The Integration of Psychology, Science and Christian Counseling (Pt. 10)

As we close out this series, we see that science can give us insight into a matter that the Bible does not mention. Science does prove that ADD/ADHD is real, and it is not simply a matter of willful sin, even though it is not mentioned in the Bible.

We know that everyone is different, and that we all have a purpose in life. We can see that in the Bible, and we don’t need science to help us understand it.

We also know that we can find godly parenting principles in the Bible that teach us how to connect with each child whether ADD/ADHD or not, even though it may not always be easy (Deut. 6:6-9, Prov. 22:6). Science may not have the answer to godly parenting, but it can help us understand human nature, and that will help us connect more easily.

So we see that science is not always right, because scientists are human, and humans sometimes come to wrong conclusions about science. Nevertheless, science is not necessarily always wrong, and it can be beneficial to us.

God gave us intelligence to study and learn, and He meant for us to study and learn from His Word as well as from His world.

I have concluded that I can no longer afford to be tossed to and fro, pulled from one side to the other (Eph. 4:14). I have concluded that now is the time that I must choose whether I believe either all science, all Bible or if there is a third option that may be better.

Yes, the Bible is sufficient, after all, people got along without science for centuries. However, when we use science to help us better understand how God’s world works, and combine that with Biblical admonitions of how we should function in God’s world, we arrive at a homogeneous, integrative method of living and of counseling.

I have chosen that third option, and concluded that the integration of science and Christianity is an acceptable option.

I have concluded that I must set sail on the rising tide of integration, and devote my energies to learning how to safely integrate the two, rather than if I may safely integrate the two.

The matter is resolved, and I am moving forward toward integration.

So that’s the world as Donnie sees it.

God bless,

Donnie See

The Integration of Psychology, Science and Christian Counseling (Pt. 9)

We have been looking at those with ADD/ADHD and asking whether it is appropriate to use medication or not. If ADD/ADHD is an enhancement, why mess with it? As the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

Nevertheless, the sad reality is that those who have ADD/ADHD do suffer in many ways, and don’t live up to their full potential. However, is that because parents, teachers and others in authority, are not willing to look for alternative strategies for helping them reach that potential?

Do parents, teachers and others in authority continue using the same strategies, even in the face of failure, simply because those strategies always worked with other children?

When these strategies fail to work with the ADD/ADHD child, do parents, teachers and others in authority, in their frustration, hope to get better results by implementing those same strategies longer, harder, louder or more forcefully?

In short, is the medication simply something to make the life of others easier, at the expense of the one with ADD/ADHD?

We find that family counseling is beneficial for the families of those with ADD/ADHD. Effective Christian counselors understand the issues of ADD/ADHD, but also recognize the difficulty of living with someone who has it. Only the counselor who recognizes both sides of the issue is able to give insightful help to both sides.

As with every issue, understanding the other person, and finding common ground is a good beginning. Counselors can help little Tom see that Dad and Mom do love him, that they are not mad at him, and that they just want what is best for him.

Conversely, Dad and Mom must understand that little Tom is not trying to defy or disobey them. There is nothing willful about his actions, but there is just so much going on in his head that he forgets.

Counselors may also help by advocating for the child within the school system, asking the school to explore novel teaching methods or a different learning environment for Tom.[i] This may include a classroom where he can be active, yet not be distracted by (or be a distraction to) others.

Additionally, cognitive behavioral therapy may help parents learn new parenting strategies, strategies that are not immediately obvious because they are not necessary with other children.[ii]

For example, children with ADD/ADHD are not as quick to “connect the dots” and understand cause and effect as other children, but if parents present firm boundaries to the child, he or she will learn.

ADD/ADHD children do not multi-task as well as others, so parents must learn to give a single instruction at a time. Further, if the instruction can be broken down into multiple steps, it may be necessary to give the child a single step at a time.

This type of parenting is more time consuming than parenting other children, and parents must understand the rocky road on which they are traveling. Nevertheless, with patience, perseverance, and a firm hand, with a heavy helping of grace and unconditional love, both parent and child will survive, and do so without the necessity of medication.

