Page 14 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 9

Anna Ostaszewska (Poland)

Comment to

“My Therapy Goal – Your

Therapy Goal – God’s

Therapy Goal?“
Anna Ostaszewska,
Friedemann Alsdorf gives us questions very im- psychotherapist,
portant for Christian psychotherapy and thera- supervisor, Euro-
pists and points out useful differences between pean Certificate of
therapy goals and life goals. What is my goal on Psychotherapy (ECP). President of the Asso-
the basis of my profession? What is my goal on ciation of Christian Psychologists in Poland
the basis of my spiritual view and calling? in years 1995-2009. President of the ACP
Giving these questions assumes integration of Psychotherapy Section (2009-2014). Lectu-
the professional and spiritual development of rer at the ACP Psychotherapy Study (2003-
the therapist. 2015). At present she works at the Integrative
Psychotherapy Centre in Warsaw.
The therapist should be aware of goals he or Author of the book „Psychoterapia integraty-
she wants to achieve and they should fit to the wna w podejściu chrześcijańskim” (Integra-
patient’s expectations and to the agreement. tive Psychotherapy: A Christian Approach).
Sopot: GWP, 2015.
A client comes to the psychotherapist for psy- First published eJ 2, 2012
chological healing. He needs to feel well. Former articles by Anna you can see here:
He may come to God expecting spiritual healing http://emcapp.ignis.de/1/#/58
like forgiveness of sins or expecting any healing, http://emcapp.ignis.de/1/#/78
including psychological well-being.
a situation it may be interested more in “life
The psychotherapist works in psychological di- goals” and be concentrated on spiritual healing
mension, God can work in every dimension. more than on psychological healing.
The Spiritual dimension is larger than the pu-
rely psychological, but both of them influence A different model of Christian psychotherapy is
each other and partly occupy the same area. when psychotherapy is given by Christians who
are professionals and therapy is given in centers
God’s goals can be salvation in general but in independent of a church. In this model thera-
psychotherapy it can be just psychological py is concentrated on psychological healing
healing. This psychological healing, given in a although it can take into account the spiritual
limited therapeutic process, can be a part of spi- dimension and the “life goals” of a client.
ritual healing which is the goal of life as a whole.
If it is church activity, our patients may accept
Therapy work assumes an active attitude of the more religious aspects being included in the
client. Friedemann Alsdorf points also to the therapy process.
danger of passivity when a person “expects eve- If a patient comes to a professional, he/she ex-
rything from God”. pects psychological work and healing. They
may also expect to be respected with their re-
The goals of Christian psychotherapy depend ligious experiences, attitudes and beliefs or
on a model of Christian therapy. expect some help in integration psychological
Christian therapy can be perceived (by therapist and spiritual development. But they shouldn’t
and by client) as a church activity and in such get evangelization i n s t e a d of psychotherapy.

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