University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014 1-1-1989 Psychotherapy and spirituality : techniques, interventions and inner attitudes. Linda May Haapanen Johnson University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1 Recommended Citation Johnson, Linda May Haapanen, "Psychotherapy and spirituality : techniques, interventions and inner attitudes." (1989). Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014. 4449. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1/4449 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: TECHNIQUES, INTERVENTIONS AND INNER ATTITUDES A Dissertation Presented by LINDA MAY HAAPANEN JOHNSON Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION September 1989 School of Education © Copyright by Linda May Haapanen Johnson 1989 All Rights Reserved PSYCHOTHERAPY AND SPIRITUALITY: TECHNIQUES, INTERVENTIONS AND INNER ATTITUDES A Dissertation Presented by LINDA MAY HAAPANEN JOHNSON Approved as to style and content by: c/^-- Janine Roberts, Chairperson of Committee Theodore Slovin, Member g. Marilyn Haring-Hidore, Dean School of Education DEDICATION I dedicate this work to the Holy and Sacred in each of us, particularly to that Spirit within each of the participants in this research. I recognize that it is this same Spirit that unifies us and has led me to each of them and in turn has led them to me. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I’m very grateful for all the assistance I have received in doing my graduate work and would like to take this opportunity to thank some of the key people publicly. Having been trained as a Family Therapist, it seems only fitting that I begin these acknowledgments by recognizing the love and constant support that I have received from my parents, Helga and Eino Haapanen. Through them and their parents, I have received a great love for and connectedness with my Finnish roots. My dear husband, Don, has always believed in me and has generously shifted his lifestyle to accommodate my years in graduate school. Mind rakastan sinua. Our six children, the next generation, Debra, Jeffrey, Russell, Cheryl, Randall, and Lauren, have learned to be there for me as much as I have been there for them. Kiitos. At the University, my heartfelt thanks go first and foremost to Janine Roberts, chair of my committee. It was in my first Family Therapy class that I was inspired and encouraged by her to continue my education. She has consistently supported me in wrestling with the inclusion of Spirit in psychotherapy, and even more than that, she has lovingly challenged me to articulate it ever more clearly. Sheryl Riechmann Hruska, member of my committee, has modeled the incorporation of spirituality into graduate courses. She has also intuitively understood and encouraged me on my spiritual path. Ted Slovin's enthusiasm for my work when he joined the committee from the Psychology Department in 1988 rejuvenated my V own excitement about the actual research. He was a rich source of referrals, both of people and of books. Two friends named "Betsy" have greatly enhanced my education: one got me in, one got me out! Betsy Waterman gave me the courage to apply to the School of Education, and she has continued her support through all these years. Betsy Howlett gave me the perseverance to write and rewrite and she became my efficient typist and computer "expert". Nancy Fisk, Tom Zink and I have met regularly since 1984 in our "dissertation support group", keeping each other going. Carole Camp is one with whom I have had a lot of history, working together on "womanspirit" issues, creating a background for this dissertation. Another faithful presence in my life has been my mentor, colleague and best friend. Chuck Farrell. There are people too numerous to mention who have supported me by writing letters of recommendation, helping me financially, and praying for me in the silence. I thank one and all. vi ABSTRACT PSYCHOTHERAPY AND SPIRITUALITY: TECHNIQUES, INTERVENTIONS AND INNER ATTITUDES SEPTEMBER 1989 LINDA MAY HAAPANEN JOHNSON M£d., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS Ed.D., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS Directed by: Professor Janine Roberts The purpose of this research was two-fold: to describe ways that therapists are consciously incorporating a spiritual dimension into their practice, and to identify the connection between the developmental level of the therapists and techniques, interventions, rituals, and inner attitudes (TIRIA) used in their incorporation of the spiritual into psychotherapy. The methodology had three phases. In Phase One, 215 questionnaires were mailed, of which 140 were returned. The responses indicated a variety of educational experience, professional trainings, religious backgrounds, spiritual experiences, and clientele. Thirty-five respondents were selected for a Phase Two phone call, which