Page 49 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 9

Keith Houde (USA)
From Brokenness to
Beatitude: Therapeutic
Goals of the Flourishing
Person
“Where there is no vision, the people are un-
restrained, but happy is he who keeps the law”
(Proverbs 29:18, NASB).
In the fragmented field of contemporary psy-
chology, wandering outside the gates of the
Garden of Eden, there are many divergent
trails and contradictory guides. The materia-
list reductionist promotes seeking pleasure and
avoiding pain. The evolutionary functionalist
suggests whatever randomly works for the or-
ganism to adapt to its environment. The secular
humanist encourages trust in one’s viscera and
subjective emotions. The idealist relativist and
social constructivist advocate creation of one’s
own identity and reality. There are many pitfalls
on the path. It is difficult to see through the fog.
It is easy to lose one’s way!
Within this context, it is particularly important
to consider the values of the psychotherapist
within his or her psychotherapy. Ancient wis-
dom recognized that a counselor may succumb
to self-interest, relativism, and indifference:
Every counselor praises counsel, but some give
counsel in their own interest. Be wary of a coun- image of God within us, and reminds us of our
selor, and learn first what is his interest—for he
will take thought for himself—lest he cast the
lot against you and tell you, “Your way is good,”
and then stand aloof to see what will happen to
you. (Sirach 37:7-9, RSV)
Jones (1994) recognized that “therapists are
human beings whose values and morals must
participate in their human relationship with
the client” and that “religious presuppositions
are intrinsic to the nature of psychotherapeutic
and personality theory” (p. 191). There is sub-
stantial evidence that “values are constantly at
play in psychotherapy” (Bergin, 1991, p. 396).
The selection of therapeutic goals are inevitably
based upon values regarding desirable changes,
48
Keith A. Houde
is Associate Pro-
fessor of Psycho-
logy and Chair
of the Depart-
ment of Psy-
chology at Ave
Maria Universi-
ty in southwest Florida, USA. His prima-
ry scholarly interest is the theological an-
thropology and philosophical psychology
of Karol Wojtyła/Pope John Paul II and its
implications for a Catholic psychology of
persons.
Keith.Houde@avemaria.edu
Former article by Keith you can see here:
http://emcapp.ignis.de/5/#/42
and the values underlying therapeutic goals are
necessarily founded upon a philosophy of hu-
man nature (Bergin, 1980).
For the Christian psychologist, there is a need
to return to a true Christian anthropology. The-
re is a need to return to Christ, the new Adam,
present at human creation and intimately fa-
miliar with our nature: “Jesus…knew what was
in man.” (John 2:24-25, RSV; cf. Psalm 139:13,
Proverbs 30:4, Colossians 1:16). There is a need
to return to Christ who redeems us, restores the
calling: “Christ the Redeemer ‘fully reveals man
to himself’” (John Paul II, 1979, n. 10, citing
Gaudium et Spes, n. 22).
From the perspective of a Christian approach
to psychology, there is a need for therapeutic
goals to be consistent with the nature of hu-
man nature. Karol Wojtyła/Saint John Paul II
(1960/1981) stated it this way: “There are ob-
viously illnesses in which the help of a specia-
list…is necessary, but the advice given by such
specialists must take into account the totality
of human aims, and above all the integral, per-
sonalistic concept of man” (p. 287). Otherwise,
there is the risk that therapy may do more harm