christian counseling today
Vol. 20 no. 4
23
of people in different stages of healing
and recovery is essential to group
success. Good screening is vital for
running effective support and recovery
groups. I recommend at least one, and
possibly more, interview to determine if
an individual is the right fit and ready
for participation in a specific group.
Last, but certainly not least, is a
question that is often overlooked when
screening potential groups members.
Our model for this essential question
is Christ Himself. In John 5, we hear
the story of Jesus healing the man at
the pool of Bethesda. We are told he
suffered from an infirmity for 38 years.
Christ’s first question to the man was,
“Do you want to be made well?”
I believe
this is a critical question for anyone
seeking healing from a Christian coun-
selor or caregiver. My thought about
Jesus’ question is that He understood,
as most caregivers should, that in order
to receive healing, an individual must
desire and be committed to receiving
healing.
Certainly, there is great pain in the
emotional conditions counselors see.
Depression, anxiety, addictions, and
grief and pain from trauma and abuse
all create life situations for which people
seek relief. However, caregivers have also
learned that all these pain-producing
problems can have secondary gains
where individuals may, consciously or
unconsciously, not want to let go. It
may be that they are not ready to let go.
Regardless, the healing power of a small
group will be impaired if members
attend without a true desire to heal.
Healing requires hard work, courage,
time and commitment. It is important
to ask the direct question of potential
group members, “Do you want to be
made well?”
✠
Jennifer Cisney
Ellers, M.A.,
is a
professional counselor, life
coach, crisis response trainer,
author and speaker. She
provides training, counseling
and coaching in the field of grief, crisis and
trauma through the Institute for Compassionate
Care. Jennifer is an approved instructor for the
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation
and is director of the Grief, Crisis and Disaster
Division of the AACC. She served as Director
of AACC’s National Crisis Response Team from
2001 to 2010 and is currently head of their Grief,
Crisis and Disaster Network. In addition, Jennifer
provides divorce coaching, training and speaking
through Emerge Victorious, a ministry for women
rebuilding their lives after divorce.
Endnote
1
Yalom, I.D. & Leszez, M. (2005).
Theory
and Practice of Group Psychotherapy
(5th
ed.). New York, NY: Basic Books.
