Integrative Strategies for Family Therapy with Evangelical Christians

Abstract

If family therapists are to be more effective with evangelical Christian families, they must pay serious attention to the beliefs of these families and modify treatment approaches to account fully for faith issues. Peripheral treatment of faith issues promotes conflict and unnecessary resistance, as it prevents therapists from truly engaging and helping clients. Evangelical Christianity is much more than a religious life-style and set of beliefs. It is the primary focus and meaning of life for many evangelical Christians. This article presents the theological belief system of evangelical families and offers implications for modifying treatment.