Spirit Possession and the Consulting Room

The Spirit and the Self: A Therapist’s Encounter with Bodily Possession

The therapy consulting room is often viewed as a sanctuary – a sacred space where the mysteries of the psyche unfold, safe from the judgements of the outside world. But what happens when a client arrives, trembling with the belief or the reality, that their body is no longer their own? They speak of shadows that creep into their dreams, voices that do not belong to them and movements their limbs enact without consent. For some, it is a metaphor for trauma; for others, a terrifyingly literal account of possession. The Therapist finds themselves standing at the intersection of the psychological, the psychiatric and the spiritual – a crossroads fraught with questions of belief, ethics and intervention.

The Phenomenon of Possession: Myth or Reality?

Possession, in its various forms, has long occupied human imagination and clinical observation. In psychological terms, possession can be interpreted as dissociative identity disorder (DID), a response to severe trauma where fragmented parts of the self take on distinct personas. Psychiatry often frames it as psychosis, attributing experiences of ‘outside forces’ to delusions or hallucinations. Yet, these definitions fail to encompass the full breadth of what many clients report – encounters with entities that seem to exist beyond their personal psyche.

Anthropological. And spiritual traditions provide another lens. Across cultures, possession is not merely a disorder but a phenomenon with it’s own spiritual grammar. In Haitian Voodoo, possession by a loa is seen as sacred communion. Among the Balinese, trance states connect individuals to ancestral spirits. Even in Christian traditions, possession may signify both spiritual attack and divine calling, necessitating the intervention of an exorcist. In the consulting room, the therapist cannot afford to dismiss these accounts outright, for doing so risks alienating the client and denying the complexity of their lived reality.

The Therapists Dilemma: Where Science Meets Spirit

How seriously should a Therapist take claims of possession? The answer lies in balancing openness with grounded practice. The Therapist must resist the temptation to pathologise or mystify too quickly, instead staying curious about what the experience signifies for the client. Is the possession symbolic, a manifestation of unresolved grief or childhood abuse? Or is it something inexplicable, a genuine encounter with a force that defies scientific explanation?

Dr. Petruska Clarkson, a pioneer in integrative Psychotherapy, spoke of the ‘transpersonal realm’ a dimension of experience where clients grapple with questions of meaning, existence and spirit. Clarkson urged therapists to honour these realms without losing their clinical footing. From this perspective, possession might be understood as a profound rupture in the boundary between self and other, calling for both psychological integration and spiritual grounding.

Case Studies: Stories from the Crossroads

Consider Sarah, a young woman who came to therapy reporting nightly paralysis and the sensation of a dark figure pressing on her chest. Medical evaluations ruled out sleep apnea and psychiatric assessments suggested anxiety. Yet, Sarah described her experience in terms that felt undeniably spiritual, an ancestral curse handed down through generations. For Sarah, the language of psychology could not touch the depth of her suffering. The therapist, rather than dismissing her beliefs, invited her to explore rituals of protection and forgiveness within her cultural tradition, facilitating a healing process that was both psychological and spiritual.

In another case, Michael, a middle- aged man, entered therapy after being ejected from his church. He had been ‘speaking in tongues’ uncontrollably but believed himself possessed by a spirit of rebellion. A psychiatric diagnosis of bipolar disorder explained some of his symptoms but not all. His therapist, while supporting medication, also explored the meaning of rebellion in Michael’s life. What emerged was a story of suppressed creativity and rage against authoritarian systems. For Michael, his ‘possession’ was a call to reclaim his free will, regarded as an inner transformation rather than external invasion.

Ethical Responsibilities and Spiritual Sensitivity

For therapists, the challenge is twofold: to remain ethically grounded while honouring the client’s worldview. Dismissing possession as mere delusion risks in validating the client’s narrative; endorsing it uncritically risks colluding with potential pathology. The middle path involves collaboration, inviting the client to co-create meaning without imposing a singular framework.

Referral is also a crucial tool. If a client’s belief in possession is embedded in a spiritual tradition, working alongside a trusted spiritual leader or healer can compliment therapy. However, the therapist must remain vigilant, ensuring that such collaborations respect the client’s autonomy and well-being.

Power, Perspective and the Consulting Room

Possession narratives often reveal deeper power dynamics – between the client and their past, their culture and even their Therapist. The therapist must examine their own biases. Are they privileging Western psychiatric models over indigenous spiritual knowledge? Are they unwittingly imposing their own fear or skepticism onto the client’s story? True healing requires humility and a willingness to sit with the unknown.

For some clients, the therapeutic journey itself becomes an exorcism, not of spirits but of shame, fear and the fragmented pieces of their psyche. For others it is an initiation into a larger spiritual awakening, where the boundaries between self and cosmos blur, offering profound insights into the nature of existence.

Conclusion: Holding the Mystery

The phenomenon of possession defies easy categorisation. It demands that therapists expand their understanding, integrating the psychological, the psychiatric and the spiritual. The consulting room becomes a liminal space, a place where science meets mystery. As therapists, our task is not to decide whether possession is visceral but to hold space for the clients reality, walking with them as they reclaim their power, their story and ultimately, their sense of self.