Skip to main content

The 8th Asia Pacific Congress on Pastoral Care & Counseling

Religious and Spiritual Impact in Psychic Process:Implications for Pastoral Psychotherapy
BY Rev. Dr. Joseph George

Introduction by Robert Powell, MD, PhD
The 8th Asia Pacific Congress on Pastoral Care and Counseling , held 7-11 August in Hong Kong, had a specific theme and a lofty objective: "Spiritual Formation of the Human Heart" – Tested Models of Caring and Counseling." Thus the following manuscript by the Rev. Dr. Joseph George, of Bangalore, India, tries to address both issues – personality formation and a tested model – at the same time, which is not an easy task. While many will enjoy his clear outline of how we got to Winnicottian "object relations theory" -- which handles religious rituals quite well – we might as well telegraph Dr. George's conclusion:
"The use of religious rituals in pastoral psychotherapy sessions helps the counsellees:
* to recollect their past experience* to narrate their present experience* to re-narrate their sense of self* to understand the nature of their relationships* to identify areas of conflict* to motivate change in behavior* to experience a sense of hope* to promote conscious self-reflection* to create a space to contain anxiety* to resolve any intrapersonal and interpersonal issues* to gain new direction psychologically and theologically* to reflect a realistic self-image"
One more point: Anton Theophilus Boisen and Helen Flanders Dunbar were both intrigued by the use of religious rituals and symbolism as a means of meeting suffering persons "where they were". Indeed, there must be a reason why "Amazing Grace" has been called "one of the most recognized songs on the planet". Apparently it connects with people. This "connecting" could bear further study. -Robert Powell, MD, PhD
Full text of Dr. George’s presentation can be found at:
http://www.cpsp.org/

Popular posts from this blog

Association of Professional Chaplains Experiencing Significant Financial Challenges

The Association of Professional Chaplains recently informed its membership that the organization is experiencing “significant financial challenges.” The APC president, Sue Wintz, related in a letter to the APC membership that the association has made some $80,000 cuts to its budget. The president’s letter requested that APC members consider making a donation of at least $25, 00 to help off set any additional cuts which might have to be made to the organization’s budget. APC Board Certified Chaplains pay annual dues of $265.00 representing some of the highest fees in the profession.
Read more
Master Fezziwig Knew a Thing or Two about Celebrating Employees Borne there by the Spirit of Christmas-Past the scene opens: It is Christmas once more and Scrooge is standing outside the warehouse where once he was an apprentice. They go inside and Scrooge is delighted to find his former boss – Mr Fezziwig. Mr Fezziwig is instructing a young Scrooge and his fellow apprentice, Dick, to ready the premises for their annual Christmas party. The scene fills as in come a fiddler, Mrs Fezziwig, all the other Fezziwigs together with all the employees. They enjoy music and dancing and when finally the joyous evening comes to a close Scrooge is forced to reflect on his own treatment as an employer regarding his staff. “When the clock struck eleven, this domestic ball broke up. Mr and Mrs Fezziwig took their stations, one on either side of the door, and shaking hands with every person individually as he or she went out, wished him or her a Merry Christmas. When every...
Read more

Increasing Trend to Secularize Chaplaincy

There has been an increasing trend in the pastoral care movement to move away from chaplaincy and pastoral care in favor of promoting and providing "spiritual care." Many hospital departments have changed their names to reflect this shift in philosophy and practice. Spirituality circumvents religion and promotes chaplaincy as a generic practice. Religions are messy. They have rules, doctrines, beliefs, ethics---some of which are flawed to be sure. But religions usually stand for something. Spirituality is an amorphous thing, an oblong blur, with implications of cosmic connection, but with no price tag---no demands no dogmas, and no ethics. Not even a dogma demanding justice and mercy. The only perceptible doctrine promoted by the spirituality movement is that people should feel good about themselves. At its best the clinical pastoral movement teaches religious professionals to be available to everyone. It also teaches them to be critical of all religion---but dismissive of no...
Read more