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Can Therapy Be a Spiritual Experience?
Carlton Cornett, LCSW, in his book The Soul of Psychotherapy says: “This is a time of deep frustration and confusion. The pillars that supported both the individual and culture-church, extended family, social roles - are diminishing. Many of us have welcomed the freedom this loosening of tradition has brought, while either not seeing, or ignoring the enormous price such freedom exacts. Each passing day, this combination seems to ferment a host of social problems.”
Cornett goes on to say that spirituality is the defining characteristic of any human being, and should be a focus of psychotherapy.
Whether you consider spirituality to be about accepting a higher power or becoming “whole”, whether it is the search for meaning in life, having a sense of transcendence or simply following your heart, the sacred has profound impact on our lives. Throughout our lives, consciously or not, we are on a spiritual journey to make some sense of the universe and understand our place in it.
Therapy is about turning. Indeed, the therapeutic process can play a tremendous part in the journey. Many of our clients come for professional help to better connect with others around the problems in their lives or within themselves. A few are in conflict with their religious teaching. Some are not able to experience a unity with anything because they are rushing to keep up. They don’t hear their own heart.
As therapists, we have some skill and a background of experience that enables us to give guidance and coach people to get past how they disconnect, so they can connect with what’s best in themselves and with others. Through we’ve never said we offer “spiritual services” we believe our work has a spiritual dimension.
Our training prepares us to understand the person behind the many roles our client plays. This training allows us to access the spiritual dimension of being human without being clergy. We all have this capacity. We want to have some connection on a feeling level with someone or something. That connection enables change work to occur.
The intuitive process honed by our own life experience and professional efforts allows us to try to speak the right words or risk saying or asking something different; to suggest that the client do something that might be risky but healing. It may be an observation or suggestion that allows a new experience to begin.
The “leap of faith” that allows us to believe in something is similar to what can happen in therapy to change our orientation in life and in our relationships. Therapy approaches spiritual dimensions when creative connections occur between the souls of the therapist, client and/or group. These connections may be warm, humorous, sharp, angry or full of sorrow, but they are REAL. In our experience, clients sharing their realities and having them openly received has healing power.
Much of what goes on in the therapist’s office is about turning mistaken beliefs which create internal harm and conflict into affirming, curative beliefs and behaviors. Being present for another person’s or couple’s turning is both a joy and humbling experience for us as therapists.
Therapists and clergy often deal with similar problems. The training may differ, but we think the human goals are similar - the alleviation of human suffering and the health of the human spirit. Human beings have a core need to know that they are not alone, that there is value to their existence and in their love of others and that they and their loved ones can be redeemed and released from their conflict. These are the very deep spiritual issues that come into every therapist’s office every day.
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