Psychotherapy and Spirituality

Living in the milieu where almost every human experience is attributed to supernatural forces, religion becomes an important factor to reckon with. Psychology and spirituality seem to be so mixed up that many mental illness are believed to be caused by spiritual attacks; or evil spirit. In many occasions spiritual deliverance wrongly replaces psychotherapy without lasting solution. In a Catholic Parish set up in Ibadan, in addition to administrative duties, the pastoral work encompasses spiritual direction, conflicts resolution, post traumatic events, loss and bereavement, anxiety and depression and many others mental illness that need a professional assistance. Having examined what happens in some churches in the course of pastoral activities, it is evident that there is a cheer need to keep closely spiritual direction and healing with professional psychotherapy not only in view of discernment of what is proper to spiritual realm and mental health but also to bring about lasting solution to a client. So to say, in the above context, a proper and efficient help to the person depends on the use of tools provided by both spirituality and psychotherapy.