We are getting close to wrapping this up, but we can clearly see that there is no contradiction between science and Christianity. But for now, this is enough distraction for all the things going on inside my head, and I need to get some other things done, or at least started.

I wonder if I will be able to complete any projects today.

So that’s the world as Donnie sees it.

God bless,

Donnie See

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[i] Frank Minirth, Paul Meier M.D. and Stephen Arterburn, Miracle Drugs – How They Work And What You Should Know About Them (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996), 48.

[ii] Ibid. 48-51

The Integration of Psychology, Science and Christian Counseling (Pt. 8)

If ADD/ADHD is a valid diagnosis, and we have medication to correct the situation, shouldn’t we do so? Can’t we monitor the child so that he or she can be protected from the harmful effects of the medication, while giving the child all the benefits of it?

Maybe not. Because, possibly the worst side effect of taking medication to control ADD/ADHD is the diminution of creativity.

Where would we be as a society if everyone was task oriented, always completing every project, yet we had no one with the incredible spark of genius of a Thomas Edison?

Edison was one of the most creative men the world has known, but after only twelve weeks of formal education, Edison’s teacher was convinced that young Tom was an idiot, and had him removed from school.[i] Under similar circumstances today, the diagnosis would be ADD/ADHD, and help would consist of a prescription for Ritalin.

Edison was a dreamer, and early in his life, some people could already see his creative genius at work, while to others, he was simply broken.

As an adult, he was not a completer of tasks, but he did not need to be, for after he stumbled upon an idea, this dreamer handed it off to someone else for development.

However, taking a daily dose of Ritalin may have dampened or even extinguished his creativity. Edison may have become a completer of tasks, but after taking his daily dose of Ritalin, he may not have had any tasks to complete, and he would never originate many of his 1,093 patents.

One must wonder about the racing mind. One must wonder about the thoughts skipping through the mind of the one with ADD/ADHD like a flat stone across a pond.

Is this the residue of the fall of humanity? Do these symptoms indicate the presence of a bug in our software? Is this a bug, requiring someone to work through each line of code until we find, and fix, the broken line?

On the other hand, would it serve us better to view it as a feature, something akin to having optional equipment, equipment that makes the ADD/ADHD brain unique or even superior for a given task, the task that God wants the person to carry out.

How much better it would be to find a solution that leaves the person as he or she is, and enables him or her to live a productive life, and be happy with being different from others.

After all, that is the crux of the matter. Even though those of us with ADD/ADHD seem to distract others, we do not see ourselves as broken, we simply see ADD/ADHD as an enhancement. Is it proper to medicate one person, merely for the comfort and convenience of another?

That is a tough question, but it is a fair question, and one that needs to be asked.

Tomorrow we will take a look at how a Christian counselor—one who acknowledges the findings of science, and the presence of ADD/ADHD—can help these families.

So, that’s the world as Donnie sees it.

God bless,

Donnie See

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[i] Gerald Beals, “The Biography of Thomas Edison,” Thomas Alva Edison Biography, http://www.thomasedison.com/biography.html (accessed July 08, 2010).

The Integration of Psychology, Science and Christian Counseling (Pt. 7)

Yesterday I promised that I would get to the proof of the existence of ADD/ADHD that we can see in the SPECT scans, and I will. But first, just a few more preliminary details about ADD/ADHD, and a brief mention of the opponents view of it.

Even though these children have a short attention span, when participating in tasks they enjoy, such as video games, they have no problem staying focused.[i] Opponents of ADD/ADHD quickly point this out in refuting the validity of a ADD/ADHD diagnosis.

However, in understanding the role of the prefrontal cortex we find the explanation for this too. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for inhibiting the perception of extraneous events, allowing the child to concentrate.

A poorly functioning prefrontal cortex fails to do this, focus drifts, and the child becomes distracted. Highly stimulative, unusual or even frightening situations, such as video games,  keep the prefrontal cortex stimulated, engaged, and block out distractions. This enhances focus and concentration, and prevents the child from getting bored and distracted.

By observing the behavior of those with ADD/ADHD, and understanding the functions of the prefrontal cortex, one may hypothesize that this area of the brain is indeed suspect. We need a way to determine the validity of this hypothesis, and this is where the value of SPECT comes into play (finally we get here!).

