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longer a projection of the patient’s past, but pa- Attending to Personal Experience
tient and therapist are separate. The capacity for Our own history and personal psychothera-
separateness allows the patient to recognize the py is often brought to mind by the Holy Spirit,
goodness coming to them from outside them- causing us to identify and be empathic with the
selves. Jessica Benjamin describes it in this way patient. During sessions, we may experience a
((2006): reverie in which in almost prophetic fashion we
Within the paradigm of the analytic dyad, what intersubjectively become aware of what the pa-
the patient initially finds beneficial in opening tient is struggling with or we receive an image
to the analyst’s independent mind is the pos- to communicate what the Spirit would have
sibility that there really can be an Other mind us say to our patient. We can also experience
that tunes into his own. When the analyst is dreams about our patients that guide us to help
empathic, for instance, the empathy is coming our patients.
from an Outside Other…
In short, since the outside can be a source of Attending to Spiritual Formation
goodness, it becomes safe and even desirable to We endeavor to regularly pray for our patients
go outside. Otherness is not simply, inherently each day. We ask the Holy Spirit to give us love
threatening (Benjamin, 2006, p.140). for them, and specifically lead us with under-
The recognition of one’s reliance upon another standing that will bring healing to them. We
becomes the foundation of gratitude. In this fi- pray for healing developments in their lives and
nal phase of work, the patient expresses grati- for the healthy desires of their hearts to be ful-
tude to the therapist, and discovers the desire filled. We pray for protection for them and for
to pass the gift of empathy, care and investment ourselves in the struggle between God’s king-
to others. dom and evil.
We read and listen to the Word of God, and look
Clinical Methods and the Leading of the Holy for new ways to understand and embody the
Spirit Spirit of truth. We actively dialogue with others
We have looked at the larger movements of the about God’s Word and participate in communi-
Holy Spirit in the process of therapeutic change. ties in which there is integration of psychologi-
Now we turn to specific ways in which we sense cal and spiritual truth. We believe the Holy Spi-
the leading of the Holy Spirit in our work. Then rit inhabits our communities of faith to more
we will return to Rachel’s story to demonstrate effectively help our patients.
the concepts we have presented.
Clinical Case:
Attending to Clinical Data Rachel--The Patient My Dog Almost Destroyed
An internal chorus (Buechler,1998) of pre- In this case, we describe three movements. In
vious supervisors, professors, and mentors can the incarnation phase, Marie and her patient
be prompts of the Holy Spirit. For instance, a develop a close bond and a sense of how her
favorite professors voice reminds me, “Don’t patient thinks and what she needs. In the cru-
push the river—let it flow”, cautioning against cifixion phase, Rachel’s distortions begin to be
pressuring the patient but waiting for what is revealed as we sense the impact of her early for-
emerging. Transference/countertransference is mation on her perceptions and behaviors, and
a key way that the Spirit can guide us if we are Marie falls into actions that replicate Rachel’s
attentive to both our spirit and the resurgence primary caregivers. The Holy Spirit guides Ma-
of ghosts from the past in the therapy relation- rie to interventions that lead out of therapy im-
ship. A patient’s guidance can be heard as the passes and toward resurrection. In the resurrec-
Spirit prompting my change of approach or un- tion phase, Rachel’s struggles are transformed
derstanding. Patient dreams are ripe for being and her relationships begin to blossom.
used by the Holy Spirit to communicate to us Throughout the case, we detail guidance by the
the patient’s issues that may be unknown to Spirit. Dreams, reverie, the internal chorus,
them. previous supervision, theory, etc., emerge as the
relational work unfolds.
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