Question

[Knowledge3]

What does the Catholic Church teach in regard to psychology and psychiatry?

And how does the Church deal with mental illness?

 

[PolskiKrol]

What does the Catholic Church teach in regard to psychology and psychiatry?

And how does the Church deal with mental illness?

My spiritual director is a pshychologist. Didn't B16 say this year is the year to pray for mental illness? or was that a month or something?

 

[krstlros]

What does the Catholic Church teach in regard to psychology and psychiatry?

And how does the Church deal with mental illness?

That if a person needs the service of a psychologist or psychologist, then they should get the help they need.

We all suffer from mental illness from time to time. My Parish is involved in "The Smaritan Counseling Center" where people can go to see a trained psychologist/psychiatrist if need be. Several of my friends have taken advantage of this servce upon the recomendation of our Pastor.

Mental illness is never treated as something that we should hide from. Some people just need a little more help now and then with their problems, and if it means professional counseling then so be it.

 

[redMountian]

Healing should be for the whole person. If a person is physically ill - get a doctor, if a person is mentally ill - get a psychiatrist/psychologist and if a person is spiritually ill - get a priest.

 

[krstlros]

Healing should be for the whole person. If a person is physically ill - get a doctor, if a person is mentally ill - get a psychiatrist/psychologist and if a person is spiritually ill - get a priest.

 

[AMDG]

Well-known speaker (who is often on EWTN) Father Benedict Groeschel (of the Friars Renewal) is a psychologist.

 

[Skripper]

What does the Catholic Church teach in regard to psychology and psychiatry?

And how does the Church deal with mental illness?

The Church generally leaves that to the medical science community:

2292 Scientific, medical, or psychological experiments on human individuals or groups can contribute to healing the sick and the advancement of public health.

1673 When the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion, it is called exorcism. Jesus performed exorcisms and from him the Church has received the power and office of exorcizing. In a simple form, exorcism is performed at the celebration of Baptism. The solemn exorcism, called "a major exorcism," can be performed only by a priest and with the permission of the bishop. The priest must proceed with prudence, strictly observing the rules established by the Church. Exorcism is directed at the expulsion of demons or to the liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus entrusted to his Church. Illness, especially psychological illness, is a very different matter; treating this is the concern of medical science. Therefore, before an exorcism is performed, it is important to ascertain that one is dealing with the presence of the Evil One, and not an illness.