Anxiety and Depression

The topic chosen for this research paper is anxiety and depression. The intent of this research paper is to better describe, understand, and how to apply Christian counseling theories and Christian counseling techniques, if applicable, to the mental illnesses of anxiety and depression. The research may include definitions, diagnoses, prognosis, and statistics with appropriate references and citations.

Understanding that every Christian counselor has a theology – and spirituality, biomedical theory, and psychosocial theory, these theories may be discussed and how they may be applied to counseling people with anxiety and depression. However, in Christian counseling the integration of faith and spirituality is a key aspect to the therapeutic process. Therefore a more comprehensive approach in a Christian counseling theory would integrating biblical wisdom, personality theory, developmental constructs, psychopathology, and spiritual formation. The essential qualities of a complete Christian counseling theory must include and incorporate the Trinity. This paper will highlight some of the more effective theories and techniques discovered from the research.

One technique that may be particularly intriguing and information is Christian Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which will be researched, described, and how it may be applicable to counseling people with anxiety and depression. It is similar to Cognitive Behavior Therapy with the adopting of the truths and insights of scripture. Another technique that may be researched, described and how it may be applied to anxiety and depression is The Genesis Model of Intervention which discusses the initiative of God, the importance of location, and the application of location and relationship in counseling.

Anxiety and Depression: General Research

What is anxiety and depression and how does it impact individuals? The American Psychological Association (2023) describes it as an emotion which can cause ruminating thoughts of worry about or on a possibly future threat over a long term which can also produce physical symptoms. Depression is a long period of sadness lasting more than two weeks and interferes with normal thinking and daily routines, activities, and normal interests or hobbies an individual once enjoyed. Anxiety and depression is among the most common mental illnesses. It is also among the most financially burdensome, and debilitation. The root causes can be from a varying degree of factors such as injury, trauma, genetics, psychosocial environments and stressors (Davies et al., 2019). This poses curiosity to argue whether anxiety and depression is spiritual only as some religious denominations may have eluded, or is it due to injury, trauma, genetics, psychosocial environments and stressors, or is it a combination of both.

If anxiety and depression is among the most common, most costly and most debilitating what may be some of the best Christian theory and counseling techniques that may be the most effective? One theory researched and will be expounded upon is, A Grounded Theory Analysis (Elena et al., 2019). The counseling technique researched and will be expounded upon is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for depression and insomnia in dual diagnosis.

Anxiety and Depression: A Grounded Theory Analysis

This theory if very intriguing and may solidify the curiosity to argue whether mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression are solely spiritual or a combination of both, and if utilizing or integrating spiritual experiences with psychotherapy helps treat or alleviate symptoms. The Grounded Theory tested this hypothesis with a control group on nine participants

utilizing themes that contributed to spiritual experiences which were in pre sequences that led to the next theme and the results were symptom alleviation, a positive self-image, by securing a new relationship with God (Elena et al., 2019). This study is informative and intriguing as it substantiates the correlation between spirituality and mental health. In other words, Christian counseling theories and techniques are not only affective, they work in reducing other persuasive mental health disorder actions or behaviors such as self medication by over using or abusing drugs and alcohol, and suicide. According Elena et al., (2019) describes by applying religion and spirituality intervention in combination with psychotherapy such as this Grounded Theory Analysis has seen a reduction of at least 61%. This is good news for Christian counselor or anyone thinking or being Called into Christian counseling. It also demonstrates that mental illness is not just spiritual, or just physical or biological, it may be a combination of both. Therefore, both religion and spiritual, and psychotherapy can work together for positive results and positive outcomes.

Anxiety and Depression: Christian Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Technique

What is Christian Cognitive Therapy? The American Psychological Association (2023) describes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or (CBT) is an affective psychological treatment based on core principles such as faulty thinking, behaviors, and can apply a different way of thinking and initiating improved upon or changed behaviors to alleviate symptoms and live a mentally healthier and more productive life. It is being cognitive of our thoughts and actions by better applying critical thinking like learning to recognize distorted or even delusional thinking and apply logic, reason, and reality. In addition to facing perceived fears, phobias, assimilations with professionals, and strategies to relax not just the mind but the body as well. Cognitive Behavioral

