Hi I think Gary is right on about how many therapists and other professionals would deal with an issue like this. But it raises the interesting question as to when a therapist should accept/endorse certain beliefs that might appear irrational on purely logical/scientific grounds or that are at best arational (i.e., believed independent of reason). Speaking as a non-clinician, I wonder for example whether a Rational Emotive Therapist would say that only certain (e.g., non-religious) irrational (arational??) beliefs are to be challenged? Perhaps those that clearly lead to some dysfunction or distress in the individual? Also, is it clear that not questioning such beliefs on a particular occasion would not contribute to distress in the future (pardon the double negative)? For example, it seems possible that the expectation of divine intervention might produce considerable pain on some future occasion when the intervention did not occur (or was not positive). Or the expectation might lead people to fail to take more constructive action (e.g., in the face of serious illness); that is, the belief would lead to dysfunction.
Best wishes Jim James M. Clark Professor of Psychology 204-786-9757 204-774-4134 Fax [email protected] Department of Psychology University of Winnipeg Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2E9 CANADA >>> "Gerald Peterson" <[email protected]> 28-Dec-08 11:24 AM >>> Yes, I did see that Mike. I saw the "apparition" shown also that helped the mother attribute the event to the work of angels. I think Jim C and others have given sound responses should one be really interested in carefully examining such episodes and exploring more reasonable explanations. The mother, like most who experience anomalous events, is not motivated to learn or investigate, but rather to make things fit, to have them make sense in light of her life beliefs. Clearly the mother has a spiritual belief framework that is meaningful to her and apparently one the physicians will not question. My interest is what role people think the doctors SHOULD take? What about clinical psychologists, social workers, life coaches, counselors, etc.? If you were a (clinical, counseling) psychologist working with the mom and family would anyone here seriously try to insert a scientific, or critical thinking perspective? Is your aim really education? Would it not be more reasonable and ethically responsible to offer professionally sanctioned support, comfort, and encouraging her integration of events to her particular spiritual belief framework....even if this is false? I think this is likely to be the approach of most psychologists, but I think either stance carries burdens. If the mother were a student in my class and I thought she was really interested in learning (a very challenging perspective that; being a real student), then I might respond more as an investigator or scientific psychologist. I rarely see that attitude however, and certainly not in this kind of example. Happy new year to all. Gary Gerald L. (Gary) Peterson, Ph.D. Professor, Psychology Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI 48710 989-964-4491 [email protected] >>> Michael Smith <[email protected]> 12/28/2008 1:07 am >>> So did anyone catch the CNN video interview with a doctor at the hospital where a Christmas miracle in which the girl who was taken off life support and expected to die within a short time was healed? Even though the Drs had tried to wean her several times before. The explanation of the pediatric doctor and others (including the photo of course) was that an angel had come and healed her. Is this not enough proof of the existence of angels, the afterlife, etc? --Mike P.S. I cant find the video clip anymore. It seems to have dissappeared from the CNN site otherwise I would have included the link --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
