Page 199 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 7

Forum “Guidance

Through the
William R. Miller (USA) Holy Spirit
Accessing Wisdom during During the

Psychotherapy: From Information to Counseling

Transformation or Therapy

Many have written about stages or processes through which one pas- Session:
ses in becoming a psychotherapist. A model I find useful is Tobin Hart’s Blessings and
(2009) treatise on the evolution of consciousness in which he described
six “depths of knowing” in the process of education more generally. Most Problems”
shallow of these acquiring facts or information with which one can know
something about a subject. With experience information can (but does
not necessarily) become knowledge reflected in competence, the ability
to demonstrate a skill. Hart termed the third level intelligence, an abi-
lity to use the knowledge flexibly, to reflect on and evaluate one’s own
work by grasping both the how and the why of practice. A further depth
emerges in understanding that takes into account the interpersonal rela-
tionship within which practice occurs. This requires empathy, the abili-
ty to understand, accept and accommodate another’s perspective. Many
therapists would assume that a competent practitioner should manifest
all four of these levels.

It is at the fifth level of wisdom that Hart began to draw on the ancient in- William R. Miller,
sights of sages and mystics. A key indicator of this depth is discernment: Ph.D., Emeritus Di-
knowing which inclinations to trust and follow: “when and how to linger stinguished Professor
and when to move on” (p 111). Wisdom involved intuiting, timing, pati- of Psychology and
ence, vulnerability, curiosity, and comfort with ambiguity. It goes beyond Psychiatry, The Uni-
the logical intelligence of why and how, beyond the relational perspecti- versity of New Me-
ves of understanding to be guided by something more. xico. Dr. Miller’s pu-
blications include 40
Yet what is this “something more” and to what extent should we trust it? books and over 400
This involves being aware that such wisdom is accessible, attending to it, articles and chapters.
and discerning when guidance is coming from a reliable source versus Fundamentally inte-
our own ego. Many names are given to a source of deeper wisdom: Holy rested in the psycho-
Spirit, agape, inner or third eye, collective unconscious, true self, Buddha logy of change, he has
mind, the eye of the Tao. The concept crosses world religions, which vary focused in particular
in advice on how to discern reliable guidance. Collective discernment on the development,
is emphasized in various transitions including Quaker and Presbyterian testing, and dissemi-
faiths, but is not readily available to a psychotherapist in session except nation of behavioral
by accessing the client’s own wisdom, which is surely an option (Miller treatments for addic-
& Rollnick, 2013). “How do you know when to rely on felt guidance?” is tions.
a worthwhile question that can be explored in the context of supervision
or collegial consultation. References
Hart, T. (2009). From in-
formation to transforma-
Hart described a further level of depth as transformation, when wisdom tion: Education for the
becomes not just what you do but who you are. It becomes integrated, na- evolution of consciousness
tural, mature, creative, flowing. There is “no one else to tell us the truth” (Rev. ed.). New York: Peter
(p. 170) because the truth is written on the heart. We may aspire to such Lang Publishing.
Miller, W. R., & Rollnick,
depth, but as a Presbyterian and a scientist I worry about any claim to S. (2013). Motivational
have achieved it that is not accountable to collective discernment. interviewing: Helping peo-
198 ple change (3rd ed.). New
York: Guilford Press.