CBT and Christianity

Michael L. Free is a clinical psychologist working with adults and adolescents in individual and couples therapy. He is a former lecturer in clinical psychology at Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. He is the author of Cognitive Therapy in Groups (Wiley Blackwell, 2nd edition, 2007).

• List of Figures xiiList of Boxes xiiiList of Tables xivAbout the Author xviAuthor’s Preface xviiPart 1 Rationale for the Use of the Teachings of Jesus in CBT 11 Introduction 3Topics in Chapter 1 3A historical view of spirituality, religion and psychotherapy 3The development and dominance of cognitive therapy as a psychotherapy 4The importance of Christianity in the West 6The appreciation of the role of non‐specific factors in psychotherapy 6Interest in the Buddhist technique of ‘mindfulness’ 7Findings relating religious adherence to positive mental and physical health 8The growing respect for cultural and individual differences 9The decline of logical positivism and the rise of postmodernism and social constructionist theory 9The question of a logical connection between cognitive therapy and the teachings of Jesus 10A general outline of the book 112 Introduction to Cognitive Therapy 12Topics in Chapter 212General aspects of psychotherapy 12The basis of cognitive therapy 13Beck’s cognitive therapy 14Rational emotive (behaviour) therapy 16Schema therapy 21Similarities amongst the three main schools of cognitive therapy 263 The Context of the Teachings of Jesus 27Topics in Chapter 3 27Why we should consider the teachings of Jesus 28The records of Jesus the person 29The location of the teachings of Jesus 30The approach taken in this book towards the teachings of Jesus 31The historical context of the New Testament 32The social context of the New Testament 40Stages in the early dissemination of the teachings of Jesus 47Jesus’ own context 56The written Gospels 56Conclusion 594 What Did Jesus Teach: A Biblical Scholarship Approach 60Topics in Chapter 4 60The purpose of the chapter 60Problems with direct use of the Gospels 61Summary of factors influencing the content of the Gospels 65The historical Jesus and the Jesus of faith (and the inerrancy of scripture) 66Biblical scholarship: Tracking the words and deeds of Jesus 68Conclusions about Jesus’ life, circumstances and characteristic behaviour 73Jesus’ teachings as conveyed in words 75The proverbial sayings (apophthegms/aphorisms) 79Other kinds of sayings 82Conclusion 825 Comparison of Jesus’ Teaching with Cognitive Therapy: Part I: Logic 84Topics in Chapter 5 84Content and process of thinking 84The nature of logic 85Logic in cognitive therapy 88Logic in the teaching of Jesus 89A method for comparing cognitive therapy with the teachings of Jesus 89Jesus’ references to the use of logic 90Conclusions 124Comparison of Jesus’ logic with cognitive therapy 1256 Comparison of Jesus’ Teaching with Cognitive Therapy: Part II: Content 127Topics in Chapter 6 127The content of cognitive therapy 127The content of Jesus’ deeds 132The content of Jesus’ teachings as reported by experts 135The implicational content in Jesus’ teachings 147Relationship of themes identified in the teachings of Jesus to cognitive therapy 169Part 2 Approach to Using the Teachings of Jesus in CBT with Christians 1777 A Schema‐Centred Model of Psychological Dysfunction 179Topics in Chapter 7 179A schema‐centred model of psychological dysfunction 179Assessment 189Assessment as therapy 194Choosing the intervention 196Using the results of assessment in conjunction with the rest of this book 1988 New Life in Cognitive Therapy 200Topics in Chapter 8 200Reasons for seeking therapy 200Ways of doing therapy 201The need to address Christian issues in therapy 202Preliminary considerations for doing cognitive therapy with Christians 203Use of the scriptures in cognitive therapy 204Ways of using scripture in cognitive therapy 206Making choices 207Commitment 209Is it appropriate for a Christian to use logic? 212Using logic like Jesus 216Jesus’ view of logical errors 218Values 223Conclusion 2249 Introduction to Content Interventions 226Topics in Chapter 9 226Overview of content intervention 226Working with propositional content 227Working with implicational content 234Part 3 Resources for Using the Teachings of Jesus in CBT with Christians 23910 Jesus and the Value of People 241Topics in Chapter 10 241Teachings relevant to the value of people 241Social inclusion 242Implicational work 247Interpersonal considerations 250The value of people 257Loving 264Conclusions 27011 Relationship to God, the World and the Future 271Topics in Chapter 11 271God, the world and the future 271Acceptance and trust versus fear and anxiety 272Knowing the future 281Spiritual versus material concerns 283The relationship of Jesus’ teachings to the Jewish Law: Principle versus literal/old versus new 289The inconsequential becomes greatly valuable 29512 The Christian’s Behaviour 297Topics in Chapter 12 297The relevance of Jesus’ teaching to the Christian’s behaviour 297Commitment, allegiance, readiness 298What is important versus what is not important 304Assumption of status 311Asking for desires/praying 312Prophecy, signs, logic 314The relationships amongst intention, fantasy, action and responsibility 321Conclusions 33913 Following Jesus: The Ongoing Dialectic 341Topics in Chapter 13 341Dialectics in clinical psychology 341Consistency between cognitive therapy and the teaching of Jesus 342Assessment for treatment 343Commitment to therapy 344Using logic like Jesus 345Values 346Content interventions 347Tensions in the content of Jesus’ teaching 350Resolution 351Appendix 1: Life History Questionnaire 352Appendix 2: Christian Values Rating Scale 357Appendix 3: Some Useful Sets of Commentaries 358References 360Index 366