Dr. R. E. Hawkins - Model of for Guiding the Counseling Process

Dr. Hawkins (2006) model of counseling draws heavily on Crabb’s (1977) model and on the multi-tasking model of integration of Mark McMinn (1996). Hawkins states that his model is a result of attempting to be faithful to scripture, and faithful to general revelations of psychological theories. The model is illustrated with five concentric circles that diagram self and the forces that shape personality. He begins with the innermost circle representing what Hawkins calls the core of the person. This circle contains the human spirit, the image of God, sin or the sin nature and the breath of life. A believer’s inner core also contains the Holy Spirit, a major guiding influence in the life of a believer. The Holy Spirit can work on from the inside out influencing not only the inner core and the soul but also all levels and parts of the individual and his or her life. The next circle contains what Hawkins calls the soul. The soul is made up of a person’s conscious, feelings, emotions, volition, and thinking. As you move out to the next circle, you find the physical body. The next circle contains the temporal systems, the groups or systems that a human interacts with on a daily basis. They include family, friends, the government, church, education, and society. Humans do not stand-alone. They are impacted directly and indirectly by the groups or systems in which they interact. The last circle illustrates the supernatural systems aspect of the person and their interactions with God, Satan, angels and demons.

Understanding the forces and systems that interact to create the personality is not enough on its own. This understanding must lead to an intervention strategy for dealing with wrong thinking and problems behaviors. Hawkins (2006) intervention strategy contains four simple phases includes a guidelines for tracking progress as the counselor and client move through the counseling process. As with many or most counseling models, Hawkins’s model begins with the client sharing his or her story. It moves to a collaborative process in which the counselor and client review beliefs and slowing begin to test or pretest a basic plan of action. In phase three, the client and the counselor use the information they have gleaned and learned during the first two phases to create a comprehensive plan of action. The final phase should find the client accepting responsibility and being committed to an accountability plan that the counselor helps implement and supports.

As a future counselor, this student has found further direction in integration of her Christian beliefs and the fundamentals of scripturally appropriate psychological interventions. Though Hawkins’ model is easy to pictorial comprehend; the Crabb model for filtering information and the way an individual evaluates and acts upon their basic assumptions are more comprehensive.

References

Crabb, L. J. (1977). Effective Biblical Counseling: A Model for Helping Caring
Christians Become Capable Counselors. Grand Rapids, Mi: Zondervan.

Hawkins, R. E. (2006). Model for guiding the counseling process.
Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University.

McMinn, M. R. (1996). Psychology, theology, and spirituality in Christian
counseling. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.