Page 27 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 11

1) The analyst recognizes that God (Holy Spirit) Incarnation
is love and is the causal force moving humanity The relational psychotherapist, not out of coer-
toward a pan- cultural telos of love and actua- cion but out of love, allows him or herself to de-
lization. eply know, identify with and become incarnate
2) The analyst recognizes that each patient is into characters in the patient’s life story, even
made in the image of their Creator, and is thus as the patient begins to mutually identify with
imbued with aspects of being that reflect their the clinician. This universal pattern takes place
divine constitution and origin. in infancy, is mirrored in Christ’s redemption
3) The analyst recognizes that each patient being work, and replicates in the consultation room.
made in the image of their Creator is equally In the Mother/Child Relationship
worthy of utmost respect and care. One of the fondest memories of my children’s
4) The analyst recognizes that each patient has a infancies, had to do with gazing at them. The
redemptive destiny that is closely related to the shift from sensing in the womb to seeing with
very areas of damage in their lives, and this re- one’s eyes was the essence of incarnation, and
demptive destiny fulfills the comversion of that the prime vehicle of an identification with my
damage into something good and new. infant who was “like me.” Schore confirms this:
5) The analyst recognizes that he/she and the “…. An infant will smile in response to enlar-
patient are intersubjectively related; thus, the gened pupils. Even more intriguingly, viewing
process of redemption and recreation is at work enlargened pupils rapidly elicits dilated pupils
in the analyst concurrently with the patient. in the baby, and dilated pupils are known to re-
lease caregiver behavior” (Schore, 2003, p. 7).
These five clinical recognitions collectively con- Beebe and Lachmann (1988) concur with Scho-
tribute to a sacred space in which the Holy Spirit re, asserting that matching of affective patterns
is intersubjectively related to me and my patient “recreates an inner psychophysiological state
in our work together. With a Christian patient, similar to the partner’s” (Schore, 2003, p. 7).
the Holy Spirit is recognized and invited to gui- Mutual regulation between mother and infant
de from the very first session. With those who begins in the womb, and is intensified, enhan-
have no faith perspective, these recognitions, ced, and solidified into a pattern of attachment
though unexpressed, permeate the treatment. following birth.

Clinical Movements and the Leading of the In the Consultation Room
Holy Spirit In my psychotherapy practice, I hear the voice
The outline of incarnation, crucifixion, and re- message of a prospective patient and like mo-
surrection gives us a template for our clinical ther and prenatal infant, I wonder, “Who will
work; we believe that the work of psychothera- this person be?” During my return call, I regi-
py follows the pattern of the work of the Holy ster their cues, and they mine.
Spirit in the grand narrative of redemption. The The hour of the session arrives. I ask why they
God of creation was not satisfied with his di- have come. And then I listen. I listen intently.
stant, verbal contact on Mt. Sinai, but became My focused listening continues for many sessi-
human and dwelled with us, suffered for us, and ons, along with my questions that help me un-
resurrected to become a suffering Savior who derstand. I see my new patient looking at me,
understands and intercedes for us, leaving His probing my demeanor, seeing me seeing him.
Holy Spirit to guide us into truth and love. Gui- With my gaze I convey acceptance, understan-
ded by the Holy Spirit in us, we move into the ding and comfort to her.
depths of connection with our patients, we are In an echo of Christ’s incarnation, I hope to pro-
crucified in the process, and we and they resur- vide the setting necessary for healing a patient’s
rect to become witnesses and intercessors for deepest wounds. We will be “touched” with the
others. pain of our patient’s life and meet them in a pro-
found, emotional way.

26