Dr. Chelsea talks about mental health providers shifting their view of the people they work with from “clients” to “souls that God has entrusted in their care” within the Rapha Christian-Based Therapy (Rapha-CBT) model. Rapha-CBT is a new theoretical treatment modality that Dr. Chelsea personally developed over time and uses it in practice with Christian clients as a Christian psychologist.

Discussion Overview:

• A definition of what a client is and what a soul is in the context of the scriptures (using the Blue Letter Bible app)
• The importance of shifting your mindset from looking at people as souls rather than clients
• Personal words of wisdom Dr. Chelsea received from God on the subject matter
• What souls need
• The necessity of a Christian therapist being used as a mouthpiece and vessel for God to speak through them to the souls entrusted in their care
• Recommendations on how the Christian therapist can put themselves in position to be used by God in session

Anchor Scriptures:

Acts 20:28

1 Peter 5:2-4

1 Timothy 4:12

Reflection Question:

How can you apply this mind shift of viewing your clients as souls into practice?

Dr. Chelsea gives an expanded teaching on the view of the therapist as a shepherd within the Rapha Christian-Based Therapy (Rapha-CBT) model by doing a deep study and examination of the scriptures to draw parallels. Rapha-CBT is a new theoretical treatment modality that Dr. Chelsea personally developed over time and uses it in practice with Christian clients as a Christian psychologist.

Dr. Chelsea reviews:

• A description of what a shepherd did in the Bible (Resources: Biblical Cyclopedia https://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/S/shepherd.html and the Blue Letter Bible app)
• Expectations God had for shepherds (over his flock of people, Israel) with scriptural examples
• Pastors as a metaphorical shepherd and supported scriptures
• Parallels of the therapist as a metaphorical shepherd/pastor in the therapy setting

Anchor Scriptures:

Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV

Isaiah‬ ‭49‬:‭9‬-‭10

2 Samuel‬ ‭5‬:‭2

Jeremiah 23:1-4

Ezekiel 34:2-6, 11-16, & 23-31

John 10:1-30

Luke 15:4

Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬-‭12‬

Jeremiah‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬

Acts‬ ‭20‬:‭28‬

1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬-‭4‬

Reflection Question:

How can you be a better shepherd over your flock?

Dr. Chelsea shares a new theoretical treatment modality, which she calls Rapha Christian-Based Therapy (Rapha-CBT), that she personally developed over time and uses in practice with Christian clients as a Christian psychologist.

Dr. Chelsea explains how she views therapy and clients from a Christian and spiritual perspective with key concepts and beliefs such as:

• Therapy is a ministry (of healing & deliverance)
• The therapist as the metaphorical pastor/shepherd
• The Holy Spirit as co-therapist
• God as the supervisor
• Rather than “Clients,” people receiving treatment are looked at as, “Souls that God has entrusted in your care.”
• The Bible as the treatment manual and source for CEUs

Dr. Chelsea further explains the foundations of this theoretical model with regard to:

• Development of Psychopathology
• Goals of Treatment (e.g., Provide biblically sound therapy and integrate the Christian faith into therapy)
• The Mode of Change
• Nature of the Therapeutic Relationship
• Interventions & Techniques

Anchor Scriptures:

Proverbs 9:10

Proverbs‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬ ‭

Proverbs 19:20