Hindsight: Amos- Use of a Dissociation Model in Pastoral Care Administration

Oates Journal - Voulme 3, 2000 (ISSN: 1098-1446)

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"My vocation in pastoral care has taken me into the world of administration...when done in a healthy manner, it helps make the world of pastoral ministry safe, efficient, and certainly healthy. I am continuing to discover the many ways in which clinical dynamics are relevant in the administrative arena.”

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-- ABSTRACT OF ARTICLE --

Use of a Dissociation
Model in Pastoral Care Administration

by William E. Amos, Ph.D.

My vocation in pastoral care has taken me into the world of administration. I recognize that there are many for whom administration is a "necessary evil." Yet I find that it is not only a part of my calling, but when done in a healthy manner it helps make the world of pastoral ministry safe, efficient, and certainly healthy. I am continuing to discover the many ways in which clinical dynamics are relevant in the administrative arena. My desire in this presentation is to develop a clear and practical style of administration that utilizes the clinical treatment skills embodied in dissociation. My intention is to utilize eight principles in dissociative treatment applicable to administration. These principles have arisen from my research as well as personal experiences with dissociative persons.

The first principal in dealing with dissociation is to be able to embrace the reality that while there is obviously one person with whom you are doing treatment, there are at the same time numerous ego states with which one must deal.

A second principle of dissociative treatment that parallels good administration is that the whole as well as all of the parts need to be affirmed and honored.

The third principle in treatment of dissociative personalities that parallels healthy administration has to do with the dynamic of avoiding seduction.

A fourth principle in dissociative treatment is that the movement towards health and healing lies solely in the leadership by the host personality.

A fifth dissociative treatment principle is that of reframing the identity functioning of the individual parts.

A sixth dissociative principle is closely related to the one above. When reframing is not possible, then integration or fusion needs to take place.

A seventh principle of dissociative treatment is the principle of the absolute importance of the necessity of inter-ego state communication.

The final dissociative treatment principle confronts the need for spiritual wholeness.

Dr. William Amos is the Regional Director of the Pastoral Counseling Services of North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC. His doctoral research was on the subject of a pastoral/theological response to dissociation.

Copyright © 2002, Wayne E. Oates Institute. All rights reserved.
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