Spiritual Care and Therapy: Integrated Perspectives

A.J. Pell is rector of Christ Church in Hope, B.C., editor of the
Canadian Evangelical Review, and an instructor of Liturgy, Anglican
Studies Programme at Regent College in Vancouver, B.C.

Spiritual Care and Therapy is aimed at a relatively small group of
specialists: those providing counselling services in, or training
counsellors for, clinical pastoral agencies, hospitals, and other
institutions. The focus is on clinical practice, not congregational
work, for as VanKatwyk makes clear in the introduction, he is more
concerned with “spiritual care” than with “pastoral care.” By
the latter he means a faith-based (usually Jewish or Christian) ministry
of care, whereas “spiritual care” denotes “a pluralistic and
inclusive practice that reflects on ... intrinsic qualities of the human
spirit.”

Much of this book is a reworking of material previously published in
The Journal of Pastoral Care and similar publications. What is new is
the way VanKatwyk has reworked and arranged the material to create an
overarching theoretical approach (Part 1) that covers both the spiritual
care of clients (Parts 2 and 3) and the training of counsellors (Part
4). His goal is to equip counsellors and therapists to work in a
multi-faith environment, a noble intention. But the reader must question
the practicality of the attempt. While many people do define themselves
as “spiritual” (interested in ultimate meaning and the supernatural)
rather than “religious” (involved in spiritual practices within a
specific religious institution and tradition), experience suggests that
most people seem to seek help with a reasonably clear idea of whether
they want therapy or spiritual guidance. VanKatwyk’s approach assumes
that therapy can do both for those who stand at a distance from any
religious structure. But can the “intrinsic qualities of the human
spirit” provide sufficient grounding for spiritual growth in a crisis
situation? This book does not convince the reader that it can.