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 Exorcism
and Psychology
By Gail-Elaine
Tinker, M.S.
The Rite is the latest offering in films about exorcism,
a subject which never fails to fascinate movie-goers. Released
2/11, The Rite follows skeptical American seminary student
Michael Kovak, played by Colin O'Donoghue, who reluctantly
attends exorcism school. At the Vatican he is mentored by
a notorious exorcist, Father Lucas, played by Anthony Hopkins.
Hopkins plays the kind of mixed kind, expert, and fatally
flawed hero we saw in Silence of The Lambs. Trailers show
the demon fighter, Father Lucas, as a possible victim of satanic
possession. Inspired by true events, the film is based on
a 2009 book called 'The Making of a Modern Exorcist' by Matt
Baglio, who researched his book by participating in an actual
Vatican seminar on exorcism.
Exorcism is the ritual casting out of evil spirits inhabiting
body, brain or place. It has been practiced in some form throughout
history, and is sometimes considered the great-grandfather
of modern psychotherapy. Hippocrates, the father of western
medicine, was a trained exorcist. Currently the Roman Catholic
and Anglican Church quietly conduct training for clergy to
meet the high demand for exorcism.
According to Vatican policy exorcist priests regularly consult
with psychologists in an effort to determine mental disorders
from demonic possession. According to a Psychology Today article,
Exorcism and the Endangered Future of Psychotherapy by Dr.
Stephen Diamond [2008], "if exorcists can examine if
possession is psychiatric, perhaps it's time psychologists
start asking if there are spiritual sources behind pathology?
Can psychology learn something valuable about psychotherapy
from exorcism?
In general, psychology treads lightly into matters of the
spiritual. But many therapists agree that a healing of the
soul, not just the mind, is necessary for real therapeutic
success. For most clients this doesn't even come close to
the realm of exorcism, but looks more like companionship and
support through painful, difficult, disorienting crises and
the 'dark nights of the soul.'
Indeed, repressed anger, rage, and unresolved history may
feel like 'demons and devils' on the soul and their experience
may be compared to the reality of evil in this world. I see
a place for secular psychology to address evil, and assist
clients in casting out what bedevils them unmercifully, and
address the nature of spiritual hope….without exorcism rituals.
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| Gail-Elaine Tinker, M.S.
is a psychotherapist in private practice on the Lehigh Valley
PA. She was born in Philadelphia in May 1960, eldest of three
children. She was greatly interested in writing, language, theater
and music throughout her youth which opened opportunity such
as performance, travel, and academics. Gail-Elaine had planned
a career in teaching English but upon seeing the state of secondary
education in the 80s, she re-tooled her skills to become an
addictions counselor.
She was married and has a gifted son with
AS. She had a career in Art and entrepreneurial publishing
while raising him. Upon her divorce she furthered her credentials
with a Masters in Clinical Psychology and Master Levels in
Reiki training. Her goal is to change the stigma of mental
illness and facilitate positive solutions for her clients.
Gail-Elaine continues her work in trauma,
chronic pain, grief, and addictions in her general practice
of psychotherapy with art and somatic psychology. She serves
as Therapist, Consultant, Life Coach, Reiki Teacher, Advocate,
Community Speaker, Blogger [www.tinkerpsychotherapy.com],
and also as Features Contributor for PCM.
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