Religion and Spirituality in Psychiatry

19 Psychiatric Treatments Involving Religion: Psychotherapyfrom a Christian PerspectiveWILLIAM P. WILSONSUMMARYIn this essay, we observe that most religious therapieshave as their goal the cognitive restructuringof the minds of those who seek therapy. Thus,cognitive-behavioral therapy is done by mostpractitioners. It is also true that the holy writingsof each faith are used to teach their versionof the “truth” to the person being treated. Islambelieves that the patient should reconnect withtheir Muslim faith before therapy is undertaken.Christianity believes that a personal relationshipwith the living God is necessary for Christiantherapy to be used. The goal of therapy in allfaiths is to transform the mind of the believerso that they may have meaning and purpose intheir relationship with a higher power. In somefaiths, another goal is for them to encounter theirhigher power.Christian psychotherapy differs in one majoraspect. It seeks to enable patients to have a relationshipwith the living God who comes and dwellswith them and in them. This is possible becausethe mind of man is supernatural and because thesupernatural God can install himself in the mind.This means that God then can, with the believer’spermission, guide and direct their thinking andactivity in a positive way. Christian practices andinterventions can then bring about the transformationof the mind we so earnestly seek.process. Nevertheless, what information doesexist helps us to understand that most cognitiverestructuring is done in the context of the religion.An Islamic author (1) believes that therapymust be done after the patient has becomedevoutly Muslim. The restructuring is thendone using the teachings found in the Koran. InHinduism and Buddhism, it is assumed that thebeliever seeking therapy accepts the teachingsof that particular faith. Hindu and Buddhistpsychotherapy uses meditation focusing on ahigher power and on right thoughts. Cognitiverestructuring in all is done using the principlesespoused in their holy writings. There also isan effort to contact a higher power throughmeditation, by good works, or through asceticpractices. Christian psychotherapy is a disciplinethat uses the teachings found in the Biblewith an integration of current secular concepts.Therapy is facilitated by the power of the HolySpirit to transform lives. The goal is transformationof the person so that he or she has a lifewith less conflict and symptoms as well as morehappiness. In the light of the fact that there aresimilarities of practices in the psychotherapeuticapproach of all faiths, we will take a detailedlook at a psychotherapeutic approach intowhich Christian concepts have been includedto achieve this transformation.1. ANALYZING PSYCHOTHERAPIESReviewing the literature concerning psychotherapyin the major religions of the world,one finds that there is very little informationthat describes in detail the psychotherapeuticIn an overview of current secular methods ofpsychotherapy, Karasu (2) noted that at least140 claim to be distinctive. Certain factors,however, are said to be common to all methods.Among these are (1) an emotionally charged,283