Multiculturalism is an important subject for counselors.

However, students pursuing degrees in

counseling can find the call by multiculturalists to embrace the differences in clients without
judgment to be a difficult challenge. This is particularly true for conservative Christian
counselors working with clients from different religions or who participate in behaviors that are
condemned in the Bible. What should Christian counselors do when working with clients from
different religious backgrounds or who engage in “sinful” behavior as a lifestyle? Should
counselors challenge the religious beliefs or moral values of clients? Why or why not?

As an healthcare professional, I understand that clients that come in can be an representation of

many different religious backgrounds. In addition to different religious backgrounds, those

clients also participates in different lifestyles and different behaviors. The same applies to

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Christian counselors. Christian counselors handles sessions and evaluations different. A

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conservative Christian counselor would probably try to challenge the persons beliefs and attempt

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to convert them over to Christianity without proper consultation. The conservation Christian
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counselor would also force their value and beliefs on the client, forcing the client to understand

that the lifestyle or activities they are engaging in is wrong and is not the will of God.
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I do not believe that the Christian Counselor should immediately challenge the religious beliefs
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or moral values of the client. I believe that the Christian Counselor should take steps and build
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up some type of relationship with the client before exploring the individual’s lifestyle and
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religion. When counseling someone that lives a different lifestyle that is viewed as sinful, The

goal is to help set a person free from oppressive, discriminatory systems and individuals (Hanna,
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2013).
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The Christian Counselor should always treat the client with respect. Different religious
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backgrounds and sinful behaviors doesn’t grant the Christian Counselor the permission to

disrespect the client. Christian Counselors should increase and promote positive open-

communication with the client, which would eventually lead to better interpreting and

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 understanding (Hays, 2018). Christian Counselors also should be mindful of the pain and

suffering the client may have already experienced from society. People who practice a different

religion that’s not a common religion in the United States, sometimes face discrimination in

society. The client is seeking guidance from the Christian counselor, so harsh judgment is not

needed. A Christian Counselor have to be able to adapt to different counseling session and be

aware of their clients. Some clients may feel as if they were forced to see a counselor or may be

reluctant to attend a counseling session. Minority clients are often reluctant to use formal

counseling services because they distrust the mental health profession, which has historically

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pathologized and discriminated against individuals who are not White, middle- or upper-class,

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heterosexual males (Hays, 2013). A Christian Counselor should never force a client to

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immediately change their lifestyle or religion. The Christian Counselor goal is to make the client
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aware of their problem and help them to confront the problem. Helping the client become aware

of the problem is essentially the condition of knowing that a problem exists and having a good
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sense of what that entails (Hanna, 2013). Once the Christian Counselor have made the client
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aware of the problem, the counselor would be able to successfully confront the problem that they

are dealing with. Successfully helping a client even though you don’t agree with their
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background, will help shape the Christian counselor counseling abilities.

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 References
Hanna, F. J., & Cardona, B. (2013). Multicultural counseling beyond the relationship: Expanding
the repertoire with techniques. Journal of Counseling and Development : JCD, 91(3),
349-357. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-
com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/docview/1398803504?accountid=12085
Hays, D. G., & Erford, B. T. (2018). Developing multicultural counseling competence: A systems
approach (3rd ed.). NY, NY: Pearson.

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