Changes

4. Regardless of how sincere the therapist himself may be, he must want to change the patient's self-concept in some way that he believes is real. The task of therapy is one of reconciling these differences. Hopefully, both will learn to give up their original goals, for it is only in relationships that salvation can be found. At the beginning, it is inevitable that patients and therapists alike accept unrealistic goals not completely free of magical overtones. They are finally given up in the minds of both.

4. Regardless of how sincere the therapist himself may be, he must want to change the patient's self-concept in some way that he believes is real. The task of therapy is one of reconciling these differences. Hopefully, both will learn to give up their original goals, for it is only in relationships that salvation can be found. At the beginning, it is inevitable that patients and therapists alike accept unrealistic goals not completely free of magical overtones. They are finally given up in the minds of both.

===The Limits on Psychotherapy===

===The Limits on Psychotherapy===

1. Yet the ideal outcome is rarely achieved. Therapy begins with the realization that healing is of the mind, and in psychotherapy those have come together who already believe this.

1. Yet the [[ideal]] outcome is rarely [[achieved]]. [[Therapy]] begins with the [[realization]] that [[healing]] is of [[the mind]], and in psychotherapy those have come together who already believe this.

It may be they will not get much further, for no one learns beyond his own readiness. Yet levels of readiness change, and when therapist or patient has reached the next one, there will be a relationship held out to them that meets the changing need. Perhaps they will come together again and advance in the same relationship, making it holier. Or perhaps each of them will enter into another commitment. Be assured of this; each will progress. Retrogression is temporary.

It may be they will not get much further, for no one learns beyond his own readiness. Yet levels of readiness [[change]], and when therapist or patient has reached the next one, there will be a [[relationship]] held out to them that meets the changing need. Perhaps they will come together again and advance in the same relationship, making it holier. Or perhaps each of them will enter into another [[commitment]]. Be [[assured]] of this; each will [[progress]]. [[Retrogression]] is temporary.

The overall direction is one of progress toward the truth.

The overall [[direction]] is one of [[progress]] toward the [[truth]].

2. Psychotherapy itself cannot be creative. This is one of the errors which the ego fosters; that it is capable of true change, and therefore of true creativity. When we speak of "the saving illusion" or "the final dream," this is not what we mean, but here is the ego's last defense.

2. [[Psychotherapy]] itself cannot be [[creative]]. This is one of the [[errors]] which the [[ego]] fosters; that it is capable of true [[change]], and therefore of true creativity. When we speak of "the saving [[illusion]]" or "the final [[dream]]," this is not what we mean, but here is the ego's last [[defense]].

"Resistance" is its way of looking at things; its interpretation of progress and growth. These interpretations will be wrong of necessity, because they are delusional. The changes the ego seeks to make are not really changes. They are but deeper shadows, or perhaps different cloud patterns. Yet what is made of nothingness cannot be called new or different. Illusions are illusions; truth is truth.

"[[Resistance]]" is its way of looking at things; its [[interpretation]] of progress and [[growth]]. These interpretations will be wrong of [[necessity]], because they are [[delusional]]. The changes the ego seeks to make are not really changes. They are but deeper [[shadows]], or perhaps different [[cloud]] patterns. Yet what is made of nothingness cannot be called new or different. Illusions are illusions; truth is truth.

3. Resistance as defined here can be characteristic of a therapist as well as of a patient.

3. [[Resistance]] as defined here can be characteristic of a therapist as well as of a patient.

Either way, it sets a limit on psychotherapy because it restricts its aims. Nor can the Holy Spirit fight against the intrusions of the ego on the therapeutic process. But He will wait, and His patience is infinite. His goal is wholly undivided always. Whatever resolutions patient and therapist reach in connection with their own divergent goals, they cannot become completely reconciled as one until they join with His. Only then is all conflict over, for only then can there be certainty.

Either way, it sets a [[limit]] on psychotherapy because it restricts its aims. Nor can the [[Holy Spirit]] fight against the intrusions of the [[ego]] on the therapeutic [[process]]. But He will wait, and His [[patience]] is [[infinite]]. His goal is wholly undivided always. Whatever [[resolutions]] patient and therapist reach in connection with their own divergent [[goals]], they cannot become completely [[reconciled]] as one until they join with His. Only then is all [[conflict]] over, for only then can there be [[certainty]].

 

4. [[Ideally]], psychotherapy is a [[series]] of holy encounters in which brothers meet to [[bless]] each other and to [[receive]] the [[peace]] of God. And this will one day come to pass for every "patient" on the face of this [[earth]], for who except a patient could possibly have come here? The therapist is only a somewhat more specialized [[teacher of God]]. He learns through [[teaching]], and the more advanced he is the more he teaches and the more he learns. But whatever stage he is in, there are patients who need him just that way. They cannot take more than he can give for now. Yet both will find [[sanity]] at last.

===The Place of Religion in Psychotherapy===

===The Place of Religion in Psychotherapy===

1. To be a teacher of God, it is not necessary to be religious or even to believe in God to any recognizable extent. It is necessary, however, to teach forgiveness rather than condemnation. Even in this, complete consistency is not required, for one who had achieved that point could teach salvation completely, within an instant and without a word. Yet he who

1. To be a teacher of God, it is not necessary to be religious or even to believe in God to any recognizable extent. It is necessary, however, to teach forgiveness rather than condemnation. Even in this, complete consistency is not required, for one who had achieved that point could teach salvation completely, within an instant and without a word. Yet he who