The Specifics of Psychotherapy of Nuns

Abstract

Introduction

Nuns undertaking psychotherapeutic treatment are a particular group of patients. As human beings, they experience similar emotions, everyday worries, crises and difficulties as everyone else during social interaction, but at the same time they fill a special role in society. Presented behaviours, reactions to stressful situations, unaccepted emotional states that appear to be maladaptive, are often intensified by the rules of monastery life.

Objectives

The aim of this investigation was to uncover the most significant issues in terms of the specificity of therapeutic work with nuns.

Methods

The subjects were 12 patients (nuns) with the diagnosis of depressive-anxiety disorder (F41.2 according to ICD-10 criteria). Over the course of the last 10 years (since 2005) we observed the therapy processes of 12 nuns. The psychotherapy group consists of 12 patients at our ward. Every time there was only one nun in the group.

Results

This study gives an overview of issues and problems reported by the nuns: their sex significantly determines their position in the community of consecrated sociality, their obligations to perform specific work, the rules to follow as well as the resulting consequences for the functioning of mental health.

Conclusions

In the process of psychotherapy is important and necessary to distinguish between theological and psychological aspects, between what is secular and what is spiritual. The psychotherapy group's as well as the therapist's perception of a nun is of special importance as it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between her social role and her needs, desires, difficulties and conflicts as a human being.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.