Against the background of a great number of client-files of his own therapeutic practice the author explores the field of religious themes in relation to the therapeutic process. As starting point there are two questions: 'in which manner clients moot religious themes?' and 'from which attitude (out) is the psychotherapist intervening?' By comparison with other positions there is preference for the psychotherapist as a sort of 'companion': the one who is facilitating the client in exploring religious themes in an unprejudiced manner as an integrating part of therapeutic process. Five characterizing situations are illustrated. The proper possibilities of client-centered psychotherapy are focussed. Attention is further paid to: the difference between the psychotherapist and the religious counsellor, the childlike-imaginary dimension of religion, the active limiting destructive behaviour, the purification by the psychotherapist of the own conception of life, referring to colleagues.
The tPeP (Journal Person-centered experiential Psychotherapy) is the scientific journal for Dutch and Flemish psychotherapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists, that work from, or are interested in a client-centered perspective.
