Helping Parents Make Disciples: A Short-Term Structured Model

Abstract

Worthington, E. L., Jr., & Worthington, K. (1996). Helping Parents Make Disciples: A Short-term Structured Model. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House Company. 206 pages. Hardcover ISBN 0-9010-9012-1. Helping Parents Make Disciples: A Short-term Structured Model is part of a ten-volume set of Christian counseling materials titled Strategic Pastoral Counseling Resources, developed to meet ministers' needs for resources. A companion bibliotherapy piece Value Your Children, Becoming Better Parental Disciple Makers is available but was not reviewed. The title of this selection is based on three goals. For parent-clients seeking counseling for a child's problematic behavior authors propose to: arm parents with a strategy for helping child handle problem while building child's faith, thus making child a better disciple of Christ; (2) bolster parents' self-confidence to parent through building their Christian discipleship, providing information, helping develop or improve parenting skills, and sensitizing them to notice their successes and correct their failures; and (3) connect parents to a supportive healing community (p. 32). Authors Worthington and Worthington indicate that their strategic counseling model is responsive to psycho-spiritual realm. It recognizes behavioral (action), cognitive (thought), and affective (feelings) elements of personal functioning, thus providing for comprehensive assessment and effective intervention. The intervention relies on the Spirit of and on fact that ultimate responsibility for person and his or her wellbeing lies with God (p. 16). This text recommends an upper limit of five counseling sessions for parenting problems. If counselor is diligent in maintaining focus on single agreed-upon problem, significant and enduring changes can occur in this number of sessions, according to authors. Stages and tasks for counselor are provided, and photocopying them for use in counseling sessions is recommended. Stage 1, Encounter, includes tasks such as joining and boundary-setting, exploring central concerns and relevant history, conducting a pastoral diagnosis and achieving a mutually agreeable focus for counseling. Stage 2, Engagement, occurs in sessions 2, 3, and 4. During Engagement sessions, exploration of cognitive, affective, and behavioral aspects of problem and resources are identified for changing or coping with situation. Stage 3, Disengagement, occurs in session 5 where an evaluation of progress and termination of counseling takes place. If unanswered concerns centering on presenting problem remain after 5 sessions, authors suggest a referral for more extensive counseling elsewhere. Checklists for client are provided in nearly every chapter and include such topics as: (1) parenting skills to adapt to each child; (2) some possible beliefs about parenting, both helpful and unhelpful; (3) principles of parenting by faith working through love; (4) ten questions to ask in early sessions to aid assessment; (5) goals in engagement stage; (6) guidelines for helping parents see how they can promote a Christian vision of parenting; (7) disengaging stage; and (8) summary of steps for preparing parents to benefit from counseling. …