Psychotherapies embracing ancient spiritual traditions

In my training in psychotherapy I was often curious to try to understand how I could integrate my faith and Christian spirituality into the psychology of what I was learning. There are two therapy approaches I came across that I found to be particularly helpful as they had considered the wisdom and learning found in many ancient spiritual traditions.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT is considered to be a third wave CBT approach to therapy. When I came across this model it kind of resonated with my spiritual view and I found a model that honoured psychology and spirituality. At least I felt that I could make connections with how the two could be integrated.

In ACT the emphasis is on cultivating inner awareness, 'vigilance' or 'watchfulness' over thoughts, as well as learning how to accept uncomfortable feelings rather than try to get rid of, suppress or project them on to others. Through acceptance and perhaps also 'letting go' we are more likely to be able to master our emotions, rather than have them master us. This skill would lead to what In ACT is called greater 'psychological flexibility'. In my mind this has been the purpose of the prayerful, contemplative practice of monks and sages for centuries prior to the dawn of modern psychology, dating back to St Anthony of Egypt and the early desert fathers in the Christian tradition. To act on, and be led by the spirit rather than the patterns of thinking and feeling that sometimes bind us in behaviours that are not helpful when trying to live a rich, full and meaningful life or 'abundant life' as Jesus called it.

Stephen Hayes, the founder of ACT had researched what different spiritual traditions taught us about how to handle difficult thoughts and feelings so that they had less power and influence over us. Hence, he concluded the skills a person needs to develop are what in ACT are called 'Mindfulness skills' and 'Values clarification'. Mindfulness is a universal concept that anyone in our culture can embrace regardless of any identification with a particular faith or spirituality rooted in a religious tradition. It has become widely accepted in the secular world.

By cultivating mindful awareness of inner thoughts, sensations and feelings, we can learn to 'observe' them rather than be 'caught up' in them or 'pushed around' by them. We develop a 'witnessing' or 'observing' SELF that can step back from or 'defuse' from thoughts and a Self that can hold and contain painful feelings compassionately and kindly. Rather than acting out of these, a person can then use their Values to determine the committed actions they want to take. In so doing, living a life guided by values rather than on reactions to difficult thoughts and feelings leads to a richer, fuller and more meaningful life.

ACT is an evidence-based practice that has been shown to be effective in treating stress, anxiety and depression. Here is a great video explaining it by Dr Russ Harris.

Faith Based ACT for Christian Clients.

There are four Greek Words explored in the book by Joshua J Knabb Faith: 'Based Act for Christian Clients', that helped me work with the ACT model and integrate it from a Christian spiritual perspective. HESCYHIA which is cultivating inner stillness to become aware of the presence of God and this is somewhat parallel to what ACT would call contacting the present moment. NEPSIS which is the idea of 'watchfulness' or 'vigilance' over thoughts in order to defuse from them; NOUS which is to view things from the 'eye of the soul' which is similar to the concept of the 'Observing Self' in ACT; and HUPOMONE which means to endure with hope and maps onto the idea of Acceptance of Feelings in ACT. This would be the idea that life is difficult and painful things happen and we do suffer and feel pain, but these things can be experienced (acceptance) and endured because we have a certain HOPE in Christ, within us, that anchors the soul from the 'storms of life'.

Cultivating these 4 attributes: Hesychia, Nepsis, Nous and Hupomone can be attained through silence and stillness, meditation and contemplation on the gospels (cultivating mindfulness). These spiritual practices become habitual and are akin to developing the character of 'Mary' in us, the one who sat at Jesus feet. 'Martha' the one who served can be identified with acting on values and taking committed action. 'Martha' and 'Mary' are both needed and can be developed within us. ACT focuses on values that are entirely self determined and subjectively chosen, 'the things that matter most to me' rather than being guided and informed by what we learn about God in the scriptures. This thinking might need a little revising in the Christian mind who will draw on values as modelled in the person of Jesus to act as a compass in life. We might also think in terms of living virtuously and draw on the four great cardinal virtues of Aristotle- justice, courage fortitude, temperance as well as the theological virtues of faith, hope and love.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) Richard Schwartz

IFS is an empowering psychotherapy that embraces ancient spiritual traditions. It is perfectly suited to anyone who is seeking a greater sense of wholeness and unity within themselves.

IFS tells us that we all have inside of us an 'internal family' of people which are known as 'parts'. Parts are really subpersonalities, they are not the real 'authentic' you. We can learn to build a relationship with these 'parts' by accessing the SELF.

Here are my many parts in relation to my SELF

The Self in IFS is the seat of our consciousness. It is the pure essence inside each of us (the spiritual self). The 'Self' can not be harmed or destroyed, so regardless of what psycho-social damage or trauma we carry in life there is a deeper part of us that is untouched by this. Self is not a part. Accessing the Self is the way in which we heal . When individual 'parts' come into a relationship with the Self and when their positive intentions are understood, they can progressively let go of their protective function as they learn to allow the Self to govern and lead. When parts are dominating the personality the Self is obscured.

There are different types of 'parts' in IFS. Some are protective 'managers' trying to keep you functioning and stable and to prevent you from feeling painful emotions. They might show up in behaviours like 'being perfect', 'pleasing others' 'being strong' as well as things like intellectualism, conflict avoidance, one-sided caretaking, controlling others or obsessing about appearance. 'Firefighters' also want to extinguish emotional pain and prevent you feeling more vulnerable parts which are called 'Exiles'. They come into play after emotions have surfaced and may cause more drastic behaviours like addictions, cutting, eating disorders, excessive shopping or suicidal ideation.. 'Exiles' are often carrying the wounds of our childhoods and hold the more vulnerable feelings we were not safe to feel or reveal growing up. They often carry fear and shame, anger., sadness, feelings of rejection or abandonment. Exiles were banished long ago to keep the 'child' safe and 'managers' were created to enable survival and protection.

We may overidentify with a 'part' and then think that this is me, but it isn't the real you. The real you is in the Self. The Self has 8 C qualities: Caring, Compassionate, Confident, Calm, Curious, Courageous, clarity, creativity and Connectedness. It also has 5 P qualities: Patience, Perspective, Presence, Persistence and Playfulness. When we are able to live from the Self and not from a part, we are better able to express the person that we aspire to be deep down in our hearts. To do this, we need to grow in awareness of our 'parts', understand their thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs and find freedom from the painful burdens that they carry. Ultimately when the parts are seen, soothed and made safe and secure by the SELF they can take a back seat and let the SELF determine get into the driving seat and lead your life.

IFS and Christian Clients

There are easy parallels to make with IFS and a Christ-centred spirituality. Christians would see that believers are in union with Christ. As new creations in Christ the old self has gone and the new has come. So the real self is that which is centred in/ in union with Christ. It's not hard to see that in the IFS concept the idea of SELF can be considered through the lens of Christ in us, who is the authentic life we aspire to live with all the 8C and 5P qualities and a whole lot more.

At Humanwise both of these therapies are available regardless of faith tradition, spirituality or belief or secular viewpoint. I for one have found them enormously helpful.