In 1972, a Catholic priest and psychologist, Henri Nouwen, wrote a book that urged ministerial counselors to make their own emotional wounds a source of healing for those they counseled. He called this book The Wounded Healer. While the concept of the wounded healer wasn’t new, the book’s title captured, in a phrase, a perspective of the therapeutic relationship that crosses counseling theories and treatment modalities. Research of the literature suggests that regardless of the counseling theory or technique in play, a therapist who is aware of, and has worked to accept his own wounds, has much to offer a client.
Historical Framework
The concept of the wounded healer is quite old. Seen throughout ancient Greek mythology, healers are portrayed as inseparable from their own persistent wounds. The figures of Chiron and Asklepios are especially prominent as Greek gods and healers who themselves are wounded. Chiron, a centaur, and master of the healing arts, was hit with a poisioned arrow...
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Crusalis, B.S. (2010). Wounded Healer, The. In: Leeming, D.A., Madden, K., Marlan, S. (eds) Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-71802-6_852
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-71802-6_852
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