Spiritual Psychotherapy vs Spiritual Direction

When it comes to seeking guidance and support, it can seem like ‘muddy waters’ to consider whether or not one wishes to pursue spiritual psychotherapy or spiritual direction – both create a safe space for the client to pursue inner exploration and opportunity for healing and growth.  Both work within the client’s personal belief system and expression – both honour the client’s pursuit of personal wholeness.

Where psychotherapy focuses on the client’s emotional realm with a goal of healing old wounds and equipping the individual with healthy approaches and tools to address their everyday living and relationships, spiritual direction focuses on the individual’s spiritual life, on their pursuit for meaning in their lives, through the lens of their personal beliefs.

Here is a helpful comparison outline on the differences between the two approaches.  They can be subtle but significant:

SPIRITUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY

• Emotional/mental beliefs and attitudes

• About family-of-origin, inner child and healing the past

• Our emotional connection to self, others God/Divine Universe

• Client-centred

• Challenging perspectives and beliefs/distortions of self

• Line of inquiry

• How to meet emotional needs

• More linear exploration and guidance

• Emotional healing – psychotherapeutic techniques

• Adult-to-Child – working with acting out behaviours

• Working with suffering

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

• Spiritual beliefs and attitudes

• More about moving forward

• Our spiritual connection to self, others and God/Divine/Universe

• Client-Director centred

• Compassionate around spiritual beliefs with assertive exploration

• Less line of inquiry

• How to meet spiritual/soul needs

• Trust – a more lateral exploration and guidance

• Spiritual practice – pray, meditate, journal, contemplate and/or ritual

• Going to Adult – do not tolerate acting out behaviours

• Meaning behind suffering

People most often pursue the psycho-therapeutic relationship first, as they explore their past and seek to heal their emotional wounds.  Through therapy, clients become solidly grounded in their sense of self and being.  Doing so equips them to pursue their spiritual side freely, discovering meaning and purpose in and through their life.

Both approaches have their key benefits – and limitations.  Together, they provide holistic benefit.  We are, after all, spiritual beings having a very human experience.

If you’d like to explore one or both of these modalities, and how they may benefit you in life, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Carrie.  She would be honoured to come alongside you in your journey to wholeness.