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

Abstract

The Case of Olav (Stålsett, 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 longterm 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.

Reflections on Olav's Therapy: The Roles of Religious Experience, Self Psychology, and Mentalization

“…Central questions are in what way and by what means we address religious issues within the framework of psychodynamic psychotherapy. Richards (2010) and Jones (2010) comment on these questions from different perspectives. Richards refers to what he calls "spirituallyoriented treatment approaches" in which therapists "incorporate spiritual interventions into their practices" (pp.…”

“…The commentaries by Richards (2010), Jones (2010), and Malitzky (2010) agree that Olav has truly changed and that it seems more than plausible that treatment is responsible for the changes that have taken place. Thus, the two first questions posed by Elliott seem to be answered positively.…”

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ABSTRACTCommentaries on the case study of Olav (Stålsett, Engedal & Austad, 2010) by Richards (2010), Jones (2010, and Malitzky (2010) identify and discuss a number of key issues associated with the case study, including the study's scientific value, the importance of religious experience in relation to psychopathology and psychotherapy, and the roles of selfpsychology, attachment, and mentalization in the therapy change process. In our response to the commentaries, we address these issues.

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