Mercy as a Virtue to Guide the Clinical Practice of Psychology

Since the emergence of the positive psychology movement, the field of psychology has expressed burgeoning interest in virtue and its applications to clinical work. This article focuses on virtue from the perspective of the clinician and proposes mercy as a virtue to guide the clinical practice of psychology. Not only is mercy part of every Christian vocation, it also has rich implications for clinical psychology. This article argues that mercy is a fitting virtue for clinical work, addresses a common misconception about mercy that calls forth the need for a richer understanding, and responds to that need by explicating the definition of mercy from the writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas as further developed by Pope Saint John Paul II and Pope Francis. Three aspects of mercy are considered: a compassionate heart that enters into another's suffering, intentional action regulated by reason, and alleviation of suffering through witnessing to the fundamental dignity of the person. Application to clinical practice in psychology is considered, focusing on mercy as a virtue for the clinician of great relevance and import in clinical work.