Contemplative Prayer and its Use in Psychotherapy: A Theoretical Model
John R. Finney, H. Newton Malony
Journal of Psychology and Theology September 1, 1985 DOI: 10.1177/009164718501300302 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that contemplative prayer, defined as a form of Christian prayer involving passive, nondefensive, open attention to God, should serve as an adjunct to psychotherapy only when spiritual development is a treatment goal, and contends that using prayer merely for desensitization or anxiety reduction is inappropriate given a biblical understanding of prayer. |
Abstract
A comprehensive theoretical model of contemplative prayer and its use as an adjunct to psychotherapy is presented. The model is based on a review of the literature on prayer, mysticism, and meditation because contemplative prayer is related to all three areas. Contemplative prayer is defined as a particular form of Christian prayer in which one gives one's full attention to relating to God in a passive, nondefensive, nondemanding, open way. It is concluded that contemplative prayer should be used as an adjunct to psychotherapy only when spiritual development is a treatment goal. Given a biblical understanding of the nature of prayer, it is inappropriate to use a form of prayer simply for desensitization or anxiety reduction.