EFFECTIVE WORK WITH BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN PATIENTS IN ANALYSIS

By Elissa Lin Rathe

This dissertation provides a practical manual for the psychoanalytic community who may wish to work more effectively with born again Christian patients in analysis. The fundamental beliefs of the born again Christian are delineated, to serve as a reference guide for the non-born again community. Two long-term born again Christian patients’ session notes, along with various vignettes of other born again Christian patient analyses are used to demonstrate the issues involved in working with this population. A review of the literature helps to delineate additional practical tools for working with this population. Issues examined in this thesis include how transference toward God is similar to transference toward one’s parents, and can be studied as such. Healthy versus unhealthy spirituality is defined and effective tools are suggested for resolving the use of unhealthy spirituality as a form of resistance. Countertransference of the born again Christian analyst as well as of the non-born again analyst in working with this population is discussed.

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