The following  SPECT images dramatically illustrate a clear difference in these brains (all photos courtesy of Amen Clinics).

Fig. 1 Normal Brain

In Fig. 1, we see the brain of a normally functioning person. You will notice that this brain is smooth, has no voids, and few depressions of any kind.[ii]

Fig. 2 ADD/ADHD At Rest

In Fig. 2, we see the resting brain of someone diagnosed with ADD/ADHD while he or she is not concentrating on anything, but is at rest.[iii]

The dissimilarity in the appearance of the two is obvious, even at rest. The brain in Fig. 2 has many voids and depressions indicating that something is clearly different.

If researchers are correct about ADD/ADHD we should see a difference between a resting ADD/ADHD brain, and the same brain when it is concentrating, and we should especially see the inhibition of the prefrontal cortex.

Fig. 3 ADD/ADHD Concentrating

In fact, that is exactly what we find in Fig. 3, and it is easy to see that the voids and depressions in the already malfunctioning brain become even more pronounced. Further, a large part of the prefrontal cortex, shown at the top of fig. 3, simply disappears, just as the hypothesis predicts.

If this research is repeatable, and the visible differences generalize to the population at large, and if we find no other explanation for these differences, it is rational to believe that ADD/ADHD is a valid diagnosis, and it is not simply willful disobedience or rebellion on the part of the child.

So science and modern technology show us that ADD/ADHD is real, even though our Bible does not mention anything about it. However, simply because the science is real, does not mean that our Bible is wrong. It just means that the Bible is silent on the matter.  But what do we do with that information, if anything?

Researchers have discovered that certain stimulant medications, such as Cylert, Ritalin and Adderall can treat ADD/ADHD effectively.[iv] Exactly how these stimulants work is unclear, but researchers believe they work by increasing the available amount of the neurotransmitter, dopamine found within the brain.[v]

With more dopamine available to do its assigned task, the child is able to block out extraneous internal and external “noise” and stay on task.

If SPECT scans can detect the existence of ADD/ADHD, they should certainly show any improvement that medication brings about.

Fig. 4 ADD/ADHD Concentrating w/Adderall

Figure 4 clearly shows a brain that is functioning more normally after the person has taken the stimulant Adderall. This brain is much smoother, has no voids, and most importantly, the prefrontal cortex is no longer AWOL as it was in Fig. 3, but now appears to be functioning normally.

To the parents and teachers of the ADD/ADHD child this medication is a blessing; but to the child, this may be a double-edged sword, bringing both blessing and curse.

As with all medications, these stimulants have side effects, not the least of which is nervousness and insomnia.[vi] Cylert has the potential to cause liver damage, and all the stimulants, if not carefully controlled, can be addictive. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the medications could cause Tourette’s syndrome or involuntary tics.

However, as bad as these things may be, they are not the worst damage that can be done to the one taking these medications to control ADD/ADHD.

Tomorrow we will look at the other side of the medications.

So, that’s the world as Donnie sees it.

God bless,

Donnie See

---

[i] Ibid

[ii] “SPECT Atlas Image Viewer,” Amen Clinics, http://www.amenclinics.com/brain-science/spect-image-gallery/spect-atlas/viewer/?img=NLTOP.jpg (accessed July 07, 2010).

[iii] “Images of Attention Deficit Disorder ADD/ADHD,” Amen Clinics, http://www.amenclinics.com/brain-science/spect-image-gallery/spect-atlas/images-of-attention-deficit-disorder-addadhd/#adhd (accessed July 07, 2010).

[iv] Frank Minirth, Paul Meier M.D. and Stephen Arterburn, Miracle Drugs – How They Work And What You Should Know About Them (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996), 53-54.

[v] Ibid. 46-47

[vi] Ibid. 52

The Integration of Psychology, Science and Christian Counseling (Pt. 6)

Yesterday I wrote about SPECT scanners giving us the indisputable proof of the existence of ADD/ADHD. A major proponent of SPECT scans is Dr. Daniel Amen, and he has made great use of this technology.

