Psychotherapy and Spirituality
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University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014 1-1-1994 Psychotherapy and spirituality : a narrative exploration of the therapeutic uses of theories, strategies, and techniques derived from the spiritual traditions : or, if you see the Buddha on the road, invite him into your session. Dorothy Firman University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1 Recommended Citation Firman, Dorothy, "Psychotherapy and spirituality : a narrative exploration of the therapeutic uses of theories, strategies, and techniques derived from the spiritual traditions : or, if you see the Buddha on the road, invite him into your session." (1994). Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014. 5056. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1/5056 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PSYCHOTHERAPY AND SPIRITUALITY: A NARRATIVE EXPLORATION OF THE THERAPEUTIC USES OF THEORIES, STRATEGIES, AND TECHNIQUES DERIVED FROM THE SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS or IF YOU SEE THE BUDDHA ON THE ROAD, INVITE HIM INTO YOUR SESSION A Dissertation Presented by DOROTHY FIRMAN Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION February 1994 School of Education © Copyright by Dorothy Firman 1994 All Rights Reserved PSYCHOTHERAPY AND SPIRITUALITY: A NARRATIVE EXPLORATION OF THE THERAPEUTIC USES OF THEORIES, STRATEGIES, AND TECHNIQUES DERIVED FROM THE SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS or IF YOU SEE THE BUDDHA ON THE ROAD, INVITE HIM INTO YOUR SESSION A Dissertation Presented by DOROTHY FIRMAN Approved as to style and content by: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To all Buddhas of past and present, Buddhas of future time, I give thanks... THE HEART OF PERFECT WISDOM The Bodhisattva of Compassion from the depths of prajna wisdom saw the emptiness of all five skandhas and sundered the bonds that caused him suffering. Know then: Form here is only emptiness, emptiness only form. Form is no other than emptiness, emptiness no other than form. Feeling, thought, and choice, consciousness itself, are the same as this. Dharmas here are empty, all are the primal void. None are born or die. Nor are they stained or pure, nor do they wax or wane. So in emptiness no form, no feeling, thought, or choice nor is there consciousness. No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind; no color, sound, smell, taste, touch, or what the mind takes hold of, nor even act of sensing. No ignorance or end of it nor all that comes of ignorance: no withering, no death, no end of them. Nor is there pain or cause of pain or cease in pain or noble path to lead from pain, not even wisdom to attain, attainment too is emptiness. So know that the bodhisattva holding to nothing whatever but dwelling in prajna wisdom is freed of delusive hindrance, rid of the fear bred by it, and reaches clearest nirvana. IV All buddhas of past and present, buddhas of future time through faith in prajna wisdom come to full enlightenment. Know, then, the great dharani the radiant, peerless mantra, the supreme, unfailing mantra, the Prajna Paramita, whose words allay all pain. This is highest wisdom true beyond all doubt, know and proclaim its truth: Gate, gate para gate para sam gate bodhi, svaha! v PSYCHOTHERAPY AND SPIRITUALITY: A NARRATIVE EXPLORATION OF THE THERAPEUTIC USES OF THEORIES, STRATEGIES, AND TECHNIQUES DERIVED FROM THE SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS FEBRUARY 1994 DOROTHY FIRMAN BA., GODDARD COLLEGE M A., BEACON COLLEGE Ed. D UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor John Wideman The problem addressed by this study is the insufficient information in the professional literature which describes the personal experience of therapists as they endeavor to incorporate spirituality into their therapeutic work. Fourteen practitioners, in various counseling and psychotherapy modalities were interviewed about their work in the field, in an effort to fill that gap. In all cases subjects reported that they were working actively in their professions with an interface of spirituality and psychotherapy. Many common themes and experiences emerged and at the same time, each story was unique. The research included a literature review of both psychological and spiritual texts as well as review of the researcher’s own experience of twenty years of work in the dual worlds of spirituality and psychotherapy. VI Data gathered was coded for the emergent categories and themes. The categories included: the participants' personal journey as it lead them to their current work and the interface in that