This study examined whether attachment to God moderated the relation between perceived stress and well-being (i.e., life satisfaction and positive affect) among 183 Chinese Christian international students and immigrants. Results showed significant main effects of (a) perceived stress on life satisfaction and (b) secure attachment to God and…

The critical incident technique was used to examine how counselors' religion and spirituality help and hinder counselor empathy toward clients. Twelve counselors holding Christian beliefs identified 242 helping and 25 hindering incidents that formed 14 helping and 3 hindering categories. Categories reflected counselors relying on a natural…

The authors summarize the growing body of empirical research literature in the area of psychology of religion that has been guided by attachment theory and indicate implications for counseling, including practical suggestions for case conceptualization, possible spiritual interventions, and ethical guidelines for practice. Attachment theory…

Examines biblical issues (spouse roles, separation and divorce, forgiveness, faith) that are of concern to battered women from fundamentalist Christian backgrounds. Offers counselors suggestions on how to address them. (Author/ABL)

M.R. Butz's position regarding chaos theory and Christianity is reviewed. The compatibility of biblical theology and the sciences is discussed. Parallels between chaos theory and the philosophical perspective of Soren Kierkegaard are explored. A biblical model is offered for counselors in assisting Christian clients in embracing chaos. (Author/EMK)

Factors related to a woman's return to an abusive environment are reviewed. The motivation for a committed Christian woman to remain in an abusive marriage may be explained by exploring the development of her values and beliefs. Implications for counseling and possible interventions and counseling approaches are considered. (Author/EMK)

Despite the emergence of the Christian counseling movement, significant sections of the evangelical Christian church remain suspicious of counseling as a tool of ministry. Stated reasons generally revolve around theological reservations. An even more powerful barrier may be significantly different values held by the two groups. (Author/EMK)

Examines beliefs and attitudes that are barriers to some Christians' acceptance of the concept of assertion in their lives. Suggests that many Christians are reluctant to endorse the clinical and experimental use of assertion training, believing that assertive behavior is inconsistent with Biblical teachings. (PAS)

Counselors who work with conservative Christians may ask how to respect a client's values when "God" seems to be saying something contrary to what the counselor believes is in the client's best interests. This article portrays conservative Christianity as a culture and articulates conservative Christian beliefs that may challenge the counseling…

The most frequently identified factor associated with the use of religious and spiritual interventions in counseling has been therapists' personal religious attitudes or behaviors. Church attendance and personal religious behaviors, in particular, have been found to correlate with therapists' use of religious and spiritual interventions in…

Although conservative Christians have been shown to have rates of mental health problems comparable with the general population (King, 1978), research has found that conservative Christians hesitate to seek counseling from a counselor who does not label him- or herself a "Christian counselor" and often drop out of counseling early when…

In this study of conservative Christians' expectations of counseling, 100 participants rated their expectations of the behaviors and attitudes of a non-Christian counselor. Results suggest highly religious Christians expected more in-session religious behaviors from a non-Christian counselor. Both moderate and highly conservative Christians…