SPECT stands for Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, and in some ways, it is similar to MRI, CT and PET scans.[i] The SPECT scanner makes use of gamma imaging to take a series of pictures of the body, in our case the brain. The SPECT scanner images the surface of the brain, as well as the active regions of the brain, and then a computer assembles these views into a 3D image. Tomorrow we will see some actual SPECT images of brains. However, it is important to understand a little more about ADD/ADHD before we do so.

ADD and ADHD are similar in nature, and both seem to be the result of a neural dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex.[ii] The principle difference between the two is that those with ADD are more sedentary, and may sometimes be described as lazy or daydreamers. Conversely, those with ADHD are hyperactive, are constantly on the go and anything but lazy.

About 50% of those with this condition are ADD, and 50% are ADHD. Outside of that singular distinction, both groups have similar symptoms and causes. Among other things, those with ADD/ADHD procrastinate, are disorganized, have poor impulse control, fail to complete projects, are easily distracted, and learning is difficult.

You are right if you said that sounds like a normal child. Most, if not all, children exhibit many of these characteristics precisely because of the slow development of the prefrontal cortex. This may explain why some children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD outgrow it, but for others, it is a lifelong issue. An accurate diagnosis is difficult to make, but someone must make that diagnosis or risk harming the child.[iii]

When parents and teachers try to teach or correct these children, it seems as though the child performs less well, raising suspicion that the child is rebelling at best or simply stupid at worst.[iv]

In his research, Dr Amen found that activity in the prefrontal cortex of those with ADD/ADHD does not increase, as one would expect, when the child begins to focus on a task. Instead, the activity decreases. Viewing the symptoms of ADD/ADHD in light of this dysfunctional prefrontal cortex is logical.

Therefore, the harder this child tries to remember instructions or learn a new task, the less capacity he or she actually has to do so. The ADD/ADHD child has a better response to positive affirmation than to negative frustration, to praise rather than punishment.

Further, many ADD/ADHD sufferers do not feel normal, at least not normal as defined by our Creator.[v] The reduced level of stimulation within the prefrontal cortex leaves them feeling that something is missing.

Without realizing it, he or she may try to increase the level of stimulation in order to feel normal, and several avenues are available for this.

For example, some ADD/ADHD children seem excessively confrontational, and the parents of these children say the child is argumentative, as though he or she is attempting to start a fight. The child, without realizing it, may be attempting to increase the stimulation of the prefrontal cortex through confrontation.

Another way to achieve this is through risk taking behaviors, and as the child gets older, many more of these become available, ranging from rock climbing to premarital sex.[vi]

Acceptable stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine may be a form of self-medication. Conversely, the youth may use illegal stimulants, such as cocaine or meth to accomplish the same goal.

One of the problems of serializing a long piece is the difficulty of breaking it down into bite sized segments without it becoming choppy. Another problem is saying you will discuss something the next day, and then not getting to it.

It is important to know a little more about the effects of ADD/ADHD, but tomorrow I will show you the SPECT pictures that I promised you today (Sorry!).

I’ll see you then.

So, that’s the world as Donnie sees it.

God bless,

Donnie See

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[i] “SPECT.net Your Brain SPECT Resource,” SPECT.net, http://www.spect.net/ (accessed July 07, 2010).

[ii] “Motor and Prefrontal Area,” amenclinics.com, http://www.amenclinics.com/brain-science/cool-brain-science/a-crash-course-in-neuroscience/motor-and-prefrontal-area/ (accessed July 07, 2010).

[iii] Jerrold S. Maxmen and Nicholas G. Ward, Essential Psychopathology and Its Treatment, 2 Sub ed. (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1995), 438.

[iv] “Motor and Prefrontal Area,” amenclinics.com, http://www.amenclinics.com/brain-science/cool-brain-science/a-crash-course-in-neuroscience/motor-and-prefrontal-area/ (accessed July 07, 2010).

[v] Ibid.

[vi] Ibid.

The Integration of Psychology, Science and Christian Counseling (Pt. 5)

Yesterday I wrote about the scientific proof regarding the differences in brain function of some people. Researchers are able to see differences in the brains of those with addictions, and those without—those with antisocial personality tendencies, and those without.

