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Harnessing the power of prayer
Pastoral and faith-based counsellors, read these two books, advises Jacob Jacobson
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Prayer in Counselling and Psychotherapy: Exploring a hidden meaningful dimension
Jessica Kingsley £18.99 (978-1-84310-519-0) revewed with
Spirituality, Values and Mental Health: Jewels for the journey Mary Ellen Coyte, Peter Gilbert, Vicky Nicholls, editors Jessica Kingsley £22.99 (978-1-84310-456-8) Church Times Bookshop £20.70 AFTER spending years putting religion on the couch by centring the human experience within the narrow confines of the sexually driven psyche, Sigmund Freud briefly conceded in 1921 that religious believers have always enjoyed “a powerful protection against the danger of neuroses”. The founder of psychoanalysis is well known to have questioned the “illusion” of faith and spirituality; and his theories, strengthened by an emerging secularism in European thought, have traditionally been viewed in direct opposition to those of William James and the American spirit of pragmatism. By acknow-ledging the power of faith, Freud recognised what James saw: faith works. Nevertheless, 20th-century psychology was underpinned by the pursuit of scientific reductionism: we are the sum of our parts. Although most psychological therapies today understand that the essence of change rests primarily on the empirical processes of the client, they often ignore, or indeed actively avoid, any talk of religion or faith. I have often heard colleagues make it known that faith or politics invite unnecessary complications, and are therefore to be avoided at all costs during the therapeutic process. Journeys of self-discovery or inner awareness are frequently the signifiers used when speaking, not only about counselling and psychotherapy, but also about religion. And the increasing popularity of the community-based Twelve Step programme, which essentially asks participants to give themselves up to God or a “higher power” through prayer and reflection, presents the unavoidable question: Has the time come for us to discuss religion and faith in the therapy room? Peter Madsen Gubi has devoted himself to this question for a number of years, and the results do not fail to please. Prayer in Counselling and Psychotherapy controversially explores the place of prayer within therapeutic processes, for the clients as well as the therapists. Although Christian in its perspective, the book none the less offers insights for working with all religious faiths. It also examines the ethical dilemmas faced when incorporating prayer in the work. Using case studies of counsellors who use prayer, Gubi demonstrates how prayer can influence practice, and how it can be safely integrated into practice. He rightly reminds us that the use of prayer does not exempt practitioners from ethical frameworks that protect the interests of the client. Attention is duly given to when not to use prayer. This book should be required reading for all pastoral and faith-based counsellors. Where Gubi focuses mainly on the use of prayer, Mary Ellen Coyte, Peter Gilbert, and Vicky Nicholls have compiled a rich tapestry of spiritual insights written for mental-health practitioners, faith-based therapists, carers, chaplains, and other pastoral workers, as well as for service-users themselves. Spirituality, Values and Mental Health covers a wide range of faiths and mental-health settings in both the public and private sectors. Intending it as an inclusive resource, the editors have compiled a collection of essays which succeeds on all counts. Informative and comprehensive in scope, the book stays true to itself. Indeed, it is packed with relevant personal poems, meditative illustrations, and individual testimonies, without losing its academic bite. There are comprehensive bibliographical references. In an age when the march towards the medical model in mental-health care seems almost inevitable, Coyte, Gilbert, and Nicholls remind us of what constitutes humanity. It is our identity and values that make us human, and these often go hand in hand with our spiritual beliefs. The editors are conscious of the strong correlation between faith and good health. Divorcing the patients from their faith often has dire consequences. We are more than the sum of our parts. Like Gubi’s work, this should be required reading for anyone involved in counselling or psychotherapy. Although Freud is most famous for helping turn religion on its head, he, along with James, clearly understood the function of religious and spiritual beliefs in providing fundamental skills for coping with life’s problems. Coyte, Gilbert, and Nicholls demonstrate that this is indeed the case. Dr Jacobson is Education and Training Officer at Dr Thaddeus Birchard and Associates in London, and has a practice in Glasgow. To order either book, email the details to Church Times Bookshop |
