@article{ART003317000},
author={Ahn, Kyung Seung},
title={Christian Counseling as Discernment of the Soul’s Posture and Life Direction},
journal={Journal of Counseling and Gospel },
issn={1739-0745},
year={2026},
volume={34},
number={1},
pages={111-134},
doi={10.17841/jocag.2026.34.1.111}
TY - JOUR
AU - Ahn, Kyung Seung
TI - Christian Counseling as Discernment of the Soul’s Posture and Life Direction
JO - Journal of Counseling and Gospel
PY - 2026
VL - 34
IS - 1
PB - Korean Evangelical Counseling Society
SP - 111
EP - 134
SN - 1739-0745
AB - The purpose of this study is to conceptualize the notion of spiritual discernment on the basis of a theological understanding of the human person and to propose a theoretical and practical framework that connects this concept to Christian counseling practice. This study presents spiritual discernment as a capacity that reads counselees’ presenting problems as signals revealing the soul‘s posture and the direction of life. Grounded in theological anthropology that understands human beings as intentional and worship-oriented creatures, the study interprets disorders not primarily as symptoms to be eliminated but as expressions that emerge when the center and direction of life are unsettled. Suffering is understood less as a target for functional restoration and more as an inner indicator of what one relies on and toward what one is oriented in life. The paper explains spiritual discernment not as diagnosis or the delivery of conclusions, but as a process-shaped posture, highlighting the counselor’s role in creating an epistemic space through listening and attentive presence in which the illumination of the Holy Spirit may operate. The study describes the application of spiritual discernment through the movement of Scripture, illumination, spiritual practice, and fruit, emphasizing the importance of counseling accompaniment that supports counselees in translating recognized insights into concrete life choices and practices.
KW - Christian counseling;spiritual discernment;illumination by the Holy Spirit;life direction;counseling accompaniment
DO - 10.17841/jocag.2026.34.1.111
ER -
Ahn, Kyung Seung. (2026). Christian Counseling as Discernment of the Soul’s Posture and Life Direction. Journal of Counseling and Gospel , 34(1), 111-134.
Ahn, Kyung Seung. 2026, "Christian Counseling as Discernment of the Soul’s Posture and Life Direction", Journal of Counseling and Gospel , vol.34, no.1 pp.111-134. Available from: doi:10.17841/jocag.2026.34.1.111
Ahn, Kyung Seung "Christian Counseling as Discernment of the Soul’s Posture and Life Direction" Journal of Counseling and Gospel 34.1 pp.111-134 (2026) : 111.
Ahn, Kyung Seung. Christian Counseling as Discernment of the Soul’s Posture and Life Direction. 2026; 34(1), 111-134. Available from: doi:10.17841/jocag.2026.34.1.111
Ahn, Kyung Seung. "Christian Counseling as Discernment of the Soul’s Posture and Life Direction" Journal of Counseling and Gospel 34, no.1 (2026) : 111-134.doi: 10.17841/jocag.2026.34.1.111
Ahn, Kyung Seung. Christian Counseling as Discernment of the Soul’s Posture and Life Direction. Journal of Counseling and Gospel , 34(1), 111-134. doi: 10.17841/jocag.2026.34.1.111
Ahn, Kyung Seung. Christian Counseling as Discernment of the Soul’s Posture and Life Direction. Journal of Counseling and Gospel . 2026; 34(1) 111-134. doi: 10.17841/jocag.2026.34.1.111
Ahn, Kyung Seung. Christian Counseling as Discernment of the Soul’s Posture and Life Direction. 2026; 34(1), 111-134. Available from: doi:10.17841/jocag.2026.34.1.111
Ahn, Kyung Seung. "Christian Counseling as Discernment of the Soul’s Posture and Life Direction" Journal of Counseling and Gospel 34, no.1 (2026) : 111-134.doi: 10.17841/jocag.2026.34.1.111
