Confession and psychotherapy: conversion and psychological transformation

Abstract

In this article the author considers a comparison between confession and psychotherapy, specifically between the confession by Roman catholics and relational family therapy. At first sight both look similar, however, they reflect the significant differences between two distincs scientific disciplines, namely Roman catholic theology and psychotherapy. The author wants to draw attention to a risk of inappropriate comparisons, therefore he refers to theological terminology describing the confession and psychotherapeutic terminology describing relational family therapy. The confession and psychotherapy concern different areas ie. moral and psychological dimensions of a person. For this reason they are not compatible, although we have to admit, that therapy includes the spiritual dimension and that confession has a therapeutic character. Their common ground is the relationship; there is no change either in confession or in psychotherapy without it.