Integration of Christian Orthodox practices into psychiatric psychotherapeutic treatment?

Mental illnesses are related to the spiritual religious dimensions of human experience. So far, this has not been taken into account in diagnostic and therapeutic processes. This overview aims to show, on the basis of the rich tradition in the Christian Orthodox faith, that there is not only a history of Far Eastern provenance with respect to relaxation techniques and mental strategies but that the inclusion of spiritual and pastoral elements can help the individual patient to achieve "peace of mind" (hesychia). Even severe psychiatric illnesses, some of which are not always accessible verbally and cognitively, can benefit from such approaches of soul-spiritual concentration and ritual power, such as the Jesus Prayer. Psychotherapeutic approaches that take such existential situations into account could therefore be a useful addition to the treatment of affected patients, especially for the increasing number of refugees from Eastern Europe with their specific religious backgrounds.