EP05 Dialogue 09 - Spirituality - Cloe Madanes and Jean Houston, PhD

Description:

Educational Objectives:

1. Given a topic, to describe the differing approaches to psychotherapy, and to identify the strengths and weaknesses in each approach. 

*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*

Outline:

Spirituality & Psychotherapy

• Emphasis on integrating practices like yoga, meditation, and prayer into therapy.

• Discussion of spiritual breakthroughs and the healing power of compassion and service.

• Reference to literature bridging mysticism and science.

Stages of Spiritual Experience

• Outlined stages: awakening, purification, illumination, visions, introversion, ecstasy, dark night of the soul, and union.

• Applied spiritual stages to therapeutic practice with historical and cross-cultural examples.

Chloe Madanes on Spirituality in Therapy

• Drew from personal and cultural background to inform clinical work.

• Emphasized addressing spiritual pain in victims and offenders.

• Described a family therapy model for juvenile sex offenders involving repentance, family involvement, and ritual.

Spiritual Development & Social Justice

• Stages include control, love, giving love, repentance, and forgiveness.

• Highlighted social justice as a vital aspect of therapy.

• Stressed full family participation and offender accountability.

Integrating Indigenous Practices

• Advocated blending traditional spiritual techniques (e.g., soul retrieval, drumming) with modern therapy.

• Cited examples of deeper healing for both victims and offenders.

Community & Restorative Justice

• Encouraged community involvement in healing and rehabilitation.

• Shared cultural stories and models (e.g., Iroquois) to illustrate communal restoration.

• Advocated restorative justice as more sustainable than punitive approaches.

Therapeutic Challenges & Adaptations

• Discussed adapting methods for incarcerated offenders.

• Introduced tools like one-way mirrors to protect victims during apology processes.

• Highlighted need for compassion, even toward offenders.

Hierarchy & Community Change

• Emphasized working with community leaders to address systemic abuse.

• Discussed resistance in communities and strategies for intervention.

Bridging Psychology & Theology

• Noted collaborations between psychology and theology (e.g., Fordham University, World Council of Churches).

• Emphasized growing alignment between science, spirituality, and psychology.

Closing Reflections

• Addressed situations where victims decline direct contact with offenders.

• Ended with a poem on spiritual growth.