ABSTRACT
Building on the first two chapters within the “redemption” pillar, Christian redemption involves reconciliation with God, leading to reordered human loves. From a Christian perspective, it is not the pain of emotional disorders per se, but the aloneness in the pain that exacerbates Christian suffering; thus, a restored relationship with God is an important first step on the healing journey. In this process of redemption, God is now Christians’ secure base. As Christians venture out into the world to explore, they signal to him when in need of his protection and soothing comfort, turning to God as a safe haven; this “circle of attachment” (Knabb & Emerson, 2014) is now in place because of the atoning work of Christ. Divine union in the Christian tradition—explored in detail in this final chapter—is reminiscent of secure attachment. In applying the “common factors” domains of support, learning, and action (Lambert, 2013) to Christian redemption, (a) support involves helping Christian clients to walk with Jesus along the path of redemption to deepen their relationship with him, (b) learning involves helping Christians to gain an awareness of the reality that their aloneness and unilateral efforts to rid themselves of pain are likely exacerbating an already difficult psychological experience (Knabb, 2016), and (c) action involves helping Christians to use kataphatic and apophatic forms of meditation, among other Christian-sensitive strategies, to surrender repetitive negative thinking and a preoccupation with uncertainty to God. Throughout this final chapter, goals, interventions, techniques, and a case example are offered for clinicians working with Christian clients suffering from emotional disorders.
