The first of three supplements to A Course in Miracles that Helen Schucman "scribed" through inner dictation, this pamphlet discusses the

a course in miracles

application of Course principles to psychotherapy. Many students of the Course have found this discussion very helpful.
The therapist must learn to save time by separating truth from illusion. He must also recognize that he and the patient are equal in value.
Basic Principles

A Course in Miracles is a self-study spiritual thought system consisting of a Text, a Workbook for students, and a Manual for Teachers. It teaches that the way to universal love and peace-or remembering God-is through undoing guilt by forgiving others. It also focuses on healing relationships and making them holy.

It is a metaphysical work, and the language used in it is that of traditional Christianity, although it does not claim to be a religion. It is an experiential, not a theoretical, teaching, and it emphasizes practice in the daily Workbook lessons. Its goal is not just enlightenment, but the transformation of this world into God's eternal dream.

The Course's approach to psychotherapy is unique. It emphasizes that a change of perception is required for healing, and it teaches that there is no order of difficulty in miracles. The only limit to healing is our deep-seated belief that one kind of illness is more serious than another. For example, a belief that cancer is more severe than a cold could prevent us from seeing the miracle of a miraculous cure for it.

In a Course in Miracles therapy session, the therapist takes on the role of miracle worker and uses her own healing ability to assist a client in experiencing a miracle. The client is expected to be open to receiving a miracle and to cooperate with the miracle worker. For the miracle to be successful, it must be given from the healer's mind to the receiver's mind. The healer must channel true perception, which shines into the patient's mind and becomes his own.

Forgiveness is the key to a miracle, and the miracle itself is a result of forgiveness. Until the level of forgiveness at which the miracle is received is sufficient, the miracle will be limited in its effect. Unlike other forms of therapy, the Course stresses that a miracle does not require intervention by God Himself to be performed. However, the miracle does need the cooperation of the miracle worker to operate. It is the Holy Spirit's function to bring miracles into this world, and He needs the miracle worker's willing cooperation with Him in order to do it.
Methods

The method of miracles psychotherapy focuses on healing the mind. It asks the patient to begin to separate truth from illusion and to forgive the ego's decisions. This is the goal of therapy and it is not a quick or easy process. It takes time, patience and practice. But the benefits are well worth the effort.

One of the most effective ways to help clients open up to new possibilities is to ask them a miracle question, which was developed by Steve de Shazer, one of the pioneers of solution focused brief therapy (SFBT). This type of question bypasses concerns about how the problem will be solved and jumps straight into the mechanics of what will happen when it is resolved. It can also be useful to use exception questions, which are designed to help clients identify times when their problems weren't so problematic.

Another powerful tool in miracles psychotherapy is the ability to recognize that all problems are ultimately related to love. This is because the ego is based on fear, and love is the opposite of fear. When a client understands that all of his difficulties are ultimately related to love, he begins to see them in a different light. He is then able to choose differently, and the result is that he experiences less fear and more joy.

The methods of miracles psychotherapy are similar to those used in other forms of psychotherapy, such as psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral and behavioral therapy. The most important difference, however, is that the goal of miracles psychotherapy is to heal the ego and return it to sanity. This is accomplished by recognizing the power of love over the fears of the ego, which have led to all of its suffering and loss. It is also achieved by separating truth from illusion, and forgiving the ego's decision to be separate from love. Once this is done, the ego has been saved and healed. It can then be re-evaluated, and the right-minded thoughts of love are chosen instead of the fearful thoughts of the ego. This is the true purpose of all healing, and it is what makes this type of psychotherapy unique.
Techniques

The goal of miracles psychotherapy is not to heal the patient, but to remove the blocks that keep him from experiencing love. Those blocks are the result of his fixed delusional system, and to remove them he needs to learn that everything he thinks about himself is wrong. His therapist helps him to see this, and to learn that the true cause of his problems is not external, but internal.

He also learns to recognize that what he sees outside him is not a reality, but a projection of his guilt onto it. In time, he learns to forgive the projection of his sins and becomes free of all feelings of attack and threat. He then realizes that his true relationship with God, in which there is no separation, is forever established.

His progress may be slow, and he may seem not to make much headway. But he is not alone, for he has the help of an advanced therapist. The therapist has the potential to transcend the limits that are set by his own limitations, and this potential can be shared with the patient. It is up to both of them to decide how much they are willing to use it.

One technique used by miracles psychotherapists is the miracle question, which asks the patient to imagine a world in which all of his problems have been solved. This is a common practice in solution-focused therapy, which is a form of psychotherapy that was developed by psychologists Berg and de Shazer. It uses a similar methodology as hypnotherapy, and it is sometimes referred to as the “hypnosis without hypnosis.”

The miracle question can be used with any type of problem, but it is especially helpful with the problems that are caused by fear. This is because the miracle question is designed to focus on the goal, rather than the problem itself. The therapist can also use scaling questions, which ask the patient to assess his current situation in terms of his desired goal and then create manageable steps for reaching it.
Goals

In this approach to psychotherapy, the therapist and client work together to build solutions by identifying strengths, resources, exceptions, and goals. A 2021 study found that clients using this technique felt empowered and more hopeful about their future. In addition, the focus of sessions tends to be on finding ways to achieve a desired outcome rather than working through past issues or addressing underlying concerns. Techniques include the miracle question, scaling questions, and identifying exceptions.

The Course in Miracles focuses on forgiveness and healing in the context of psychotherapy, so it is helpful to find a therapist who is familiar with these concepts. However, if a patient needs help with other mental health issues, a therapist who is not familiar with the Course in Miracles can be helpful as well.

One of the most effective interventions in a course in miracles psychotherapy is the Miracle Question, which asks the client to imagine what their life would be like if they achieved their desired outcome. It's a great way to help clients get out of their stuckness and into the present moment, where they can begin to take action toward their goal. This process can also be used with couples, to clarify what each member of a couple wants from the other and to prevent them from blaming each other for their problems.

A miracle question is also a common practice in solution focused therapy, which is an evidence-based approach to treating various mental health issues. The main difference between this and other forms of psychotherapy is that the goal of SFBT is to identify solutions instead of addressing concerns or difficulties. A 2020 study found that patients who stayed focused on solutions experienced better emotional health than those who addressed their difficulties.

This pamphlet is written for professional therapists, but it will be of interest to anyone who is interested in how the Course's theoretical principle of healing and forgiveness applies to the field of psychotherapy. This is the first of a series of booklets that will discuss this topic. For more information, visit the School for a Course in Miracles.