Christian Counseling Connection
7
CLINICAL
Fernando Garzon, Psy.D.
C
ounseling approaches applying mindfulness principles have been growing in
popularity (e.g., Hayes, Strosahl & Wilson, 1999; Roemer & Orsillo, 2009).
Consequently, it is not uncommon for therapists to open their sessions with
a “mindfulness moment” to encourage both client and counselor to be more
fully aware of present moment experiences and processes. From a Christian psychology
perspective, mindfulness leaves out important Christian worldview components that
can produce different therapeutic results with clients. In this article, I use an example to
highlight what those different results might be.
Let’s begin by taking a look at a typical mindful-
ness present moment awareness exercise based on
Roemer and Orsillo (2009, pp. 119-124), and then
incorporating Christian worldview principles into it
(Garzon, 2013, pp. 65-67). I note where the Chris-
tian worldview additions begin and then explain
what they contribute afterward.
Make yourself comfortable in your chair, closing
your eyes and placing your feet squarely on the
floor. Notice what sounds you hear in the room
[name examples]... begin to turn your aware-
ness to your body. Notice how you’re sitting in
the chair, that your hands are folded… feel your
feet in your shoes pressing against the floor,
your hips against the chair…. There’s no need
to change anything, simply be with your body… notice any areas of tension, giv-
ing yourself permission to be with that tension. This is not a time to struggle with
what is… observe what your mind is doing, what thoughts or images are occurring,
where it is going…. Just be aware of your experience, what is happening right now
in this moment… [Christian additions begin here:]. While you’re observing this
experience, I invite you to become aware of God’s presence with us in this room
today, that He’s here with us and wants to be with you in your experience. [Care-
fully observe the client’s nonverbal behavior. If the client appears to be responding
positively, continue with the remainder of the script.] I invite you to surrender all
you are experiencing to Him in this moment… releasing your tensions, thoughts,
and worries into His hands. [At times, the counselor may sense a Scripture is ap-
propriate to encourage this release, such as Matthew 11:28-30.] As you let go of
these things, become aware that God has a purpose in our meeting today. Open up
to what this purpose might be… and when you are ready, return your focus to the
room.
The Christian counselor then explores the experience with the client and any sense
of God’s presence or purpose for that day’s session. When positive, the client reports a
deepened sense of God’s involvement in his or her life. A script might be given to the
client to encourage using this activity out of sessions. When negative, examining the
experience in detail may lead to an awareness of a negative God image and God attach-
ment issues that can be treated in therapy.
Underlying premises highlight key differences between mindfulness and Christian
present moment awareness that can produce various results. In both Buddhist and
secularized versions of mindfulness, present moment awareness adopts a reduction-
istic closed system perspective. All cognitive and emotional experiences originate in
the brain and are the sole result of its processing. This stands in stark contrast to the
Christian worldview, which sees such processes in an open system, with the reality of
God’s Trinitarian immanence being a potential component for the client’s cognitive
and emotional processes with which to interact. In short, God is with us in our present
moment experiences. Training Christian clients with secular or Buddhist mindfulness
to ignore this reality minimizes a valuable resource for healing in the present moment.
We are not alone. God wants to be with us in our present moment experience, whatever
that experience might be.
The previous exercise also highlights that the present moment takes on additional
qualities when placed in a relational context with our loving, compassionate God. Both
the Christian present moment orientation and mindfulness concur that struggling with
uncomfortable internal experiences, or even sinful reactions, can sometimes worsen
those experiences (see Romans 7:15-25). Thus,
acceptance of self-experience is a mutual starting at-
titude for both exercises. However, in Christian pres-
ent moment awareness, this is only the beginning.
Important theistic relational components are
also involved to further healing. Themes of grace,
trust in the Lord, and surrender of the struggle to
God become powerful additions to acceptance.
These instill hope, deepen the client’s relationship
with the Lord, and build the client’s faith that the
unpleasant experience or sinful reaction does not
have to control him or her. Thus, strength in the
Lord (not self-effort) and the power of His might
(Ephesians 6:10) grows in Christian present mo-
ment awareness. A sense that God may have a higher
purpose in the present moment is also cultivated. These would be missed when only
mindfulness present moment awareness is practiced.
The main point of this brief article is not to attack empirically supported mindful-
ness, but emphasize the differences between mindfulness and Christian present moment
awareness that create meaningfully diverse results. Since mindfulness operates from a
truncated view of reality, it can inadvertently teach Christian clients to leave out the
most important part of reality, God, from their present moment awareness. Incorpo-
rating the reality of God’s immanence in present moment awareness can correct this
secular/Buddhist worldview omission and simultaneously cultivate a deeper relationship
with the most powerful healing resource available to any client—the Lord Himself. This
is a worthy goal from a Christian psychology perspective.
Fernando Garzon, Psy.D.,
is a professor at Liberty University in the
Center for Counseling and Family Services. Dr. Garzon’s research in-
terests focus on spiritual interventions in psychotherapy, lay Christian
counseling approaches (Freedom in Christ, Theophostic Ministry, etc.),
Christian psychology pedagogy, and multicultural issues. His clinical
experience encompasses outpatient, managed care, hospital, pastoral
care, and church settings.
References
Garzon, F.L. (2013). Christian devotional meditation for anxiety. In J. Aten, E. Johnson, E. Worthington &
J. Hook’s (Eds.),
Evidence-Based Practices for Christian Counseling and Psychotherapy.
pp. 59-76. Downers
Grove, IL: Intervarsity Academic Press.
Hayes, S.C., Strosahl, K.D. & Wilson, K.G. (1999).
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
New York, NY: The
Guilford Press.
Roemer, L.O. & Orsillo, S.M. (2009).
Mindfulness & Acceptance-based Behavioral Therapies in Practice.
New York,
NY: Guilford Press.
Mindfulness or Christian Present Moment Awareness?
Different Options with Different Results
from the Society for Christian Psychology
Christian Psych Notes
“From a Christian
psychology perspective,
mindfulness leaves out
important Christian
worldview components
that can produce different
therapeutic results
with clients.”
