical signs that would warrant such a call.
After laying a foundation for counseling youth and how to offer Christian counseling the authors address the fifty major issues facing today’s youth in nine major categories: emotional issues, relational issues, family issues, sexual issues, abuse, disorders, addictions, educational issues and vocational issues.
At the beginning of each chapter the authors present a synopsis with an overview of the contents of that chapter. This allows for quick location of specific topics and helps provided. There is (1) an opening case study, (2) an overview of the problem and its prevalence among youth, (3) the primary causes and effects of the problem according to experts in that particular field, (4) a biblical perspective of the problem, (5) the response a parent or worker may be able to take in preventing or addressing the issue and (6) a listing of further resources, including Scripture, recommended for further reading. The responses (5) recommend a six-step response utilizing the acrostic “LEADER” (Listen, Empathize, Affirm, Direct, Enlist and Refer). Many highly regarded professionals such as William Backus, Ph.D., Dr. Gary R. Collins, Dr. Larry Crabb, Frank Minirth, M.D., Paul Meier, M.D., and Dr. G. Keith Olson are quoted in their area of expertise.
This resource book, Josh McDowell’s Handbook on Counseling Youth, (Thomas Nelson, 1996), is designed in such a manner it is easy to find a specific issue, identify its causes and effects, review a biblical perspective of the issue and form some truthful and helpful responses to the youth concerning the issue.
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