While the Roman Catholic Church offers numerous spiritual practices, rituals, and traditions in support of its mission as it cares for the souls of the faithful, few of these elements of Catholic life have been subjected to quality empirical research to examine their potential psychotherapeutic benefits. Mental health professionals specializing in Catholic integrated psychotherapy may benefit from reflecting on how the most common elements of Catholic engagement, including celebrating the Eucharist through the Mass, participating in the sacrament of reconciliation (i.e., confession), engaging in prayer and contemplation (e.g., Lectio Divina, Rosary, Centering Prayer), participating in fasting and sacrifice, volunteering in the community (e.g., parish life, charitable works), and fully participating in various stage of life rituals (e.g., baptism, first communion, confirmation, marriage, anointing of the sick) can enhance psychological, relationship, and behavioral health and functioning. The purpose of this article is to reflect on the potential psychological, behavioral, and relationship benefits of several common elements of the Catholic faith and practice through the lens of what we know about psychology and human behavior from many decades of research and clinical practice. In this way, mental health professionals working with Catholic clientele can better understand, appreciate, and use the wisdom of the Catholic tradition in their psychotherapeutic efforts with patient permission and both professional competence and humility.
Thomas G. Plante (Sun,) studied this question.