Something atypical happened in a therapy session with a client this week.

In an effort to increase motivation for change, I found myself quoting this past week’s Parsha to illustrate a point. I believe this is a client who can appreciate a Torah thought, as the client has quoted Torah sources in the therapy room in the past. However, as I was quoting the Torah, I found myself wondering if the Torah portion has been used in other therapy rooms to bring out a point in psychology.

I am not yet quite sure what has contributed to my ambivalence about this- but I guess I wonder:

a) does this go against my role as a therapist and not a Rabbi?

b) is using a Torah source to argue a point-more intimidating to a religious client then a psychology source?

Note: I am not a Rabbi, and I am far from being an authority on Torah topics.

Are you a therapist who uses Torah sources in therapy? Have you been on the receiving end as a client? How have you experienced this?