Beginning *

Tethered by my own self limiting intellectual capacity I humbly set out to explore Orthodoxy Psychotherapy as the most meaningful of the healing arts. The first obstacle is an agreeable disposition, one which does not distort the tradition and patristic teaching of the church while also being mindful not to misapply secular applications of the seemingly identical terms. While it is necessary to acknowledge the great philosophical chasm between Orthodox Psychotherapy and secular psychology it is not my aim dismiss secular psychological modes of treatment outright. Entrenchment in either camp is not conducive arriving at the truth. It is counterproductive to the advancement of discourse and intellectually dishonest to conceal or present a partial accounting or intentionally biased understanding of valid therapeutic treatment modalities as if fearing the contributions of another method might jeopardize the might of ones own affiliation. The church herself has long history of using the advancement of science to serve the church in areas of mathematics, engineering, architecture and alike.   It is merciful to begin where the individuals actually are and rouse their spirit to understand their spiritual malaise.  In my role as a psychotherapist I am often poised to explore with clients  a more nuanced psychotherapy where the individual is made aware of ontological causes for their decline. This existential approach begins to build the foundation and ultimately a framework which is more respectful of the dignity of the person. The Orthodox Ethos does more then address preliminary exploration regarding health and wellness it is more central to the individual, it deals directly with identity. It will determine how we relate with God with fellow man and all of creation. Science with its crude reductionism can never answer these more central questions of personhood and this is the challenge set before Orthodox practitioners to educate the faithful and those yet to have found the faith. Without condemnation we can assist as we are able in this journey of restoration. Just as a physician must provide treatment for the body regardless of the state of the soul so too we clinicians often times have to provide treatment in the interim for the mind.  After all man is has both a body and a soul and contending with this duality is appropriate.