Spiritual Affliction and the Deliverance Process as Opportunities for Psychospiritual Growth

This article examines spiritual affliction and the deliverance process as psychospiritual growth opportunities. The authors discuss St. John Chrysostom's view of the Church as a hospital. In hospitals, in deliverance/exorcism ministry, and in psychotherapy, the hoped-for goal is complete healing, freedom, and recovery. However, even when this is not achieved, tremendous growth may occur, such as diminishing self-focus, turning away from maladaptive behaviors, finding meaning in suffering, increasing virtue, shifting from isolation toward community, posttraumatic growth, and spiritual growth. The authors discuss the relevance of spiritual affliction to mental health professionals (MHPs), since MHPs may support people to embrace these growth opportunities. Two novel psychotherapeutic approaches are described: Transtheoretical Cognitive-Behavioral Dynamic Integrative Therapy (TCBDIT) and Trauma-Focused Treatment (TFT). Both of these approaches include building virtue, meaning, and hope.