Changes

===Is Psychotherapy a Profession?===

===Is Psychotherapy a Profession?===

1. Strictly speaking the answer is no. How could a separate profession be one in which everyone is engaged? And how could any limits be laid on an interaction in which everyone is both patient and therapist in every relationship in which he enters? Yet practically speaking, it can still be said that there are those who devote themselves primarily to healing of one sort or another as their chief function. And it is to them that a large number of others turn for help.

1. Strictly speaking the answer is no. How could a separate [[profession]] be one in which everyone is engaged? And how could any [[limits]] be laid on an [[interaction]] in which everyone is both patient and therapist in every [[relationship]] in which he enters? Yet practically speaking, it can still be said that there are those who [[devote]] themselves primarily to [[healing]] of one sort or another as their chief function. And it is to them that a large number of others turn for help.

That, in effect, is the practice of therapy. These are therefore "officially" helpers. They are devoted to certain kinds of needs in their professional activities, although they may be far

That, in effect, is the [[practice]] of therapy. These are therefore "officially" helpers. They are devoted to certain kinds of needs in their professional activities, although they may be far

more able teachers outside of them. These people need no special rules, of course, but they may be called upon to use special applications of the general principles of healing.

more able [[teachers]] outside of them. These people need no special rules, of course, but they may be called upon to use special applications of the general principles of healing.

2. First, the professional therapist is in an excellent position to demonstrate that there is no order of difficulty in healing. For this, however, he needs special training, because the curriculum by which he became a therapist probably taught him little or nothing about the real principles of healing. In fact, it probably taught him how to make healing impossible. Most of the world's teaching follows a curriculum in judgment, with the aim of making the therapist a judge.

2. First, the professional [[therapist]] is in an excellent position to [[demonstrate]] that there is no order of difficulty in [[healing]]. For this, however, he needs special [[training]], because the [[curriculum]] by which he became a therapist probably taught him little or nothing about the real [[principles]] of [[healing]]. In fact, it probably taught him how to make healing impossible. Most of the world's teaching follows a curriculum in [[judgment]], with the aim of making the therapist a judge.

3. Even this the Holy Spirit can use, and will use, given the slightest invitation. The unhealed healer may be arrogant, selfish, unconcerned, and actually dishonest. He may be uninterested in healing as his major goal. Yet something happened to him, however slight it may have been, when he chose to be a healer, however misguided the direction he may have chosen.

3. Even this the [[Holy Spirit]] can use, and will use, given the slightest invitation. The unhealed healer may be [[arrogant]], [[selfish]], unconcerned, and actually dishonest. He may be uninterested in healing as his major [[goal]]. Yet something happened to him, however slight it may have been, when he chose to be a healer, however misguided the [[direction]] he may have chosen.

That "something" is enough. Sooner or later that something will rise and grow; a patient will touch his heart, and the therapist will silently ask him for help. He has himself found a therapist.

That "something" is enough. Sooner or later that something will rise and grow; a patient will [[touch]] his [[heart]], and the therapist will [[silently]] ask him for help. He has himself found a therapist.

He has asked the Holy Spirit to enter the relationship and heal it. He has accepted the Atonement for himself.

He has asked the Holy Spirit to enter the [[relationship]] and heal it. He has [[accepted]] the [[Atonement]] for himself.

4. God is said to have looked on all He created and pronounced it good. No, He declared it perfect, and so it was. And since His creations do not change and last forever, so it is now.

4. [[God]] is said to have looked on all He created and pronounced it [[good]]. No, He declared it [[perfect]], and so it was. And since His creations do not [[change]] and last forever, so it is now.

Yet neither a perfect therapist nor a perfect patient can possibly exist. Both must have denied their perfection, for their very need for each other implies a sense of lack. A one-to-one relationship is not one Relationship. Yet it is the means of return; the way God chose for the return of His Son. In that strange dream a strange correction must enter, for only that is the call to awake. And what else should therapy be? Awake and be glad, for all your sins have been forgiven you. This is the only message that any two should ever give each other.

Yet neither a perfect therapist nor a perfect patient can possibly exist. Both must have denied their perfection, for their very need for each other implies a sense of lack. A one-to-one [[relationship]] is not one Relationship. Yet it is [[the means]] of return; the way God chose for the return of His Son. In that strange [[dream]] a strange correction must enter, for only that is the call to [[awake]]. And what else should therapy be? Awake and be glad, for all your sins have been [[forgiven]] you. This is the only message that any two should ever give each other.

5. Something good must come from every meeting of patient and therapist. And that good is saved for both, against the day when they can recognize that only that was real in their relationship. At that moment the good is returned to them, blessed by the Holy Spirit as a gift from their Creator as a sign of His Love. For the therapeutic relationship must become like the relationship of the Father and the Son. There is no other, for there is nothing else. The therapists of this world do not expect this outcome, and many of their patients would not be able to accept help from them if they did. Yet no therapist really sets the goal for the relationships of which he is a part. His understanding begins with recognizing this, and then goes on from there.

5. Something [[good]] must come from every meeting of patient and therapist. And that good is saved for both, against the day when they can [[recognize]] that only that was real in their [[relationship]]. At that moment the good is returned to them, [[blessed]] by the [[Holy Spirit]] as a gift from their [[Creator]] as a sign of His Love. For the therapeutic relationship must [[become]] like the relationship of [[the Father]] and [[the Son]]. There is no other, for there is nothing else. The therapists of this world do not [[expect]] this outcome, and many of their patients would not be able to [[accept]] help from them if they did. Yet no therapist really sets the [[goal]] for the [[relationships]] of which he is a part. His [[understanding]] begins with recognizing this, and then goes on from there.

