The heart of healing: spiritual dimensions of counseling and psychotherapy

Abstract

The primary purpose of this paper is to theoretically explore the work of counseling and psychotherapy from a spiritual orientation. The central premise suggests that there is a dynamic spiritual dimension of the human experience that may be penetrated through counseling and psychotherapy. Accessing this spiritual dimension is said to provide significant insight, healing, and growth. It is therefore considered the heart of healing. The four common factors known to be responsible for positive outcomes in therapy are shown to parallel key elements of traditional healing. This offers clues to recognizing and affirming spiritual dimensions of healing. An overview of transpersonal psychology provides important theoretical models for understanding such spiritual dimensions of human consciousness. Therapeutic factors, including the therapeutic relationship, therapeutic techniques, and the therapeutic environment are further discussed from a spiritual and transpersonal orientation. Concluding remarks reiterate the importance of therapists developing an active spiritual life as a foundation of spiritually oriented counseling and psychotherapy.