The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Olav's Treatment and Recovery: Commentary on an Exemplary Case Report

Authors

  • P. Scott Richards Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14713/pcsp.v6i2.1025

Keywords:

spirituality, existential, psychodynamic, case study, evidence-based treatment, God image

Abstract

The Case of Olav (Stalsett, Engedal, & Austad, 2010) offers in-depth insight from a spiritually and existentially informed psychodynamic perspective of how religious and spiritual issues may be intertwined with psychopathology. This case report also shows how psychological and spiritual interventions can be used in an integrative manner to help patients with severe long-term psychopathology. Ultimately the case provides convincing quantitative and qualitative evidence that an in-depth working through of Olav's pathological inner representations of self and God were instrumental in his psycho-spiritual healing and recovery.

Author Biography

P. Scott Richards, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah

Dan Fishman, Ph.D. Editor-in-Chief, Pragmatic Case Studies in Psychotherapy Professor of Clinical and Organizational Psychology Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology Rutgers University Mailing address: 57 Jaffray Court Irvington, NY 10533 914-693-8549 fax: 603-917-2567 email: dfish96198@aol.com

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Published

2010-07-11

Issue

Section

Case Study