Sprirtual aspects of psychotherapy.
S Prasinos
Journal of Religion and Health March 1992 DOI: 10.1007/bf00986844 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that spiritual experience, defined as "unitive experience," is phenomenologically legitimate and often present within psychotherapy, and that the therapist's empathic posture is essentially a spiritual position comprising peace, eternity, forgiveness, faith, love, truth, and God. Proposes that this integrated spiritual gestalt, though generally unacknowledged, is fundamental to psychotherapy's communal healing process and that greater involvement with the unitive represents a positive paradigmatic shift. |
Abstract
This article addresses the relevance of spirituality to psychology and psychotherapy. It argues that spiritual experience is phenomenologically legitimate and worthy of study, especially by students of mental health. It utilizes Fox's (1985) definition of spirituality as "unitive experience" to show that spiritual experience is often present, overtly or covertly, within the ritual of psychotherapy. The paper argues that the therapist's adoption of an empathic posture is essentially a spiritual position. This position consists of a sense of peace, eternity, forgiveness, faith, love, truth, and God. These aspects are part of an integrated spiritual gestalt which is, though generally unacknowledged, fundamental to the communal healing process of psychotherapy. The paper concludes by asserting that greater involvement with the unitive (as opposed to the disunitive) represents a positive paradigmatic shift for psychology and humanity.