6. It is in the instant that the therapist forgets to judge the patient that healing occurs. In some relationships this point is never reached, although both patient and therapist may change their dreams in the process. Yet it will not be the same dream for both of them, and so it is not the dream of forgiveness in which both will someday wake. The good is saved; indeed is cherished. But only little time is saved. The new dreams will lose their temporary appeal and turn to dreams of fear, which is the content of all dreams. Yet no patient can accept more than he is ready to receive, and no therapist can offer more than he believes he has. And so there is a place for all relationships in this world, and they will bring as much good as each can accept and use.

6. It is in the instant that the therapist forgets to judge the patient that [[healing]] occurs. In some [[relationships]] this point is never reached, although both patient and therapist may [[change]] their dreams in the [[process]]. Yet it will not be the same dream for both of them, and so it is not the dream of [[forgiveness]] in which both will someday wake. The [[good]] is saved; indeed is cherished. But only little time is saved. The new dreams will lose their temporary [[appeal]] and turn to dreams of [[fear]], which is the content of all dreams. Yet no patient can [[accept]] more than he is ready to [[receive]], and no therapist can offer more than he believes he has. And so there is a place for all relationships in this world, and they will bring as much good as each can accept and use.

7. Yet it is when judgment ceases that healing occurs, because only then it can be understood that there is no order of difficulty in healing. This is a necessary understanding for the healed healer. He has learned that it is no harder to wake a brother from one dream than from another. No professional therapist can hold this understanding consistently in his mind, offering it to all who come to him. There are some in this world who have come very close, but they have not accepted the gift entirely in order to stay and let their understanding remain on earth until the closing of time. They could hardly be called professional therapists. They are the Saints of God. They are the Saviors of the world. Their image remains, because they have chosen that it be so. They take the place of other images, and help with kindly dreams.

7. Yet it is when [[judgment]] ceases that [[healing]] occurs, because only then it can be [[understood]] that there is no order of [[difficulty]] in healing. This is a [[necessary]] understanding for the healed healer. He has learned that it is no harder to [[wake]] a brother from one [[dream]] than from another. No professional therapist can hold this understanding consistently in his [[mind]], offering it to all who come to him. There are some in this world who have come very close, but they have not accepted the gift entirely in order to stay and let their understanding remain on earth until the closing of [[time]]. They could hardly be called professional therapists. They are the Saints of God. They are the Saviors of the world. Their [[image]] remains, because they have chosen that it be so. They take the place of other images, and help with kindly dreams.

8. Once the professional therapist has realized that minds are joined, he can also recognize

8. Once the [[professional]] therapist has realized that minds are joined, he can also [[recognize]]

that order of difficulty in healing is meaningless. Yet well before he reaches this in time he can go towards it. Many holy instants can be his along the way. A goal marks the end of a journey, not the beginning, and as each goal is reached another can be dimly seen ahead. Most professional therapists are still at the very start of the beginning stage of the first journey. Even those who have begun to understand what they must do may still oppose the setting-out. Yet all the laws of healing can be theirs in just an instant. The journey is not long except in dreams.

that order of difficulty in [[healing]] is meaningless. Yet well before he reaches this in time he can go towards it. Many [[holy instants]] can be his along the way. A goal marks the end of a [[journey]], not the beginning, and as each goal is reached another can be dimly seen ahead. Most professional therapists are still at the very start of the beginning stage of the first [[journey]]. Even those who have begun to understand what they must do may still oppose the setting-out. Yet all the [[laws]] of healing can be theirs in just an instant. The journey is not long except in [[dreams]].

9. The professional therapist has one advantage that can save enormous time if it is properly used. He has chosen a road in which there is great temptation to misuse his role. This enables him to pass by many obstacles to peace quite quickly, if he escapes the temptation to assume a function that has not been given him. To understand there is no order of difficulty in healing, he must also recognize the equality of himself and the patient. There is no halfway point in this.

9. The professional therapist has one [[advantage]] that can save enormous [[time]] if it is properly used. He has chosen a road in which there is great [[temptation]] to misuse his role. This enables him to pass by many [[obstacles]] to peace quite quickly, if he [[escapes]] the temptation to assume a [[function]] that has not been given him. To understand there is no order of difficulty in healing, he must also recognize the [[equality]] of himself and the patient. There is no halfway point in this.

Either they are equal or not. The attempts of therapists to compromise in this respect are strange indeed. Some utilize the relationship merely to collect bodies to worship at their shrine, and this they regard as healing. Many patients, too, consider this strange procedure as salvation. Yet at each meeting there is One Who says, "My brother, choose again."

Either they are equal or not. The attempts of therapists to [[compromise]] in this respect are [[strange]] indeed. Some utilize the [[relationship]] merely to collect bodies to [[worship]] at their [[shrine]], and this they regard as [[healing]]. Many patients, too, consider this strange procedure as [[salvation]]. Yet at each meeting there is One Who says, "My brother, choose again."

 

===The Question of Payment===

===The Question of Payment===

1. No one can pay for therapy, for healing is of God and He asks for nothing. It is, however, part of His plan that everything in this world be used by the Holy Spirit to help in carrying out the plan. Even an advanced therapist has some earthly needs while he is here.

1. No one can pay for therapy, for healing is of God and He asks for nothing. It is, however, part of His plan that everything in this world be used by the Holy Spirit to help in carrying out the plan. Even an advanced therapist has some earthly needs while he is here.