Page 104 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 5

Church Traditions for a Christian Psychology

The theories of modern psychology offer much Implications for treatment
of their wisdom in reference to the old man,
humanity in our fallen state. We do well to Invoking the Presence. We might define coun-
study these theories and glean all the insight seling as a process of finding our way to the per-
and compassion they offer. But in my Christi- plexities in our patient’s life and seeking healing
an practice of counseling I find myself looking and new life in just these places. My primary
more and more for the true one in my patient, technique is to invoke Christ’s Presence: Come,
the new man. I am less preoccupied with their Lord Jesus! (I Cor 16.22, Rev 22.20b). Our
pathology, and I am joining Christ in His see- work “consists simply of learning to invoke the
king, calling out, and integrating of the true Presence of the Lord, of coming into that Pres-
self. Not only do I find this growing orientation ence with the needy one, and there listening for
toward my patients, but also toward myself. I the healing word that God is always sending to
feel less preoccupied with the judgments of pro- the wounded and alienated. We listen with the
fessional guilds, supervisors and mentors, or needy person until such time as we can teach
the state licensing board for either affirmation him to listen for himself” (HP p. 61). The Chri-
or correction (although I certainly continue to stian counselor can invoke the Lord’s Presence
practice in ways that are legal and ethical). I be- in prayer alone before each session, silently as
lieve this is because I am listening more keenly the session begins, or in spoken prayer. This
for my Father’s voice to tell me who I am. “The- moment of invocation puts us in our right po-
re is great beauty in the movement of the soul sture, yielded and looking to Him. It saves us
as it forsakes its alienation and its inability to from being overly sympathetic and delivers us
hear and know God, and comes into a position from any temptation to be needed, powerful, or
of listening, illumination, and union with Him. good on our own, and reminds our deep heart
There is a splendid simplicity to it.” (Healing that we are not a savior or mediator, for our
Presence p. 55) Savior Himself is present. “We can remember
always that Another is with us and allow Him to
Moving in creative power. I am drawn to per- live through us. In this case, we will have works
spectives that see psychotherapy as both a sci- that will last; they will be of eternal, redeeming
ence and an art. Made in God’s image, we are value. We can then, in a most astonishing way,
called to participate with Him in creative work. bring prisoners out of the prison house, take the
Serving His healing purposes in our counse- chains off of captives” (HP p. 229).
ling practice is a creative process in the sense
of the spontaneity and emergence that we as- Imagery and symbol. The therapeutic frame
sociate with creativity, as well as in the sense of provides for attachment to and internalization
creation, new life being called into existence. I of the therapist’s trustworthy care, and provides
will replace Leanne’s word priest with our role good ritual that mediates God’s steadfastness
of counselor in this lovely description of our and love to our patients. “Reality is simply far
work: “The [counselor], while recognizing and too great to be contained in propositions. That
revering the unique soul, listens intently to its is why man needs gestures, pictures, images,
cries for help. He listens also, with all his being, rhythms, metaphor, symbol, and myth. It is also
to God, the Creator of his soul, and collaborates why he needs ceremony, ritual, customs, and
with the Spirit of God to free it from chaos, to conventions: those ways that perpetuate and
order, to give form and meaning to the soul that mediate the image and symbols to us” (Healing
is there - whole, complete in the mind of God. Presence p. 146). Establishing and maintai-
The Spirit broods over us and the situation. He ning the schedule for sessions, the agreements
comes into us who are [counselors serving] Al- about payment, and the process of beginning
mighty God, and He does it! This is healing and ending each session are all meaningful and
prayer. This is true creativity” (HP p. 78). healing aspects of the treatment. We also offer
healing to our patients when we tend to how
disruptions in the frame cause distress and are

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