Religion and Spirituality in Psychiatry

Conclusion: Summary of What Clinicians Need to Know 367as they are, where it all comes from, and wherewe come from), a futurology (an extrapolation ofthe past into the future), values (what is good andwhat is evil), and knowledge. Christians believethat man is composed of three functional units:body, soul, and spirit.Mental disorders are viewed as the consequenceof man’s alienation from God (that is, sin,either original sin or individual sin), which leadsto an alienation from society as well. Duringtherapy, the patient must be reconciled with Godand continue to transform as he matures in hisfaith. Therapists consider that God’s interventionmakes it possible to heal wounds from eventsthat have occurred in the past as they are relivedin the present. Depending on the circumstances,the therapy can be short-term or long-term. Thetherapist has to learn about the patient’s consciousand subconscious mental conflicts. Byresponding to the patient in ways that do notreward the behaviors that produce pain and anxiety,the therapist helps to bring about extinctionor inhibition of such behaviors. He must thenteach new behavioral patterns by using Biblicalguidelines.20. PSYCHOTHERAPY FROM AN ISLAMICPERSPECTIVEBecause Muslims are a minority in most Westerncountries, they are usually stereotyped. Islamhas different laws regarding some of the rightsand duties of men and women, which may notbe accepted by Western clinicians (for example,conditions for women). Therapists should havesome knowledge of Islam, or admit to a lack ofknowledge about the patient’s culture or religion,to establish a positive therapeutic alliance.From an Islamic perspective, religious psychotherapymay be used if religious conflictsare an important part of the patient’s problems.Moreover, a religious technique should be trulymeaningful to the patient. Concepts involvingreligious considerations, such as belief in anafterlife or guilt management, can be used.Islamic concepts may be used by specialistsin cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) byworking with reference to religious themes tochallenge dysfunctional beliefs in the same waythat dysfunctional assumptions (or schemata)are modified in secular CBT. Both dysfunctionalthoughts and behaviors can be altered accordingto these principles. For instance, Islamicrules stating that husbands should respect theirwives and should not oppress them can be effectivelyused when treating abusive husbands.21. PSYCHIATRIC CARE USINGBUDDHIST PRINCIPLESThe Windhorse Therapy is an example of a comprehensivetherapy based on the Buddhist understandingof fundamental health and wellness,while integrating applicable Western psychology.The goal of the treatment is recovery by “discoveringand synchronizing with one’s own fundamentalhealth.” To create a recovery environment,a team is assembled that is made up of the clinicians,the client, and whenever possible, the family.Clients live in a house with a housemate whois part of a treatment team. There are clinicianson the team who spend time with the client on aregularly scheduled basis, doing a wide variety ofactivities. These activities are elements of an individuallytailored environment to help the personlive in an ordinary and healthy way. The client maywork, see friends and family, and be part of thenormal community in which he or she lives. Theschedule usually includes meeting with a psychotherapistand with a psychiatrist if medications areused. There is a system of meetings that all membersof the team, including the client and his orher family, participate in. Most treatments last sixmonths to two years. Windhorse Therapy is primarilydesigned for individuals with chronic disorderssuch as schizophrenia. Applying Buddhistprinciples such as those used in mindfulness, (5)patients learn to tolerate how it feels to be awarein the present moment and how it feels to be withwhatever is going on in one’s life without self-consciousjudgment. With this come “islands of clarity,”which may appear progressively in the midstof psychosis. Healthy self-love, a basic life energy,is supposed to be the result.