This article is the first of three in a Special Supplement presenting the Catholic Psychotherapy Association's guidelines for mental health professionals (MHPs) assisting in the ministry of deliverance and exorcism. In cultures around the world and throughout history, there has existed belief in spiritual entities known as angels or demons. These entities in their malevolent form have been known to oppress or at times even possess individuals. The Church has developed a ritual process known as exorcism to free and heal persons from these demonic influences. However, as composite entities, human beings in their fallen nature may also suffer from psychological afflictions. The challenge is to differentiate the demonic/spiritual from the psychological/medical, understanding that they may coincide. This article is intended to provide an overview of the Catholic Church's mission of deliverance and exorcism in order to inform MHPs of the essential elements in the process and the roles that they may play in the ongoing healing of the spiritually afflicted person.
Szada et al. (2026) studied this question.