The shadow of the transcendent
Philip L. Culbertson
Ata Journal of Psychotherapy Aotearoa New Zealand June 30, 1998 DOI: 10.9791/ajpanz.1998.03 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that spirituality is defined inconsistently across psychotherapy training literature and that spiritual themes often surface in the language of values rather than spiritual language. Contends that spiritualities, like values, may be constructive or destructive and must be evaluated contextually and culturally. Proposes that psychotherapists are charged with clients' souls as much as their psyches. |
Abstract
A survey of spirituality as it is discussed in the training literature for psychotherapy reveals that spirituality is defined in a variety of ways which do not always complement each other. Spiritual themes in psychotherapy do not always present in spiritual language but instead may present in the language of values. As in the case of values, so spiritualities may be either constructive or destructive, though their evaluation must be contextually and culturally determined. The author describes the training programme in counselling and psychotherapy which he directs, and finishes with the claim that psychotherapists need to understand that they are as much charged with clients' souls as with their psyches. "Where there is no guidance a people fall;but in an abundance of counsellors there is safety." (Proverbs 11: 14)