Tillich on Counseling Relationship

The "counselor," as the agent of the function of "taking care of souls" (Seelsorge) is in present terminology called, should never be subject only; he should never make of his counselee an object to be handled correctly and perhaps helped by an adequate treatment. If this happens, as it very often does in pastoral as well as in medical counseling, an ambiguity of religion has invaded the Spiritual function of mediation. But if the mediation is determined by the Spiritual Presence, the counselor subjects himself to the judgments and demands that he tries to communicate. He recognizes the truth that he is basically in the same predicament as the counselee. And this may give him the possibility of finding the word of healing for him. He who is grasped by the Spirit can speak to one who needs his help in such a way that the Spirit can get hold of the other one through him, and thus help becomes possible. For Spirit can heal only what is open to Spirit (Tillich, Systematic Theology, vol. 3, pg. 189, 90).