Thursday, October 2 (Part1) and Thursday, October 9 (Part 2), 7.30pm-9.30pm
With Michael Heffernan cfc., M.A., M.Sc., I.A.H.I.P.
Cost: €10 per session Booking essential
A holistic approach to an individual respects his/her physical, mental, emotional and spiritual qualities. In the past two centuries, many schools of psychology have tended, in varying degrees, to ignore or deny the spiritual dimension of the human being as Professor Sheila Greene of Trinity College, Dublin observes: “Mainstream psychology has been stuck in a positivist time-warp.” This is bourne out by those who express their concern that counsellors at times, overlook or downplay the support provided by the spiritual in their lives.
In these sessions we recall how certain aspects of the theories and practices of psychology were influenced by and anticipated by the great spiritual, mainly Christian, traditions. Issues such as the meaning of life, how free or determined are we by life’s circumstances, and whether or not some people are irredeemably flawed are common challenges for counselling and spirituality.
These issues are of interest not only to counsellors, psychotherapists and spiritual directors but also to those who are interested in the relationship between psychology and spirituality.
Michael Heffernan cfc., trained as a psychotherapist. He lectures on the Theories and Practice of Counselling in the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. He holds Master Degrees in Mathematical Physics from UCG and Christian Adult Education from Regis University, Denver. He is currently engaged in research with a view to publication of the interrelatedness of spirituality and psychology and that between faith and science.
