This detailed study of the interface between psychotherapy and spirituality introduces professionally trained psychotherapists and mental health specialists to the subject of spirituality and the influence it may have in a therapeutic context. The majority of psychotherapists receive no formal training in the psychology of religion and many studies report that most psychotherapists either avoid the theme of religion, or handle it with insufficient skill, feeling uncomfortable and ill-equipped to deal with the spiritual concerns of patients. Psychotherapy and Spirituality contributes to the development of professional know-how in the field of spirituality in a straightforward and practical way, avoiding complex doctrinal terminology. Schreurs focuses primarily on the connections between group analysis and mainstream Christianity, while bearing in mind the wider implications of other therapeutic schools and other spiritual traditions. She presents a range of therapeutic situations, analogies and case-studies in which spiritual concerns may arise, and explores them from a spiritual and a psychological perspective, showing where and how they connect and differ. This clear and engaging book is essential reading for all therapists who feel out of their depth when patients raise spiritual concerns.
Foreword. Introduction. Part I. Spirituality in the context of psychotherapy. Chapter 1. Flight, fright or faith? Chapter 2. Groundless or reasonable fear? Chapter 3. Psychological or spiritual trauma? Chapter 4. Vision or hallucination? Chapter 5. Depression or spiritual darkness? Chapter 6. Narcissism or misdirected worship? Part 2. Psychotherapy in the context of spirituality. Chapter 7. The past complicates the present. Chapter 8. Bringing the background to the fore. Chapter 9. Psychotherapy and root metaphors. Chapter 10. Psychotherapy and spiritual root metaphors. Chapter 11. Disconnected spiritual metaphors. Part 3. Existential and cognitive aspects of spiritual change. Chapter 12. Spirituality as a change process. Chapter 13. The existential aspect of spiritual change. Chapter 14. Psychotherapy and the struggle for authentic spirituality. Chapter 15. The cognitive aspect of spiritual change. Chapter 16. Psychotherapy and illuminative experience. Part 4. The analysis of spiritual relationships. Chapter 17. The relational aspect of spiritual change. Chapter 18. Spirituality as a negative therapeutic factor. Chapter 19. Impersonal (or manipulative) relationships. Chapter 20. Mutual agreement (or contractual) relationships. Chapter 21. Mutual love (or fellowship) relationships. Further reading. References. Index.
