Missional Therapy. Your Story is God’s Story.

A new way of making sense of the meaninglessness of life by plugging into the redemptive power of God's story.

Do you live with the conviction that your life is a part of something bigger than yourself?

Want to make a difference in the lives of your patients as a Christian mental health professional?

Start by integrating missional theology with psychotherapy.

But what is missional theology? It is the belief that every human being is created with a purpose found in the story of God.

When we connect with that purpose and live according to it, our lives become richer, fuller, and more satisfying.

But how do you blend this with psychotherapy? My new joint paper in the Journal of Psychology and Christianity offers some insights.

Start by helping your patients see their lives in the context of a larger story.

Then, work with them to uncover their unique purpose, and develop a plan to live it out.

Psychotherapeutic techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy can also be integrated with this approach to help patients develop the skills they need to pursue this redemptive purpose.

One of my articles looked at missional therapy. Let me share what missional therapy is all about.

Missional Psychotherapy

Missional therapy is a unique way of helping individuals to plug into the story of God. It is an existential missional paradigm for Christian counseling that guides individuals through four tasks: personalizing, locating, engaging, and applying God's story to their lives.

For therapists, missional therapy framework accentuates the importance of connecting Christian clients with their spiritual roots and the global Christian community, while maintaining sensitivity to their cultural context.

This method looks at how the mission of God (missio Dei) can be a part of our lives, especially when we are facing problems.

It is about understanding that God has a mission to heal and restore the world, and we can be a part of that mission.

Missional therapy is simply based on the idea that our stories and God's story are connected.

Key Ideas in Missional Therapy

1. God’s Mission (Missio Dei): In missional theology, God’s mission is to heal and restore the world. Missional therapy helps people see how their lives fit into this mission.

2. Hermeneutics: This is a big word that means interpreting texts. In missional therapy, it means understanding the Bible in a way that connects to our personal experiences.

3. Holistic Healing: Missional therapy looks at healing the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.

How Missional Therapy Works

Missional therapy involves several steps to help people integrate their faith with their personal challenges. Here’s how it works:

1. Personalizing God’s Story: This step is about helping people see how their personal stories fit into God’s bigger story. For example, if someone is struggling with feeling alone, the Christian therapist or caregiver might show them how God’s story is about bringing people together and never leaving anyone alone.

2. Locating Oneself in God’s Story: This step helps people understand their place in God’s mission. It is about seeing oneself as part of a larger community and mission. For instance, someone might realize that their experiences, even painful ones, can help others who are going through similar struggles.

3. Engaging Suffering from a Missional Lens: This step is crucial. It helps people see their suffering as part of their journey with God. Instead of feeling hopeless, they can find purpose in their pain. For example, the story of Joseph in the Bible shows how his suffering eventually led to saving many lives. This can help someone see their own struggles as potentially meaningful and transformative.

4. Applying the Missional Story to Daily Life: This final step is about making the insights gained from the therapy practical and actionable. It means living out the lessons learned in everyday life. For example, someone might start a support group for others who are going through similar challenges, turning their pain into a source of strength and support for others.

Benefits of Missional Therapy

1. A New Perspective: Missional therapy helps people see their problems in a new light. It gives a bigger picture and shows that everyone is part of God’s plan.

2. Hope and Purpose: By connecting personal struggles with God’s mission, people find hope and purpose. They see that their lives have meaning, even in tough times.

3. Community and Support: This therapy emphasizes the importance of community. People learn that they are not alone and that their experiences can help others.

Missional therapy is a powerful approach that combines counseling with Christian faith. It helps people see their lives as part of God’s bigger mission to heal and restore the world.

When we personalize God’s story, locate ourselves in that story, engage with our suffering through a missional lens, and apply these insights to daily life, we can find hope, purpose, and community.

Missional therapy shows that even in our hardest times, we are part of something greater, and our stories have meaning and value in God’s mission.