Psychotherapy and religion: construction of subjective sense and the experience of the sacred

Authors

  • Maurício da Silva Neubern Instituto de Psicologia - UnB

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v14i2.14937

Keywords:

subjective sense, religion, psychotherapy

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the construction of subjective sense is highly significant in understanding the sacred experiences in psychotherapy. The paper also underlines the construction of sense as a way to recognize religious experience as a specific field that should not be reduced to other fields of knowledge, as is traditionally done in many scientific models and psychotherapy approaches. A clinical example is used to illustrate how understanding subjective sense is essential in generating dialogue possibilities during psychotherapy, and for creating a therapeutic context that qualifies the coping mechanisms of the subject. The paper concludes by emphasizing that religious experience is especially productive in constructing subjective senses, that dialogue is a way to access the world of others, and that belief systems and social practices are technical possibilities that enable subjects to deal with their own necessities.  

 

Keywords: subjective sense; religion; psychotherapy.

 

Author Biography

Maurício da Silva Neubern, Instituto de Psicologia - UnB

Dr em Psicologia, Psicólogo Clínico.  Departamento de Psicologia Clínica, Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade de Brasília.

How to Cite

Neubern, M. da S. (2010). Psychotherapy and religion: construction of subjective sense and the experience of the sacred. Interação Em Psicologia, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v14i2.14937

Issue

Section

Articles