Strategies for counseling protestant evangelical families

A significant segment of the population—evangelical Christians—has historically been underrepresented in psychotherapy and in the treatment literature. Consequently, few guidelines for therapeutic decision making and intervention have been articulated. Because the clergy are showing an increasing willingness to refer these people to human service professionals, it is important that clinicians be informed about this group of potential clients. Therapeutic strategies whick take into account the unique characteristics of this population are discussed in light of four stages in the development of the helping relationship.Portions of this paper were presented at the meeting of the American Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, Philadelphia, October 1976.