Therapy teaches one to be one’s own therapist of sorts to be self aware, cognitive, logical, and a clear understanding or present reality. Although some history is needed for a therapist, the primary focus is what is going on in an individuals life at the present and what ways of thinking and behaviors may be improved upon now and in the future to live a more productive and healthier life.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has shown that it is not only effective for depression for a variety of conditions, including mood, anxiety, personality, eating, addiction, dependence, tic, psychotic disorders, and insomnia (Blom et al., 2017). Blom et al. (2017) describes a majority of depressed folks have insomnia, yet lack of sleep can also cause depression or disrupt recovery. The results of the findings were that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has better long-term affects than medication and other psychotherapies. This is important to recognize that the conclusion that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy should be offered, and not just medication and/or psychotherapy. Christian Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is much the same as Cognitive Behavioral therapy with the addition in interweaving a client’s spiritual and religious beliefs similar to what the Ground Theory Analysis revealed (Elena et al., 2019). Shaw et al., (2021) describes Christian Cognitive Therapy as integrating regular therapy techniques such as the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with faith based beliefs and thinking. This integration makes a combined support level alleviating the symptoms of depression and well as other mood disorders. The adversary attacks a person’s thinking by deceiving oneself to believe fallacies about oneself such which includes helplessness, worthlessness, and inability to love (Shaw et al., 2021).

Humanity is not helpless, worthless, unloved, or unable to love as the Bible states contrary to those lies from the adversary (English Standard Bible, 2001/2016, Ephesians 2:8-10, Mathew 6:26, Genesis 1:27,32, Jeremiah 1:5, John 3:16-17).

References

American Psychological Association (2023). Anxiety. https://www.apa.org/topics/anxiety American Psychiatric Association (2023). What Is Depression? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression.

Blom, K., Jernelöv, S., Rück, C., Lindefors, N., & Kaldo, V. (2017).

Three-Year Follow-Up Comparing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, for Patients With Both Diagnoses. Sleep, 40(8).

In this article the authors elaborate of Christian Counseling Technique of Cognitive Behavior therapy. The article defines the technique and applicable theory. This article demonstrates the effectiveness of Cognitive Therapy for Depression, as well as Insomnia, and with patients with both diagnosis. This is relative to the research of anxiety and depression and effectiveness of this technique and the results to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, and depression.

Davies, M. R., Kalsi, G., Armour, C., Jones, I. R., McIntosh, A. M., Smith, D. J., Walters, J. T. R., Bradley, J. R., Kingston, N., Ashford, S., Beange, I., Brailean, A., Cleare, A. J., Coleman, J. R. I., Curtis, C. J., Curzons, S. C. B., Davis, K. A. S., Dowey, L. R. C., Gault, V. A., . . . NIHR BioResource consortium. (2019).

The genetic links to anxiety and depression (GLAD) study: Online recruitment into the largest recontactable study of depression and anxiety. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 123, 103503-103503.

This article is a comprehensive guide to how anxiety and depression may be linked to genetics, and which populations and genders may be more susceptible to anxiety and depression. The studies, research are impressive and applicable to this research paper on anxiety and depression. Studies and evidence will be provided by scientific studies,especially that of observations, surveys, and genetic histories will be provided.

English Standard Bible, 2001/2016, Ephesians 2:8-10, Mathew 6:26, Genesis 1:27,32, Jeremiah 1:5, John 3:16-17.

Kim, Elena E.; Chen, Eric C.; Brachfeld, Caroline; Kim, Elena E; Chen, Eric C; Brachfeld, Caroline (2019). Patients’ experience of spirituality and change in individual psychotherapy at a Christian counseling clinic: A grounded theory analysis. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 2019, Vol. 6, No. 2, 110–123.

In this article the grounded theory study is revealed by interviewing multiple participants whom state that spiritual experiences are vital to their successful treatment. The participants had various symptoms, traumas, and stressors. The point of the article is to demonstrate the importance for psychotherapy patients to develop safe and secure relationship with their image of God which were positive to Psychosocial Outcomes. Since the participants symptoms included traumas and stressors which results in anxiety and depression this will help support the topic of this paper.

Pearce, M. J., Koenig, H. G., Robins, C. J., Nelson, B., Shaw, S. F., Cohen, H. J., & King, M. B.

(2015). Religiously integrated cognitive behavioral therapy: a new method of treatment for major depression in patients with chronic medical illness. Psychotherapy (Chicago, Ill.), 52(1), 56–66. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036448.

Shaw, Elizabeth (2021). Christian Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Exercises to Try. An excerpt from the book “Get Out of Your Head” by Jennie Allen (2020).