Spiritual and Relational Formation: How Contemplative Prayer and Psychodynamic Therapy Enhance Loving God and Others

Abstract

Spiritual formation practices are not formulaic, self-help strategies for spiritual growth. They can, however, enhance our ability to fulfill the two most important commandments: to love God and to love others. Contemplative prayer is silent prayer in which one simply enjoys the presence of God. One outcome of this discipline is learning to love God for his own sake and not just for his gifts. Psychodynamic therapy can likewise enrich love for God and others. Among all of the therapeutic models, psychodynamic therapy most distinctly emphasizes relationships and even uses here-and-now interactions between therapist and client to effect change. For the Christian, contemplative prayer and psychodynamic therapy share the chief goal of loving God and others with a whole and undefended heart.