But what about ADD/ADHD. Is that merely an excuse for bad behavior or worse, an excuse for bad parenting? Is ADD/ADHD a fact or a fantasy?

Regarding ADD/ADHD, people typically fall into two camps. One camp declares that ineffective parenting has spoiled the child and ADD/ADHD is a myth, while the second camp declares that ADD/ADHD is a proven medical condition requiring medication.

Yet, God did not make everyone alike, and for good reason. God created each of us with different personality types, giving each of us different gifts and talents, so that society could function efficiently as we care for His creation.

Some children are active and easily bored. These children learn best in an educational environment that provides a variety of activities while accommodating his or her personal learning style. As adults, these children typically seek a vocation that is active and varied.

On the other hand, others are happy with a more sedentary lifestyle, and for them, the old tried and true methods of education work well. These children too, will end up in an occupation that matches his or her personality or will wish they had.

Where we as a society fail our children, is by trying to force them all into the same mold, and expect them to respond identically. After all, a leopard cannot change his spots (Jeremiah 13:23).

However, one camp loudly proclaims that the differences we so readily see in children are the result of different personalities or bad parenting, and these differences neither prove nor disprove the existence of ADD/ADHD.

True enough, but if the differences are not the result of these two factors, further investigation is necessary.

Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, if we determine that ADD/ADHD does exist, then we must determine if these children are broken and in need of repair or if they are merely different?

Said another way, we could borrow a phrase from the software industry and ask, is ADD/ADHD a feature or a bug? If it truly exists, what then?

Let us deal with each question separately. First, the Bible does not mention anything similar to ADD/ADHD, but that does not mean that it does not exist. Just as we have seen that fMRI shows differences between brains, another technology, the SPECT scanner, shows us some striking differences in those diagnosed with ADD/ADHD.

Yes, the jury is in, and even a cursory examination of the facts shows that ADD/ADHD is real. I can almost hear every parent with an ADD/ADHD child (and spouse of and ADD/ADHD husband or wife) saying, “I told you so!”

Tomorrow we will take a look at the proof. You may be surprised.

So, that’s the world as Donnie sees it.

God bless,

Donnie See

The Integration of Psychology, Science and Christian Counseling (Pt. 4)

In the last post, I wrote about addictions, saying that addictions are more than just the behaviors of weak people. Today, researchers using modern technology are able to peer inside the brain, and watch the brain as it functions in various circumstances. Researchers have identified differences in the brains of those with and without disorders.

One disorder researchers have identified with this technology is addiction. Technology allows us to see the difference in activity between addicted and non-addicted brains. Thus, addictions are not simply weakness, and just saying no does not always fix them.

One of these technologies, functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), allows researchers to “see” an increase in blood flow to specific areas of the brain as the subject performs various actions.[i]

Using fMRI, we have discovered the areas of the brain that are responsible for specific activities, such as the visual cortex or Broca’s area, which is responsible for language activities.

Another area that has attracted much research attention is the prefrontal cortex, which we often call the executive part of the brain. Researchers using fMRI conclude that the prefrontal cortex is the area of the brain responsible for making appropriate, logical decisions, and for determining moral social behavior.[ii]

The prefrontal cortex is the slowest area of the brain to develop prenatally, and one of the last areas of the brain to develop fully.[iii] Some estimates are that it does not fully develop until the mid-twenties.

To those of you with your hands full raising teenagers, this may explain the poor decisions your teens make, and why those first years of independence are so turbulent. It may also explain why young people are seemingly unaware that death is permanent.

However, damage to the prefrontal cortex has disastrous personal and societal consequences. Children with prefrontal damage never seem to acquire appropriate moral and social reasoning, and even in adulthood show a lack of comprehension of morality.

Those who acquired prefrontal damage in adulthood, may understand moral and social reasoning at the intellectual level, but seem unable to implement it.

Both groups exhibit aggressive, anti-social behavior, and an inability to feel guilt and remorse. Adrian Raine, a psychopathologist at the University of Southern California, studied men diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder, and found that the prefrontal cortex of these men had 11% to 14% less tissue than normal.

