[xzins]

The Myers-Briggs and the Kiersey are both interesting tools and give you some insight into what makes people tick. My problem with both (they're essentially the same thing), is the problem with any inventory. People are placed into categories (16 in this case), and that gives the false impression that there are 16 personality types. It's more a continuum, I think....

A chaplain with the US Army for 20 years, I supervised the Army's largest Chaplain Family Life region in Germany for 4 years. Covering American bases in 6 central German cities (primarily the 1st AD footprint), I had visitation and counseling hours on a traveling basis. I also had a radio program (The Family Chaplain) broadcast to a few hundred thousand American military throughout Europe.

After 4 years in that ministry, I had garnered a couple thousand client hours, and had multiple Master's level degrees (Phi Kappa Phi, perfect GPA) to put them to effective use as a Christian counselor.

I guarantee you that the Christian counselor's effectiveness with some of the modern therapies (narrative and SF ...mixed with cognitive... were my preferred) is exponentially strengthened using a Christian pastoral model.

It has always seemed to me that the pastoral key unlocks the therapy's potential. But a secular counselor wouldn't admit that. My success rate (measured in marriages that persevered rather than dissolved for three years after the therapy) was far better than 22%. It was over 75%.

[Corin Stormhands]

All Myers-Briggs ever really told me was that my wife and I ended up in completely opposite corners.

[eklekton]

"My success rate (measured in marriages that persevered rather than dissolved for three years after the therapy) was far better than 22%. It was over 75%."

That's very impressive! There are so many hurting marriages out there, why would you be inclined to spend so much time on this forum. With your loving heart and pastoral gifts, the Church would be greatly edified by your labors.

[Lexinom]

Well, we happen to be in a situation where we need (and have started) counselling. Any Christian couple, firmly planted in Scripture, should be able to work the problems out themselves with the consellor primarily present as referee and listener. That is my hope, at least for our situation, which is mainly about "his needs, her needs". I nderstand many cases are far worse (abuse, etc.) and can't speak to those.

[connectthedots]

My success rate (measured in marriages that persevered rather than dissolved for three years after the therapy) was far better than 22%. It was over 75%.

Could you break that down as to Calvinists and Arminians? ;-)

[Rhadaghast]

I dont disagree that the Meyers briggs seems to put people in to catagories. But that is only if you believe them to be infalable. I am glad to have the tool reach 70% accuracy in any application.

Thanks for stating the pastoral key and its importance. I could not agree with you more. Yet there is still more. We all as counseling Christians should be striving to deminish for Him to increase. If a counselor is not pointing you to Jesus seek another counselor.