Abstract

Studies have shown that people are more willing to seek out a mystic healer or rely on religion and spirituality for healing than engage in psychotherapy. Accordingly, it is important that mental health practitioners better understand the mechanisms by which religion and mysticism engage people as well as how they provide their clients with a sense of purpose and meaning. In doing so, psychological practitioners may benefit from identifying the ways these fields connect with their audience. The purpose of the current paper is to delineate the common threads or similar goals of mysticism, religion, and psychotherapy. In addition, the manuscript highlights divergent themes that may have crucial implications for clinical practice – specifically, take-home messages about what can be learned from these disciplines, what psychotherapy is missing, and how psychological practice might be enhanced. Recommendations are provided for the practicing clinician.

Authors and Affiliations