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From: Liv Marit Dalen
Date: 10/20/02
Time: 10:35:11 AM
Remote Name: 193.217.137.181
I'm sorry I wasn't aware that you had sent me a question,therefore this belated response. Note that I did not say outside of faith, I said outside of CHRISTIAN faith. I do not believe that I need a saviour to save me from my sins or to help me with my shortcomings or with my stuttering (if I did stutter.) I do believe in a strong power that you may call God, Allah or whatever you wish. I feel awe towards this power, and I get a strong spiritual wellness when I see all the beauty of nature and the miracles that happen in people's lives. I feel like I am a part of God's great creation. I feel perfectly comfortable with this attitude.
It is good that you have found a faith that you feel can help you with your problems. I also think that it is legitimate to establish a Christian Therapy Centre or something along that line, as those who don't want to come to such a place for therapy will be able to avoid it. I still think, however, that incorporating your paper and in this way offering spiritual guidance along with therapy can be problematic. You have emphasized that you are not a professional in this matter. If someone brings up a religious matter I think you should refer the person to a professional spiritual leader for guidance. I am afraid that you very easily could find yourself entangled in something that would be difficult to handle. I understand that it is difficult to hold back one's enthusiasm when you think you have "seen the light". I have also noted from the replies in this discussion that people who are of the same faith want to include your paper when treating clients. This, I feel, is even more unfortunate, as they all will interpret the paper in their own way, and also probably extend what you regard as "appropriate situations." We have a Norwegian saying: "Shoemaker, stick to your last". I am sure that you have mastered your profession very well, and I am happy that you have a strong faith, but I strongly believe these should not be mixed when you practice your profession.