Page 67 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 19
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Olga Krasnikova a�empts in her ar�cle to reve- themselves. Furthermore, conscience give us
al the characteris�cs of the Chris�an Orthodox orienta�on and ul�mately leads us into a rela�-
psychotherapy and counseling. Her focus is on onship with Jesus Christ. Conscience is concep-
how cultural and moral Chris�an values can be tualized in the mys�cal tradi�on, monas�cism
manifested in prac�ce of spiritually focused of the Anchorites and Cenobites, Gregory the
psychotherapy done with believing Chris�an Great and Meister Eckhardt. The need for empi-
from the Orthodox or Catholic tradi�ons. The rical studies on the func�on of conscience and
author shows how Chris�an values influence its forma�on in the pedagogical and psychothe-
the world and how on can change oneself ba- rapeu�c process is highlighted.
sed on spirituality-oriented psychotherapy by
applying consecu�ve steps. Spiritually oriented Friedemann Alsdorf presents his thoughts on
psychotherapists could benefit from this ar�cle the se�ng of therapeu�c goals in Chris�an psy-
in terms of finding direc�on for their work. chotherapy. The ques�on arises whether goals
are defined from the client’s point of view, the
Marjaana Jurvainen-Broms wrote a thought- therapist’s point of view or God’s will. The aut-
provoking ar�cle on narcissism. She dis�nguis- hor challenges the tendency to increase the
hes between thin-skinned and thick-skinned depth of the therapy and highlights the danger
narcissism based on a psycho-analy�cal under- in such an endeavor. The deeper the therapy
standing of narcissism. She argues that perso- the greater the damage in case of therapeu�c
nality is organized in different ways for these failure. He further posited that aims should be
two types. The difference stems from the way a communicated early and clearly in a therapy
child develops in his/her rela�onship with their process. The “deeper” aim might not be the
mother or primary caregiver. The interes�ng best. The reader is challenged by interes�ng
concept of “psychic skin” is presented. It refers and thought-provoking ques�ons regarding
to the idea that a child experiences the way goal se�ng in Chris�an counseling, for exam-
their mother holds them as “skin” around ple, do we s�ck to a paternalis�c model, a mo-
them. When the “psychic skin” that develops in del of service or a model of nego�a�on? In this
early childhood leads to deep disappointment a ar�cle these ques�ons are considered, and ten-
child may develop narcissism. The develop- ta�ve answers are developed.
ment of thin-skinned versus thick-skinned nar-
cissism depends on the structure of their perso- In his second ar�cle, Roland Mahler addresses
nali�es. This ar�cle provides an interes�ng and spiritual maturity. He poses the ques�on whe-
thought-provoking perspec�ve on a relevant ther spiritual maturity could be an aim or goal
topic. in Chris�an psychotherapy. He starts the ar�cle
with an overview of the terms, maturity and
Roland Mahler wrote on two relevant concepts mature as it occurred in the New Testament. He
in Chris�an counseling, i.e., conscience and offers seven theses to explain his own defini�-
faith and how it could be handled in the thera- on of the term Spiritual Maturity. His conclusi-
peu�c rela�onship. The author asserts that on is that spiritual maturity is not a specific goal
conscience serves as a barometer to show peo- in Chris�an psychotherapy, but it can be pro-
ple how lost they are and that they cannot help moted by it.
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