Veselova Elena

Ethical and psychological aspects of a psychotherapist’s religious identity

Abstract

The paper deals with the problem of relationship between types of religious identity of the psychotherapist and the client. The aim of the study is to analyse ethical and psychological implications of diff erences in the psychotherapist’s and the client’s religious identity. The type of religiosity of the therapist aff ects principles of work with the client as well as techniques that he or she prefers, the vision of goals and objectives of therapy, the style of work with the client. Diff erent variants of distribution of the therapist’s and the client’s types of religiosity aff ect the course of the psychotherapeutic interaction, the therapist’s rapport with the client, ways of interpretation, the nature of the intervention, etc. Modern Russian psychotherapeutic sphere demonstrates a wide range of religious and spiritual orientations, and is fi lled with diverse ideological and philosophical content, which is still insuffi ciently researched. It is argued that the expansion of Western psychotherapeutic schools in the national psychotherapy and practical psychology, which began during the Perestroika period, is continuing today and is aimed at the alteration of the consciousness of Russian customers. Religious identity of many customers appears rather immature; moreover, many of them can be vaguely aware of their own moral principles. These clients may experience intrapersonal confl icts related to the therapist’s interpretations, particularly if he or she has a diff erent type of religiosity, which may lead to mutual misunderstanding.

Keywords

religious identity, spirituality, relationship between therapist and client, spiritual development of personality, ideology, moral choice, ethics, subconscious beliefs, moral principles, Christianity, humanism

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Information about the author

Veselova Elena