Psychotherapy
& CounselingThis category covers the fields of psychiatry, clinical psychology,
psychotherapy, and counseling. Here, as elsewhere in the personal growth and
therapy field, there is an important distinction to be made between two general streams of
practice.
One stream is the field
of therapy in the sense of providing treatment for psychiatric disorders (such as paranoia
and clinical depression), which could be characterized as "abnormal." This field
is primarily covered by the psychiatrists and clinical psychologists and sometimes by
psychotherapists.
The other stream
involves psychotherapy to alleviate "normal" human suffering and provide the
counseling and support needed for growth and change. This is the stream in which we find
the growing field of transpersonal psychology, which has a large spiritual component--in
the sense of facilitating the client's acquisition of clarity in his/her perception of
self and of reality.
It is also in this
stream where we find the important work on relationships and intimacy, including such
approaches as Imago therapy work.
The distinctions between
these two streams are often blurred. Usually, it will become apparent within the first few
visits (if not sooner) if the person is in the right place.
Some people doing
spiritual growth work may be prevented from making progress by various types of
psychological or psychiatric problems (such as anxiety disorders and post traumatic stress
resulting from childhood abuse).
For these reasons, it is
helpful for the professional to define for himself and others his/her area of expertise.
It is hoped that detailed descriptions of approaches that will be provided here will
assist in the process of helping people find the appropriate professional for their needs. |
