The Deontological Dimension of Orthodox Psychotherapy: Between Science and Faith

Orthodox psychotherapy occupies a distinctive position at the intersection of contemporary psychotherapy and Orthodox spiritual guidance. While it incorporates the methodological rigor of contemporary psychotherapy, it is simultaneously informed by the anthropological and moral vision of the Orthodox Christian tradition. Consequently, therapeutic responsibility cannot be understood exclusively through professional deontological norms or solely through spiritual guidance. This article examines the deontological foundations of Orthodox psychotherapy by analyzing the relationship between professional ethics, bioethical principles and spiritual responsibility. Particular attention is paid to the ethical obligations of the Orthodox psychotherapist, the distinction between the roles of the psychotherapist and the priest, and the specific forms of professional responsibility that arise from the integration of professional competence, ethical discernment and spiritual conscience. Beyond reviewing the existing literature, the paper proposes an integrative conceptual model of therapeutic responsibility based on the interaction between professional competence, ethical discernment and spiritual conscience. The paper argues that the originality of Orthodox psychotherapy lies not in replacing scientific knowledge with spirituality, but in integrating these complementary dimensions within a unified ethical framework that preserves both professional standards and the spiritual vocation of care.