Even though the Omniscient Creator of the prefrontal cortex is fully aware of it, the Bible is silent about it. That does not mean that it does not exist, or that Christians should ignore it.

Nevertheless, this information leads us down a very uncomfortable path, and makes our understanding of sin and free will more complex. Once again, that will have to be a topic for another day.

Thus, science clearly shows an intricate linkage between maladaptive behavior and the brain. This leads the Christian counselor to  understand that he or she must include questions about any accidents or injuries that may have resulted in permanent brain damage on our intake forms, and not minimize these scientific findings.

What about other behaviors, behaviors that are not the result of head trauma, but are the result of differences in people’s brains?

What about ADD/ADHD? Does it exist or is it simply an excuse for bad behavior? We will look at that tomorrow.

So, that’s the world as Donnie sees it.

God bless,

Donnie See

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[i] “About functional MRI (General),” Program for Imaging and Cognitive Sciences (PICS), http://www.fmri.org/fmri.htm (accessed July 05, 2010).

[ii] “Prefrontal Cortex,” Brain Explorer, http://www.brainexplorer.org/glossary/prefrontal_cortex.shtml (accessed July 07, 2010).

[iii] “Protect-Watch Your Head,” Resources For Science Learning, http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/head.html#head_injuries_violence (accessed July 07, 2010).

The Integration of Psychology, Science and Christian Counseling (Pt. 3)

As we concluded yesterday, we saw that the Bible is sufficient and is without error, but that we can also learn from the world around us. That world includes science and psychology.

However, we also need to be very cautious about the things of this world. We begin by being cautious about the psychological theories themselves.

Some psychological theories attempt to explain human behavior, but the theories may lead to problems of their own, and have become the origin of many of our pop psychology myths.

One of these myths is that everyone is basically good. Christians understand that this cannot be true, because the Bible says that our heart is desperately wicked, and is unknowable (Jer. 17:9). If our heart, the very core of our being, is impure, clearly we are not basically good.

Yet, theories such as behaviorism teach that people are good, and are not truly responsible for their actions. Behaviorists suggest that people act as they must act based upon environment and life experience. Behaviorists identify the behavior as bad, while the person remains basically good.

This leads to a misunderstanding of sin. If one is basically good, but circumstances occasionally force one to engage in bad behavior, then that behavior cannot be sin. Without sin, there is no need for a Savior.[i]

There is a vast amount of difference between this, and the teachings of our Bible. This theory makes man a little god, placing man at the top, rather than keeping God at the top.

That thinking also permeates our personal relationships, causing us to misunderstand the impact our actions (sin) have on others, leaving us wondering why other people cannot simply overlook our behavior.

Another pop psychology myth is that guilt is bad, and something we should try to avoid. However, the Bible says that godly sorrow leads us to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Pop psychology teaches that our behavior is not problematic, but that guilty feelings about our behavior are what cause us problems.

However, a competent Christian counselor will never try to assuage the client’s guilt, but will encourage the client to allow guilt to perform the work that God intended for it, and drive him or her to repentance.[ii]

Without guilt we do not recognize our wrongs (sin) or our need for repentance. Guilt allows us to take corrective action, to make amends for our actions, and get back on God’s path.

Even so, there is a vast difference between guilt, which is not bad, and shame, which is bad. However, we will have to save that thought for another day.

Therefore, it is easy to see that Christian counselors must not simply accept whatever theory the secular world develops.  Instead, we must discard those theories and ideas that are Biblically inaccurate.

People sometimes engage in behaviors that they cannot seem to avoid, even when the behavior is destructive to themselves and those they love.

This is nothing new, and certainly addictive behavior is present in the Biblical narratives. However, because the word addiction is not in the Bible, some Christians say that addiction is a nice way to say sin.

For example, some complain that political correctness requires us to use the diplomatic term alcoholic rather than drunk, or that we must timidly, almost apologetically, use the term affair rather than adultery.

While there is a great amount of truth in that sentiment, it is the very harshness of the word sin, which makes us realize our need for a Savior. Sin is a dirty word, and we better not try to clean it up or it will lose its effectiveness.

