Religion and Spirituality in Psychiatry

Psychotherapy from a Christian Perspective 2913.8. Treatment ModelThe treatment model used by dynamic andbehavioral therapists tends to be authoritarian.The model used by experiential therapists is egalitarian.The Christian may use an authoritarianmodel, but he prefers an authoritative egalitarianmodel. Because the Christian therapist is a fellowstruggler in the quest for holiness, he does not seehimself as always having answers, neither does hehave power to effect change. He is fully aware ofthe wisdom and power of God to work throughhim to bring about healing in the person underhis care. He assumes many roles in his relationshipwith the patient, but he is always a teacher and afriend. He is working to bring about a completechange of the patient’s mind (Rom. 12:2). This isdone by restructuring the patient’s thoughts, butalso by decathecting (detaching) damaging emotionsaccumulated in the past. This will liberatethe patient from the influence of these emotionsover his thinking and behavior. If the damagingemotions are decathected, the patient’s anticipationof the future will be changed. In short,patients will be released from their bondage tothoughts and behavior determined by their pastexperiences and will have hope for the future.3.9. Nature of RelationshipFor the Christian therapist, the nature of relationshipfor cure is the same as for any secular formof therapy. It must be real and primarily directedtoward cure. The relationship is, however, one oflove, otherwise it is not Christian.If Christian psychotherapy is to be effective,there must be something unique about the therapist-patientrelationship. Paul’s statement thatChristians are not to consider themselves betterthan others clearly commands us to have an egalitarianrelationship (Phil. 2:3). This is in keepingwith Jesus’ commandment to love one anotheras he has loved us (John 13:34). In an egalitarianrelationship, we will love our patients andauthoritatively use the knowledge we possess tohelp bring about their healing. It is interestingthat Meltzoff and Kornreich,( 26) in their summaryof research in psychotherapy, observed that“caring” was the single most important factor inachieving good treatment results. The relationshipof therapist to patient should be, therefore,one of loving acceptance. The therapist shouldnot see himself as superior or as having specialpowers, but should be humble. Humility is beingable to see yourself as God sees you with all yourvices and virtues, your perfections and imperfectionsas well as your assets and liabilities. Inhumility, he will accept the fact that he is just ashuman as the patient, but will understand thathe has been given gifts of knowledge and healingto use to heal fellow strugglers in a broken andharsh world.3.10. The Therapist’s Role and StanceBecause most physicians and mental health professionalshave a tendency to adopt an authoritarianrole, they have a proclivity to adopt apriestly or prophetic role, but avoid a pastoralone. Psychiatrists, psychologists, ministers,and other therapists who adopt the priestly rolemay forget that they themselves are human. Thehumanity of some, however, is all too obviousto those who carefully inspect their lives. Theyhave more suicides and some of them have justas many divorces and problems with alcoholism,drug addiction, and sex as society at large. It isa fact that they too frequently have “messed up”children. If they adopt a priestly role, it is likelythat their human desire to appear strong willkeep them from relating in an honest, real, andopen way with their patients. This will hindertheir therapeutic efforts.Assuming that the pastoral or egalitarian roleis the most desirable, what other roles shouldthe therapist assume while treating his patients?Carl Rogers (27) promoted the idea that the therapistis to be nondirective and patient centered.He is to be genuine and open in dealing with thepatient. He should have an unconditional positiveregard for the patient as well as an accurate,empathic understanding of the patient’s feelings,