In Christian counseling, the integration of spirituality and neuroscience provides a fascinating pathway to understanding and transforming the human experience. This article explores Neuroscience Informed Christian Counseling® (NICC), a unique therapeutic approach that blends biblical wisdom with cutting-edge psychological science.
We delve into the concepts of the “flesh” and “works of the flesh” from a biblical perspective, reinterpreted through the lens of NICC’s distinctive views on the Core Self and Constructed Self. Furthermore, we examine the transformative therapeutic process within NICC, which parallels the scriptural processes of sanctification—crucifying the flesh, renewing the mind, living by the Spirit, and putting on the new self.
This approach not only aligns psychological practice with spiritual growth but also leverages the mechanisms of the nervous system, designed by God, to facilitate profound personal and spiritual healing.
The Flesh
From a Neuroscience Informed Christian Counseling® (NICC) perspective, the concepts of the “flesh” and “works of the flesh” as discussed in the Bible can be understood within the broader framework of the Core Self and the Constructed Self, which are central to NICC.
In the Bible, particularly in Pauline epistles like Galatians 5:19-21, the “works of the flesh” are described as manifestations of a life led apart from the Spirit of God. These works include behaviors like sexual immorality, idolatry, enmity, jealousy, and others that are contrary to the fruit of the Spirit.
In NICC, this can be interpreted as the expression of the Constructed Self at Worst (s@w), which encompasses the maladaptive Internal Working Models (IWMs) formed from trauma, sin, or negative life experiences. These IWMs guide how individuals relate to themselves and the world in ways that are misaligned with both their Core Self and God’s design.
The Core Self in NICC is seen as the non-thought, non-verbal felt sense of being that exists from the earliest moments of life, influenced by the “DNA of the soul”—a unique spiritual blueprint endowed by God. This core is inherently aligned with qualities such as compassion, curiosity, calmness, and confidence, and it represents the God-given identity, reflecting the imago Dei, and potential within each individual.
When individuals operate out of the Constructed Self at Worst, they are essentially living out the “works of the flesh,” as these actions reflect a life led by unhealthy patterns and the painful experiences that have shaped them, rather than the fruit of the Spirit. The role of NICC, then, is to help individuals transform these maladaptive IWMs towards the Self@Best, aligning more closely with the Core Self, thus fostering behaviors that reflect the fruit of the Spirit.
This transformation process involves recognizing and reworking these unhelpful patterns through a therapeutic context that integrates biblical truths and spiritual practices, promoting healing and growth that reflect both psychological health and spiritual maturity. This aligns with the scriptural admonition to “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16), highlighting a life transformed by the renewing power of God’s Spirit working in and through us.
Sanctification
In Neuroscience Informed Christian Counseling® (NICC), the transformation from Self@Worst to Self@Best can be seen as a spiritual and psychological process of sanctification, where the mechanisms of the nervous system—designed by Jesus—play a crucial role. This transformation parallels biblical concepts such as “crucifying the flesh,” “renewing the mind,” “living by the Spirit,” and “putting on the new self,” as described by Paul in his letters (e.g., Galatians 5:24, Romans 12:2, Galatians 5:25, Ephesians 4:24).
Crucifying the Flesh
In NICC, “crucifying the flesh” involves acknowledging and addressing the maladaptive behaviors and emotional patterns (works of the flesh) that arise from unhelpful Internal Working Models (IWMs). These IWMs are developed through sin, negative experiences, and traumas that drive us away from God’s design. The therapeutic process includes:
- Identifying these patterns as they manifest in daily life and interpersonal relationships.
- Engaging in therapeutic practices that help deconstruct these patterns, allowing for the painful emotions and false beliefs they engender to be processed and healed.
- Using techniques such as Memory Reconsolidation, which involves activating old memories and introducing new, corrective emotional experiences within the context of a secure therapeutic relationship, effectively “rewriting” the emotional tone of these memories.
Renewing the Mind
Paul’s directive to “renew the mind” (Romans 12:2) can be understood in NICC as transforming our mental frameworks—our IWMs—from those that foster the Self@Worst to those that support the Self@Best. This involves:
- Cognitive restructuring through the integration of biblical truths and psychological insights that reshape how individuals perceive themselves and their relationships.
- The practice of mindfulness and reflective meditation on Scripture to cultivate a mind attuned to the Spirit’s voice, fostering decision-making and emotional responses that align with the will of God.
Living by the Spirit
In NICC, “living by the Spirit” emphasizes the continuous reliance on the Holy Spirit’s guidance throughout the therapeutic process. It involves:
- Engaging in prayer and spiritual disciplines that invite the Holy Spirit’s active participation in healing the deeper wounds of the heart.
- Developing a sensitivity to the Spirit’s promptings that help guide the transformation process, making it possible to choose actions and reactions that reflect the fruit of the Spirit rather than the works of the flesh.
Putting on the New Self
Ephesians 4:24 talks about “putting on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” In the context of NICC, this involves:
- Embracing the Core Self, which reflects the image of God imbued in each person, characterized by attributes such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
- Practicing new ways of being that align with this Core Self, supported by the transformation of IWMs and character structure towards what can be considered the Self@Best.