Nonetheless, we still cannot ignore the reality of behavioral and substance addictions. They are more than just bad behaviors into which weak people fall. These behaviors seem to be irresistibly attractive to some people, making them, by definition, addictions.

These addictive behaviors run the gamut from shopping and gambling, to sexual and substance addictions. While those who are not addicted simplistically say, “Just stop doing it,” those who are addicted know better. These people may have tried to stop, and to them, alone, stopping is simply impossible.

Those who are addicted risk losing friends, family, possessions, jobs, or even their lives to the substance or behavior that has become their god. If stopping were easy, they would have done it long ago.

The Bible has nothing to say about these addictions, yet 21^st century technology proves that the word addiction is more than a euphemism for bad behavior.

Can we say that the 21^st century technology is wrong or that the Bible is a lie? No, neither statement is true. Instead, they are each telling us different things about a common subject—humanity.

Monday, we will look at some of this interesting 21^st century technology. I hope to see you then.

So, that’s the world as Donnie sees it.

God bless,

Donnie See

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[i] Chris Thurman, Self-Help or Self-Destruction?: Ten Pop Psychology Myths That Could Destroy Your Life (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1995), 9-10.

[ii] Ibid. 68-70

The Integration of Psychology, Science and Christian Counseling (Pt. 2)

Yesterday I wrote that the Bible is infallible, and that it is complete. The Bible tells us everything that we need to know, but not always everything that our curious minds want to know.

I also wrote about the effect that sin and living in a fallen world has on our mind, clouding our mind so that sometimes we don’t see things clearly. So let’s look at the idea of the Bible’s sufficiency some more.

Paul told Timothy that the Bible is sufficient,  for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, and that sounds like counseling to most people (2 Timothy 3:16).

It bears repeating, the Bible tells us all that we must know, but not all we want to know. The world tells us some things also, even though sometimes the things the world tells us are wrong. That is where we must have a good grasp of the parts of our Bible that God made clear, in order to expose the counterfeit things of the world.

For example, the Bible is clear on the matter of homosexuality, as God spoke plainly when He called it an abomination (Leviticus 18:22). However, to the secular psychologist, homosexuality is simply a matter of preference, and it is no longer included in DSM-IV-TR.[i]

It does not (or at least it should not) take much effort for Christian counselors to recognize the disparity between what God’s Word says, and what DSM-IV-TR says. So faithful Christian counselors do not waver in their understanding of what the Bible makes so clear, in spite of what political correctness demands.

Conversely, there are disorders included in DSM-IV-TR that the Bible does not speak of, such as bipolar disorder or ADD/ADHD. Some Christian and secular counselors agree that these are real problem, albeit that they may be over-diagnosed.[ii] Others, however, deny their existence in reality.

Which leads us back to the question of mental illness; specifically, does mental illness exist if the Bible does not mention it?

In the last few decades researchers have learned much about both the healthy and the dysfunctional mind, and now thanks to the internet, we have the ability to disseminate research findings quicker, and more broadly, than ever before. We are now better able to reach a consensus as we label and categorize various conditions, and thus we may study these issues more systematically.

Take, for example, the issue of depression. There are specific medical explanations for depression, such as thyroid problems, pre-menstrual syndrome, irregular sleep-wake cycles, and some medications.[iii] Furthermore, if a woman recently had a baby, or a miscarriage, this could result in depression.

Many of these things would have been hard to understand 2,000 years ago when the New Testament was written, yet today we understand that these issues are very real.

Bear in mind how difficult it must have been for John to describe his visions when he was writing the book of Revelation. He simply did not have the necessary vocabulary to label or categorize the things he saw, and the same is true with some mental conditions.

God allowed the men who wrote the Bible to use their own style and write it in their own way, as the Holy Spirit guided them. This in no way takes away from the Scriptures inspired origin or its infallibility, but it does mean that some details were not included, and therefore all our questions are not answered.

So we see that the Bible is accurate, and it is sufficient, but God made us with the intelligence to learn from the world around us too.

Tomorrow we will see that some of the conclusions we come to when we learn, such as the conclusions about behaviorism, are simply wrong. We will also look at some destructive pop psychology myths and look at some addictions.

