Faith Working Through Love: Biblically-Grounded, Trauma-Focused, Evidence-Based Practices for Holy Matrimony (Researcher Edition)

FAITH WORKING THROUGH LOVE IS GOD’S ANSWER TO THOSE WONDERING IF HOLY MATRIMONY IS POSSIBLE—IN AN AGE WHERE TOO MANY MARRIAGES HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED BY SUFFERING AND COUPLES GRASP AT ANYTHING THAT WORKS, OFTEN WITHOUT FULLY CONSIDERING WHAT THEY ARE WORKING TOWARDS. This book is a critical review of the research literature; exploring couple counseling approaches described as biblically-grounded, trauma-focused, and/or evidence-based. The purpose was to stimulate awareness and encourage discussion among followers of the Bible according to Reformed Christian Trinitarianism, including (a) couples in covenant marriage with a counseling goal of holy matrimony that is modeled after their collective relationship to Jesus as Bridegroom; (b) community members on extended care teams that uphold Calvinist teaching as the body of Christ by one Spirit; and (c) counselors called by God the Father to Christ-conforming confessions.Through sufficiency of Scripture theory, the resulting theology of marriage offers treatment guidance indicated for this special population given their unique presuppositions, motivations, and objectives. Results exhibited the opportunity for theoretical integrity with technical eclecticism through biblical competencies (i.e., multi-dimensional views of counselee identity, ethical multiple relationships in expanded therapeutic alliances, congruence of personal worldviews with professional orientations), where extrapolation revealed significant impact from incremental factors (viz., spiritual dynamics, boundary crossings, union with Christ).Distinctives representing a higher-level of care presented special operating considerations to be addressed only by virtue-based professional standards (e.g., documentation of comprehensive assessments, selective screening for contraindicated patients, in-parallel supervision with experiential rehearsal and activation through teaching, counseling, and consulting to supervisees).As the “Researcher Edition,” future research is recommended for purposeful development of biblical modalities that are equally efficacious and effective in: improving the primary outcome of increased faithfulness from/for Jesus as well as the secondary measures of increased love from/for Him and for one’s spouse.Author-signed copies of other editions (viz., Counselee Edition, Community Member, Counselor Edition, Church Leader Edition) are available upon request. Read more