Healing souls

Book Description

In the complex landscape where faith meets modern psychology, religious communities have long grappled with fundamental questions about healing the human spirit. Eric Gottfrid Swedin explores this fascinating intersection through the lens of the Latter-day Saint experience, revealing how one religious tradition navigated the tension between spiritual beliefs and emerging psychological sciences.

This thoughtful examination traces the evolution of attitudes within the LDS community as members wrestled with embracing professional mental health practices while preserving their theological foundations. Swedin chronicles the gradual acceptance of psychology courses at Brigham Young University and the emergence of LDS psychotherapists who sought to bridge two worlds of healing.

The narrative highlights pivotal figures like Allen E. Bergin, whose leadership at BYU's Institute for Studies in Values and Human Behavior helped establish new pathways for integrating faith-based perspectives with therapeutic practice. Through the development of professional organizations such as the Association of Mormon Counselors and Psychotherapists, a unique approach to mental health emerged.

Swedin delves into complex topics including religious perspectives on psychological disorders, feminist voices within the tradition, theological approaches to sexuality, and the community's selective adoption of therapeutic methods that aligned with doctrines of family salvation and spiritual growth. This scholarly work illuminates how religious communities can thoughtfully engage with modern healing practices while maintaining their spiritual identity, offering insights relevant to anyone interested in the intersection of faith and psychological well-being.