Teolog wobec psychoterapii. Szanse i zagrożenia

Abstract

Psychotherapy seems to be a popular form of psychosocial therapy available for a variety of basic education programmes. The World Health Organization defines psychotherapy as ‘(...) planned and structured interventions aimed at influencing behavior, mood and emotional patterns of reaction to different stimuli through verbal and non-verbal psychological means’. Some people claim that theologians are good psychotherapists. However, theology is not useful in explaining psychopathology as it explains God’s revelations and all aspects of humanity in the light of faith. Psychology is employed by theologians merely as an instrument for evangelization and salvation. Therefore, theologians are counselors rather than therapists. There are many forms of psychosocial procedures useful in psychiatry as described in the International Classification of Diseases 9th Edition – Clinical Modification. Theologians can cooperate with psychotherapists in providing treatment from a different perspective. They can become psychotherapists only after thorough professional training in psychopathology and psychology.