work of spiritual and psychological perspectives, the spiritual views and beliefs of the participants, their general experience of work with people, their understanding of clients’ spiritual issues, the techniques and strategies of a spiritual nature that the subjects use in their work, and the problems that they experience as a result of the interface of spirituality and psychotherapy. Case illustrations were offered by subjects to illustrate their work. Profiles of each participant, organized through these categories, and presented in their own words, offered an expression of the lived, subjective experience that each shared with the researcher. Thematic analysis of each category further refined the elements of subject experience and offered a data base for emerging implications. The implications include: the need for greater openness between the fields of spirituality and psychotherapy, the need for greater educational and clinical inclusion of spirituality as a valid topic for consideration, the need for clients to be able to actively pursue, with their helping professionals, the spiritual issues in their lives, the need for spiritual traditions to open themselves more fully to an inclusion of psychological components, the need for more literature from practitioners practicing at this interface, and the larger need in this culture for inclusion of spirituality in all aspects of life. VII TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.iv ABSTRACT.vi Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION.1 Spirituality in Psychotherapy.1 Background of the Problem.3 Statement of the Problem.5 Purpose of the Study.6 Method.7 Significance of the Study.8 Limitations of the Study.9 2. LITERATURE REVIEW: THE SPIRITUAL TRADITION.10 Introduction.10 The Researcher’s Quest: The Background.11 Towards a Spiritual Perspective.14 The Masters Speak.20 The Researcher's Quest: The Present.28 3. LITERATURE REVIEW: SPIRITUALITY IN PSYCHOTHERAPY.32 Introduction.32 Therapists’ Relation to Spirituality.32 Healing from Illness.34 Meditation and Psychotherapy.38 The Practitioners Speak.42 The Impact of Personal Experience.43 Therapists’ Use of Spiritual Processes.46 Techniques.49 Client Experience...55 Summary.57 VIII 4. METHODS AND PROCEDURES.59 Design of the Study.59 Participants in the Study.60 Pilot Study.61 Interview.61 Procedure.62 Analysis. 62 Limitations.65 5. PARTICIPANT PROFILES. 67 Introduction.67 “Drums and Rattles”.69 The Personal Journey.69 Spiritual Views.72 Working with People.73 Spiritual Issues in the Work.74 Techniques.74 Problems.76 Case Illustration.77 Closing Thoughts.78 “Miracles”.78 The Personal Journey.79 Spiritual Views.83 Working with People.84 Techniques.85 Problems.85 Case Illustration.86 Closing Thoughts.....86 “Minds and Bodies”. 87 The Personal Journey.. 87 Spiritual Views.89 Working with People. 90 Spiritual Issues in the Work.91 Techniques..92 Problems. 93 IX Case Illustration.93 Closing Thoughts.94 "Helper".95 The Personal Journey.95 Spiritual Views.97 Working with People.98 Spiritual Issues in the Work.99 Techniques.100 Problems.101 Case Illustration.102 Closing Thoughts.103 "Voice".104 The Personal Journey.105 Spiritual Views.108 Working with People.109 Spiritual Issues in the Work.110 Techniques.Ill Problems.112 Case Illustration.113 Closing Thoughts.114 "Strider".115 The Personal Journey.116 Spiritual Views.116 Working with People.117 Techniques.120 Closing Thoughts.121 "Philosopher".123 The Personal Journey.123 Spiritual Views.125 Working with People.127 Techniques.128 Problems.129 Case Illustration.130 Closing Thoughts.130 x "Business Man” 131 The Personal Journey. 131 Spiritual Views. 132 Working with People.132 Techniques.133 Case Illustration.135 Closing Thoughts.135 "Wise Old Woman".136 The Personal Journey... 137 Spiritual Views.137 Working with People.138 Spiritual Issues in the Work.139 Techniques.139 Problems.140 Case Illustration.140 Closing Thoughts.141 "Doors".142 The Personal Journey.142 Spiritual Views.143 Working with People.144 Spiritual Issues in the Work.147 Techniques.148 Problems.150 Case Illustration.151 Closing Thoughts.151 "Synergy"...151 The Personal Journey.152 Spiritual Views. 153 Working with People.153 Spiritual Issues in the Work. 155 Techniques. 156 Problems. 157 Case Illustration. 157 Closing Thoughts.158 XI "Medicine Man” 158 The Personal Journey....159 Spiritual Views.160 Working with People.161 Spiritual Issues in the Work.....163 Techniques.. 164 Problems.164 Case Illustration. .165 "Cards”.168 The Personal Journey.169 Spiritual Views.171 Working with People.171 Spiritual Issues in the Work.172 Techniques.172 Problems.173 Case Illustration.174 Closing Thoughts.175 "Spiritual-Practical”.175