So, that’s the world as Donnie sees it.

God bless,

Donnie See

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[i] Doug Mallett and Debra A. Read, BIBLE Counseling (n.p.: Xulon Press, 2003), 88.

[ii] Simon Sobo, “The strengths and weaknesses of DSM IV: How it clarifies, how it blinds psychiatrists to issues in need of investigation,” Simon Sobo, M.D., http://www.simonsobo.com/the-strengths-and-weaknesses-of-dsm-iv (accessed July 05, 2010).

[iii] Doug Mallett and Debra A. Read, BIBLE Counseling (n.p.: Xulon Press, 2003), 60-61.

The Integration of Psychology, Science and Christian Counseling (Pt. 1)

Yes, I have been gone for a while. I have been busy trying to complete a course, and things always get hectic during the last couple of weeks of that time. I will try to be back more regularly now, at least for a while.

Over the next few weeks, I will post a new counseling series, concerning the ongoing debate over the use of modern psychology and science in counseling. Some people feel that every personal problem is caused by sin, and thus, the Bible is all the Christian counselor needs. Are they correct or not?

In answering this question, I will focus primarily on a subject that I am very interested in, that of ADD/ADHD. Some of this information may surprise you, as it did me. So let’s plunge right in, I hope you enjoy it.

The battle rages on about the suitability of using science and psychology in Christian counseling. Those who oppose it line up, like soldiers in formation, ready to do battle with those on the other side who approve of it, and who are also in battle formation. Each side points fingers at the other, while presenting “positive proof” that justifies their position.

Where does that leave the counselor in training? Each side’s arguments seem plausible in some ways, and the new counselor is tossed to and fro, drawn first to one side, then to the other.

However, there comes a time when counselors, whether new or old, must either take a position or seek another career, for a double minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8).

This writer has taken a position, and this paper presents that choice, for better or worse, using science to understand effective Biblical counseling.

As we move through these last days, iniquity is abounding, the love of many is waxing cold, and people have become lovers of themselves (Mat. 24:12, 2 Tim. 3:2). The world is increasingly chaotic, and concomitant with increasing chaos, we find an increasing number of dysfunctional adults and children.

Thanks to recent scientific breakthroughs, the pharmaceutical giants are producing medications tailor-made to help those suffering with these disorders and illnesses to live lives that are more productive.

Researchers identify new medications with astounding regularity, even though some commentators speculate that pharmaceutical corporations not only develop the medications, but they also invent new illness.

One cannot dispute the success of some of the new medications, but there is big money in the pharmaceutical business, and whenever money is involved, a good steward must be cautious.

When rational people look with a jaundiced eye at both the illnesses and medications, it is easy to suspect that some medications are over-prescribed, and some disorders are over-diagnosed.

Christians know we must compare real world observations with the Bible, because things are not always as they seem, and that is certainly true with medication, disorders and mental illness.

Yet, the Bible makes no mention of mental disorder or mental illness, so could we say that the writers of the Bible were just naïve? That is not a likely explanation for those who believe the Bible is the infallible Word of God, and that it was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16).

Christians understand there is no error in the Bible, and that God gives us all that we need to know in the Bible. However, He did not answer our every question. Indeed, we often have questions about things for which the Bible is silent.

In those cases, theologians try to answer questions by using the parts of the Bible that are clear, and then extrapolating that to the parts of the Bible that are unclear.

However, we must always remember that because of the noetic effect of sin on humanity, our minds are clouded to all spiritual things, and for that reason, we must at least be willing to acknowledge that our hermeneutics may be faulty.[i] With that caveat in mind, the question of the sufficiency of the Scriptures remains.

Tomorrow we will get into some specifics of the sufficiency of Scripture, and discuss a (not so) modern issue—homosexuality.

So, that’s the world as Donnie sees it.

God bless,

Donnie See

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[i] “Noetic Effects of Sin,” Theological Word of the Day, entry posted January 7, 2010, http://wordoftheday.reclaimingthemind.org/blogs/2010/01/07/noetic-effects-of-sin-2/ (accessed July 5, 2010).