Page 28 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 4

Comment

to “An ethic of the special”
– not only in addiction therapy
Roland Mahler talking with Werner May

Nicolene Joubert

“An ethic of the special” provides a thought provoking
Christian philosophical interpretative framework for hu-
man behavior. As the meaning of this term is explored in
the dialogue between Roland Mahler and Werner May I
became increasingly intrigued by the potential therapeu-
tic power embedded in this approach. Nicolene Joubert, South
Africa, psychologist, Founder
Reviewing the unconscious wish to be special in the light and head of the Institute
Biblical anthropology with specific reference to neuroti- of Christian Psychology
cism leads to new and challenging insights. Firstly, neu- (ICP) near by Johannesburg,
roticism, generally viewed as a symptom of pathology, is Counselling Psychologist
refined as failed attempts to fulfill the unconscious wish in private practice, Ph.D. in
to be special (a normal wish most people have) resulting Psychology from Northwest
in compensatory or avoidance behavior in the form of for University ZA. Specialized
example addiction. in trauma therapy and the
Acknowledging and voicing the wish to be special in an development of dissociative
open and honest manner opens up new avenues for the- identity disorder. Prof Joubert
rapeutic actions. One such action could be to reinterpret is the founder and chairperson
the pain caused by failure as good and necessary for a of the South African Society
deeper understanding of the true specialness embedded for the Study of Trauma and
in a God-intended self. The fulfillment of this wish is thus Dissociation.
only possiblein arelationship withGod, thesource ofour
specialness. Secondly failure is not indicative of patho-
logy but rather a searching heart. The search is for me-
aning which would emerge from a deeper understanding
of the true God-intended self.
The conversationalists make it clear that a deeper under-
standing of our uniqueness as image bearers of God is
void of false ideas of superiority but leads to humbleness
and gratefulness instead. The task of the therapist would
be to facilitate a process of openness and honesty in the
place of suppression or delusions of grandeur, typical
characteristics of a neurotic character. The ethic of the
special framework provides a beautiful intervention opti-
on as the person is encourage to not only admit the wish
for being special but to explore the true meaning of this Lacan points out that desire is based on the desire of the
in a relationship with God and others. Other. Children learn to desire what they perceive as the
desire of the Other. In therapy clients would tend to desi-
Applying this approach presents challenges such as un- re what they perceive as the desire of the Other, in this
derstanding the complexity of this framework and deve- case the therapist. The immediacy of the therapist in a
loping a practical and clear process. The complexity of live relationship with Jesus Christ and desire what Jesus
this framework lies in the paradox of being special as an (as the Other) desires would steer the therapy process in
image bearer on the one hand and being broken as a sin- the right direction, i.e. towards transformation.
ful being on the other hand. True fulfillment of our wish
is only possible when we acknowledge this paradox and Thus, this intriguing framework holds the promise of
learn to depend solely on God’s grace to become the true Holy Spirit empowered transformation (instead of trying
God-intended beings we are. The therapist is not exempt to cure symptoms of neuroticism) but needs to be de-
from thisparadox andshould jointhe groupas anequally veloped more comprehensively on both theoretical and
broken and searching soul. practical levels.

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