Spiritually Oriented Psychotherapy

Abstract

SPIRITUALLY ORIENTED PSYCHOTHERAPY. Edited by Len Sperry and Edward P. Shafranske. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2005. Hb, 376 pp. $49-95. Reviewed by Larry N. Ferguson (Fresno, CA). Perhaps it is ironic to read this book, published by APA. In early 1970s (when some of us old folks were in graduate school) it was clear that APA was suspicious of any religious or conceptualizations within psychology. Programs such as Fuller Graduate School of Psychology struggled for APA accreditation because of its obvious religious bent. Now, 40 years later, APA publishes this book on Spiritually Oriented Psychotherapy! Organizations like CAPS, and schools like Fuller and Rosemead have promoted role of aspects within psychotherapy. At one time it was a step of to claim one was a Psychologist. Today it is not so. The many hundreds of Christian men and women, psychologists, counselors, and social workers alike, continue to show that spiritual dimension in is important. Psychology is a science. Therefore scientific principles applied to any area of research must be applied to definition, understanding, and application of spirituality in psychotherapy. As book begins, it is noted the empirical evidence suggests links between health and and religious factors (p. 11). Using rigors of science to help verify or demonstrate these assertions is critical. Since a religious is important to many people, spirituality cannot be ignored in therapy. is these observations that enervate psychotherapeutic approaches to address side of humanity. This book is outlined in three sections. Part I sets out Theoretical Foundations. Beginning with definitions and explanation, Shafranske and Sperry set stage. Then, in chapters two and three, psychoanalytic and Jungian foundations are introduced. Historically and contextually these two major influences in psychotherapy are shown to be valuable in understanding aspect of humanity. Rather than explaining away religion or spirituality, it is clear these two allow the integration of spirituality in psychotherapeutic practice (p. 5). One of questions asked is whether the psychological and dimensions of human experience and development are same (or different) and which has primacy (if either). There is still theoretical debate on this, and may best be answered at this point as It is a metaphysical question requiring an answer born of faith (p. …

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