had two purposes: to select the sample for Phase Three interviewing, and to gather a description of TIRIA by asking for vignettes. Sixteen calls were half-hour interviews, while appointments were made with 12 others for a Phase Three two-hour interview. The interviews were divided into two parts, one to administer the Fowler Faith Development Interview (Fowler, 1982), Vll and one to ask for vignettes. After administering the interviews, the analyses revealed that ten face-to-face interviewees scored at Stage Five or above. Fowler was sent two interviews, but he could not corroborate these scores, because of inadequate probing. Sixty-five techniques were classified as humanistic, bodywork, transpersonal, psychic, or unique. Eight interventions and twenty- one rituals emerged. Inner attitudes proved to be the key to the transpersonal psychotherapist. Each of them had a spiritual awakening, which shifted how they perceive themselves and their clients. All practice spiritual disciplines, meditation in particular. Six interviewees were profiled to show their personal and professional evolution. The conclusions are that spirituality can be incorporated into psychotherapy through a variety of TIRIA. Therapists can learn new transpersonal TIRIA and can learn to adapt traditional techniques to include the spiritual component. Such therapists are enthusiastic about their practice, indicating an absence of evidence of burnout. More significantly, it appears that a prerequisite for any incorporation of spirituality is the choice of a spiritual path, the practice of meditation and/or work with a spiritual director. Eventually the therapist's inner spiritual Self becomes more important than any TIRIA. vm TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. v ABSTRACT. vii LIST OF TABLES. xvi LIST OF FIGURES. xvii Chapter 1. PROBLEM STATEMENT.1 Introduction.1 Statement of the Problem. 2 Purpose of Research. 3 Significance of the Study. 4 Definition of Terms. 5 Limitations of the Study. 8 Conclusion. 9 2. LITERATURE REVIEW. 1 0 What is the background of the problem? . 1 0 What techniques, interventions, and/or inner attitudes have already been described in transpersonal psychology?. 2 0 Techniques. 2 0 Interventions. 2 5 Inner attitudes. 3 2 What has been written in the relationship between the developmental level of the therapist and the incorporation of the spiritual dimension into a psychotherapeutic practice? . 3 4 James W. Fowler... 3 4 IX Stage Zero - Primal Faith. 3 7 Stage One - Intuitive Projective Faith . 3 7 Stage Two - Mythic Literal Faith . 3 8 Stage Three - Synthetic Conventional Faith . 3 9 Stage Four - Individuative Reflective Faith . 4 0 Stage Five - Conjunctive Faith. 4 \ Stage Six - Universalizing Faith . 4 3 Critique of the Model. 4 7 Spiritual Direction. 5 q The Meaning of Spiritual Direction . 5 1 The Practice of Spiritual Direction . 5 5 Hindrances in Spiritual Direction . 5 7 Vaughan's Outward Arc/Inward Arc . 6 1 Wilber's Spectrum of Consciousness . 6 5 Meditation. 6 8 The Experience of No-Self. 7 7 Summary. 8 1 3. METHODOLOGY. 8 3 Introduction and Rationale. 8 3 Research Design. 8 4 Phase One: Questionnaire. 8 4 Overview and Purpose. 8 5 Sample. 8 5 Instrumentation. 8 6 Pilot. 8 7 Procedures. 8 7 Coding and Analysis. 8 8 Phase Two: Phone Conversation. 9 7 Overview and Purpose. 9 7 Sample. 9 8 Instrumentation. 9 8 Pilot. 9 9 Procedures. 9 9 Coding and Analysis. 101 x Phase Three: In-depth Interview . 103 Overview and Purpose. 103 Sample. 1 q 5 Instrumentation. 106 Pilot. 107 Procedures. 1 q 8 Coding and Analysis. 110 Presentation of the Findings. 1 1 5 4. ANALYSIS OF THE DATA. 1 l 7 Introduction. 1 l 7 Results of Phase One, the Questionnaires . 1 1 7 Results of Phase Two, the Phone Conversations . 123 Results of Phase Three, the Interviews . 124 Results of the Fowler Analyses . 1 2 4 Coding Results. 125 Structural Assessments. 131 Form of Logic, Aspect A. 13 2 Social Perspective Taking, Aspect B . 13 4 Form of Moral Judgment, Aspect C . 13 6 Bounds of Social Awareness, Aspect D .... 139 Locus of Authority, Aspect E. 142 Form of World Coherence, Aspect F . 146 Symbolic Function, Aspect G . 149 Profiles of Selected Interviewees . 1 5 1 Philip Friedman. 15 3 Biographical Sketch. 15 3 Techniques, Interventions, Rituals and Inner Attitudes (TIRIA).1 6 1 Analysis and Critique.16 6 Phoebe Prosky. ^ ^ xi Biographical Sketch. \ 6 g Techniques, Interventions, Rituals and Inner Attitudes (TIRIA). \ 7 4 Analysis and Critique. 1 7 9 Gurucharan Singh Khalsa. 1 g 0 Biographical Sketch. 1 g 1 Techniques, Interventions, Rituals and Inner Attitudes (TIRIA). 1 g g Analysis and Critique. 1 9 1 Barbara Brennan. 192 Biographical Sketch. 1 9 3 Techniques, Interventions, Rituals and Inner Attitudes (TIRIA). 1 9 9 Analysis and Critique. 203 Roger Woolger. 204 Biographical Sketch. 205 Techniques, Interventions, Rituals and Inner Attitudes (TIRIA).