the beautiful mind? htb london :: 26th march 2010 sptc.htb.org.ukmindandsoul.info prayer ministry...

The Beautiful Mind?HTB London :: 26th March 2010

www.psuche.co.uk sptc.htb.org.ukmindandsoul.info

Prayer Ministry and Psychology:

The Relationship and the Risks

Dr Tara GormleyChartered Clinical Psychologist

Psuché Consulting



Introductions• Me (Cutland, 2000)

• You?• Psychology is the scientific study of people,

the mind and behaviour. It is both a thriving academic discipline and a vital professional practice. – BPS.

• Prayer Ministry: ’By being open and responsive to the working of the Holy Spirit, we pray that God's love, guidance and healing power would be released for the benefit of His people and to His glory.’ www.prayerguide.org.uk



Overview

• Psychological aspects of prayer ministry

• Limits / risks of Prayer Ministry• Limits / risks of Psychological

Therapy for Christians• Psychology and Prayer Ministry

working together• Questions



Psychological aspects of prayer ministry

• Interpersonal care

• State of Emotional Openness• Propositional / rational vs Implicational /

experiential• Implicational / experiential via

a) rational system (Bible, spoken words, etc)b) emotionally significant experiences (e.g. relationships)c) sensory experiences (music, pictures, Holy Spirit sensations)



Limits / Risks of Prayer Ministry

• If seen as the only way so appropriate help not sought

• If promotes quick-fix mentality– breakthrough vs breakdown– post-traumatic growth

‘When the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.’

James 1:3&4 (TLB)



Limits / risks of Psychological Therapy for

Christians (Cutland, 2000; Smiley, 2001) • Lack of training in religious / spiritual issues• Non-religious therapists using Christian CBT

more effective than Christian therapists; respectful engagement with faith most important?

• Benefits of non-Christian therapist• Benefits of Christian therapist• Faith of therapist less important than being

appropriately skilled?



Psychology and Prayer Ministry Working Together

Parker & St John(1992) 10 year experiment:

• Random Prayer• Psychotherapy• Prayer [&] Therapy



Psychology & Prayer Ministry Working Together

• Random Prayer – no / backward progress

• Psychotherapy – 65% improvement

• ‘Prayer Therapy’ – 72% improvement




• Insights psychology can add:

– Worry– Intrusive thoughts– Forgiveness– Panic– Etc.




• Case example

• Finally…And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:9-11

the beautiful mind? htb london :: 26th march 2010 sptc.htb.org.ukmindandsoul.info prayer ministry...

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