Healing by Logos: Christian Aspects of Certain Modern Psycho-Pedagogical Practices

Abstract

Introduction. At present, psychotherapeutic practices based on theological and philosophical ideas about the human logos nature have become widespread. The human logos nature is not only expressed in the human ability to make articulated speech, but also in common characteristic for homo sapiens occupation – search for meaning in life and meaning of various events and situations, in which an individual finds himself or herself, and, the acts, which he or she performs. Similar types of psychotherapy include logotherapy, some types of cognitive-behavioural therapy and the methodology of the Russian teacher S. A. Rachinsky. These methods and practices can be called psycho-pedagogical and, also, can be considered as a separate area of pedagogy, because unlike classical psychological practices (often practicing ethical relativism), they recognise and promote traditional moral and spiritual values of Christianity.The aim of the present article is to consider attitudinal grounds and content characteristics of psychological practices based on religious and philosophical ideas about the human logos nature, from a pedagogical point of view, as the task of education and self-education.Methodology and research methods. The theoretical framework of the research was based on the explified philosophical and theological doctrines, as well as on academic writings of V. Frankl (founder of logotherapy) and M. Scheler (founder of philosophical anthropology). The empirical base consists of the materials of available documents and published sources of information, as well as of the materials obtained in the course of surveys and unformalised interviews with teachers and psychologists practicing church-psychological methods for the healing of psycho-somatic disorders and the correction of behavioural patterns. The collected and summarised information was processed by the methods of philosophical and anthropological analysis.Results and scientific novelty. For the first time, an attempt was made to describe and analyse the methods of psychological-corrective work and spiritual-moral education, representing a synthesis of psychological practices, Christian value-ideological and theological concepts. The particular examples of effective implementation of these methods are described: the school of cognitive-behavioural therapy in Vladivostok, organised by Archpriest Rostislav Moroz; the technique to heal stuttering according to the method of S. A. Rachinsky, innovatively applied by Hieromonk Ioannes (Zayats) in Kamchatka. The main result of the study is the identification of modern aspects for improving psycho-pedagogical methods in church-theological reception.Practical significance. The authors’ conclusions and research materials on modern methods of psychological correction of behavioural and psychophysiological disorders can be used when developing and designing the courses of cognitivebehavioural therapy, treatment of stuttering, in practical psycho-educational support and social work.