Ricardo Drummond Marsicano Ribeiro (photo) is a clinical psychologist and university lecturer. He was born in the Brazilian city of Juiz de Fora and now lives in João Pessoa, in the state of Paraíba. He graduated in Psychology and Electrical Engineering and has a master degree in Nuclear Engineering, having worked for many years as a government researcher in that field. Thanks to the internet, he continues to work as a volunteer at the Fé e Caridade (Faith and Charity) Spiritist Centre in his hometown and also as a Spiritist speaker, as he explains in the following interview. 

How did you become a Spiritist? 

My father wasn’t a Spiritist, but a Spiritualist and we always exchanged ideas about that. My mother, however, was a dedicated medium and taught me the importance of charity. All that forged in my soul the desire to, one day, become a Spiritist. But that only happened when a friend of mine invited me to join the youth group at the Fé e Caridade Spiritist Centre in Juiz de Fora, all those years ago. 

What strikes you the most in the Spiritist Teachings? 

It is how it leads to the true transformation of human beings by showing them the importance of charity and consolation and by raising their awareness to that. Spiritism on one hand “doesn’t force us to do anything,” but on the other hand changes the way we see the world and life and makes us reassess our values and attitudes. This is indeed the essence of true transformation!

Where does your interest in Psychology come from?

I was always passionate about technology, for all the potential it has to improve the lives of everyone in the world. But as I began to deepen my knowledge of Spiritism, I became increasingly interested in psychology. And a turning point in my life was when my father and my eldest brother surprised me with a gift, enrolling me for a university degree in Psychology. It was one the greatest gifts I’ve ever received. 

How do you see the links between Psychology and Spiritism?

Quite a few years ago, my wife and I had the opportunity to talk about that with the dear medium, Divaldo Franco, who warned us then about the increasing problem that was being caused by “psychological illnesses.” He said that as Spiritists we would be able to work on that and help tackle that problem, which is affecting so many people. It’s interesting to stress that we had asked a more personal question to Divaldo, who replied with this generic, more profound lesson. Indeed, he guided us towards the importance of considering the difficult times that were ahead of us and he made us aware of the importance, for all of us, to be prepared to help, by guiding others and alleviating their pain. From that day onwards, my wife and I made a commitment to work in that field. 

Of all the human psycho-emotional flaws, I believe that the restrictions created by ourselves (such as guilt and fears) seem to be the most traumatic. To overcome them we probably need professional help. What can you say about that based on your experience as a psychologist and a Spiritist?

People are facing countless psychological challenges these days. Guilt and fear, resentment and a desire for vengeance, greed and excessive individualism are some of the misguided aspects of modern life, which have been paving the way for so much pain and suffering. If we cultivate those features in our daily lives, we will be getting into a more serious condition. What we can see then is the person becoming psychologically ill, suffering from depression, anxiety, looking for empty escapism, for addictions, feeling empty and even suicidal. I believe that the way we see the world has a profound impact on our well-being. And, in this regard, to be fully aware of the existence of God and the immortality of the soul, as well as the principle of reincarnation, will certainly make us more resilient, optimistic and hopeful, stronger in faith and deeds. Love is the ultimate therapy for a misguided and sickened soul. 

What is the science of hearing first in order to help – and that includes Fraternal Assistance or counselling in Spiritist Centres – based on?

Listening to what others have to say is the first step in the process of welcoming. And welcoming and sheltering others demands the capacity of seeing and understanding their pain with compassion and without judgement. That is a huge challenge! We often interrupt the accounts of other people with our opinions, personal comments and, in many cases, with that we may end up pushing away those who come to us seeking to alleviate their pain. But we must go beyond welcoming and sheltering when it comes to the process of Fraternal Assistance. We must let the person who comes for help know about the possibilities of spiritual (and sometimes material) help available in Spiritist Centres. And if we realise that that particular individual requires professional help in any other area, we must show them the way in the best possible manner, with a great deal of care and love. After all, these people are in a delicate emotional state and they are extremely sensitive and may misinterpret the advice provided then.