Seems like there are many "schools" of pschotherapy out there - as there are many boats in our picture for today. However, recently we took part in a discussion regarding various psychotherapeutic schools and their validity from the point of view of Christian anthropology (a topic which is partially in line with our previous posting on reintegration of psychology, philosophy and theology). That is, which "boats" will be able to reach the shores of the spiritual realm. Here is the triggering question:
"In his book, Jesus of Nazareth on page 282, Pope Benedict made the following statement. "Any "self knowledge" that restricts man (sic) to the empirical and the tangible fails to engage with man's (sic) true depth." These thoughts of the Pope follow the leading thoughts of Edith Stein (Sr. Theresa Benedicta) regarding scientific psychology and it's need to look beyond the mere material. Also, as a foundation work the Christotherapy books by Fr. Tyrrell point the way towards a truly human psychological-spiritual science and therapy. Question: These days, what school of psychology would best reflect this point of view?"
My tentative answer is that there are many good boats, numerous therapies that are in fact taking into consideration the spiritual reality of the human person and are compatible with Catholic (Christian) theology. Among these I highly esteem and see as distinct "school" of psychotherapy with spiritual dimension (although maybe not regarded so by academics) the approach of the Linn brothers (especially their "method" of healing of memories) - in which in fact Christ is the Healer par excellence and the spiritual - the Holy Spirit - plays the central role in the therapeutic process. An other distinct school is represented by Jean Vanier and his work, his approach to the healing of spiritual/psychological wounds, a wonderful fully human, holistic and compassionate "method" of therapy of entire lives.
These two I mention because of these I have personal knowledge and experience and know their validity as "Christotherapies" in the wider sense of words. There exist other very valuable approaches, as the psychosynthesis of Roberto Assagioli for example, that could serve as a good foundation for therapeutic approach in Christian context. There are valid efforts to integrate Jungian psychiatry and Catholic faith, too.
Tyrrell’s own Christotherapy utilizes (and tries to “integrate in itself”) numerous schools of therapies. It seems to me that the connecting central idea (not to say “common denominator”) of these psychotherapeutic schools is the concept that healing occurs along certain “stages”. Most eminently we see this in the movement of the Alcoholics Anonymous or in the Spiritual Exercises. The idea of stages and the role of Christ as Healer are the two focal points around which Christotherapy is built.
