Orthodox Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy became a science several decades ago, when it became evident to physicians that the spiritual state of an individual to a great extent determines his health. It was said in ancient times that the art of healing rests upon three pillars: the knife, the curative plant, and the word. The knife represented surgery, curative plants are the basis of all medications, while the word represents the physician's concern for and active participation in the fate of the sick person.

Psychotherapy has been called upon to comfort ill and sorrowing individuals, to help them achieve an emotional balance. The goals are benevolent. However, a totally different situation exists in practice. If the physician's soul is not cleansed through repentance, if he says one thing but practices another, how will he be able to help anyone? It is impossible to help a person without possessing one's own spiritual values. For "can the blind lead the blind? Will not both fall into a pit"? (Luke 6:39) The spiritual paucity of a psychotherapy without spiritual values has made it vulnerable to an attack by a great multitude of occult psychiatric techniques (Western, Eastern, all kinds), which are impossible to count. But they do have a name. Their name is—legion.

The tragedy of modern psychotherapy also lies in the fact that it encourages man's sins and passions, and tries in all ways to elevate his self-pride. It urges the patient to disentangle himself from a mass of problems mainly with the aid of occult methods. What kind of help is that? The psychotherapist's main instrument is the word. However, psychotherapy is primarily called upon to exert not a verbal, but a spiritual influence upon the individual. Because if it is falsehood which stands behind the words, there will be no benefit from them whatsoever. Without the life-giving power of the Spirit, the word will only be an empty sound.

At present there are three leading schools of thought which dominate non-Christian psychology, namely: behaviorism, psychoanalysis, and humanistic psychology. The basis of behaviorism is the concept that man is an animal who is distinguished by verbal behavior. Such was the assertion of one of the founders of this branch of psychology, John Watson. It is quite understandable that behaviorism is logical materialism. Its therapeutic technique is behavioral psychotherapy.

Psychoanalysis also looks upon man as a highly-organized individual who is dominated by sexuality and aggressiveness. Sigmund Freud, the author of psychoanalysis, was a militant atheist who asserted that "religion is mass madness." The psychoanalytical process vaguely reminds us of confession, only without God and without repentance.

Humanistic psychology has pronounced its main idea to be an appeal to man's personality. The basic postulates of this group of psychologists are a striving for a self-revelation of the persona. In the final analysis these strivings have led them to the idea that man is the beginning and the end of creation, that his ego is of absolute importance.

Currently a fourth "wave" is gaining strength in the field of psychology. It is so-called transpersonal psychology—a destructive and vile demonic novelty. Its proponents offer the use of hyperventilation, hypnosis, specially selected music and various psychotropic medications to effect a "cleansing of the soul."

The task of physicians who have dedicated themselves to an Orthodox care for the soul is the renewal of spiritual traditions in medicine and psychology. Such physicians should hold fast to the Orthodox faith and share this treasure of salvation with their patients, love them and bear their burdens. There can be various forms of Orthodox soul-care: earnest talks, meetings with the clergy, family consultations, catechism, a psychological preparation for the sacrament of confession, the rehabilitation of individuals who have become victims of totalitarian sects and occult practices, pilgrimages, etc.

Patients should primarily be given love and heartfelt warmth, while knowledge is needed to better apply this love. The physician's task is to ensure that the patient finds peace within himself, and subsequently makes peace with God.

Opponents declare that Orthodox psychotherapy cannot exist; the physician who is a believer cannot impose his religious convictions upon other people. This is quite a difficult question of course. However, if the psychotherapist is an Orthodox believer, his soul-caring practice will be based upon Christian values. And his curative arsenal will not contain meditative techniques, hypnotic trances and other methods that bring destruction to the patient's soul. It is also obvious that the Orthodox physician will speak of faith and spiritual values only with those people who want to hear about them. Being convinced that there is only one Truth, and that it is to be found only in holy Orthodoxy, the religious physician will not treat his patients to the dogmas of other religions and confessions. Thus, the Orthodox physician will exclusively offer an Orthodox psychotherapy.