Page 129 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 7

Challenges for Christian Psychology

image. This suggests that the participant of Fi- Vietnamese immigrants’ mental issues which
gure 1 with a positive God image may integrate are stigmatized culturally and often described
well, in the sense of dramatic events becoming as somatization or rationalization of feelings as
meaningful with time (Durand, 2005), and that a common way of expression (Chung, & Kaga-
this participant could actualize the present mo- wa-Singer, 1995). The AT.9 test therefore ap-
ment by selecting events that were meaning- pears relevant to therapy in collective cultures
ful in the past with regard to a hope for future (Sun, 2004).
(Poirel & Hillairet, 1968, Dorais 2007). This falls The theoretical implication of the present fin-
in line with the findings of Bellehumeur and ding is that regardless of cultural differences,
colleagues (2011, 2012, 2013) that the positive innate human capacity of the imaginary is uni-
form of the synthetic category of the imagina- versal in the sense that it seeks meaning and
ry associating with various positive dimensions avoids pain (Durand, 2005). This imaginative
(i.e. high level of spirituality, of meaning ma- capacity is demonstrated in ability to form and
king and of integration) corresponds to a higher transform images of Divine and of life and is re-
self-esteem (Bellehumeur & Lavoire, 2013; Le- vealed in life-narrative and drawing. These are
febvre, 2005). The results of Figures 1 and 2 are coherent with people’s positive God images that
consistent with the study of Rizzutto (1979) on would help safeguard against distress and inno-
using the imaginary to draw images of God; she vate a project of new life (Borch, 2013) or vice
found that participants’ images of God reflected versa regarding the unstructured categories.
their vision of self, of life and the world (p.91). The current anthropological findings therefore
Finally, the results of the current study support lent support to the field of Counselling and Spi-
the link between Vietnamese participants’ Ima- rituality that is concerned with human develop-
ges of God and the imaginary category. Sugge- ment as the whole (Greene, 2002).
stions for future research are numerous in the Counselling and Spirituality are concerned with
context of the reemergence of psychological human growth (spirit, mind and body as a who-
research associating with spirituality in multi- le) and environment interaction, so it would be
cultural settings. useful to take into consideration the communal
dimensions of those who come from collective
Implications cultures. In this context, Zinnbauer (2013) re-
Observing participant engagement when doing commends an integrative model for theory, re-
the AT.9 test (a total of 32 participants for the search and practice that we thought that would
doctoral dissertation, see Nguyen, 2014), the be relevant. For instance, he takes into conside-
principal researcher proposes that the use of ration multiple dimensions, multiple methods,
the AT.9 in Counselling to work with Vietna- multiple contexts, and flexibility, personal and
mese immigrants having a traumatic history is communal backgrounds (p.73). Durand (2005)
relevant. Reflecting with them on the isolated with his AT.9 test allowing people expressing
elements in their drawing could lead to aware- themselves through drawing and storytelling is
ness and a change for the better (Laprée, 2004). an advanced technique for bridging the cultural
As in Art therapy that allows people to express gap. The participants’ examples could be also
unspeakable tragedy and make sense out of it used as referent for researchers who are inte-
through drawing (Appelton, 2011), the AT.9 test rested in the multicultural context and an inter-
(Durand, 2005) with drawing and storytelling disciplinary approach.
would be used as a therapeutic tool to access

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