Psalms, Poetry, and Counseling on this edition of Truth and Love.

I'm Dale Johnson, and you're listening to Truth and Love, a podcast of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors,

where we seek to provide biblical solutions for the problems that people face.

Today, I'm delighted to have my former pastor, Dr. Stephen Yule, with us today.

Again, if you recall, he's given us several opportunities to hear from him on the podcast

in speaking about the Puritans.

He is serving now as the vice president of

academics in Cambridge, Ontario at the Heritage College and Seminary. I have learned a great

deal from Stephen over the last several years, just through his preaching ministry and his

friendship, and I'm delighted that he's here today to talk with us about

this subject of Psalms, poetry, and counseling. So, Stephen, when we talk about Psalms and

poems in counseling, what in the world are we talking about there? Yeah, it's a good question. It's a good

place to start. You know, we start using those words, songs in particular, poetry, music,

and there are lots of different theories out there and approaches to employing these pedagogical

devices in a counseling context. Here's what we're not talking about. We're not talking about a mode of

self-expression that enables the individual to release the true self.

We're not talking about the synthesis and release of intense emotions caused by a person or experience.

These are some of the common approaches to music and song and different psychological approaches.

We aren't talking about the use of rhythm to tap into powerful nonverbal responses.

We're not talking about the use of the abstract nature of poetry to make it easier to take a

closer look at painful experiences, and we're most definitely not talking about the use of rattles or gongs to stimulate vibration.

That leads to a state of relaxation.

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