Religion and Spirituality
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Jan 9, 2024
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Religion and Spirituality
One’s values and belief systems are often formed by religion and spirituality;
consequently, “there is a need to address religion and spirituality in the counseling relationship,
the literature also clearly shows that clinicians do not do so regularly” (Adams, et. al., 2015,
p.45).
Some clinicians may lack the awareness and level of comfort with their own religious
tenets, and therefore hesitate to inquire about client’s religious or spiritual convictions.
Such
conversations are all the more necessary because of the nuances and intricacies of religion and
how that is shapes one’s REC Identities.
Religion means so many different things because of the
diversity “within-group variation [as well as] religion variations” (Balkin et. al., 2014, p. 187) as
well as variety of levels of adherence to traditional mores.
As a result, “it is necessary that
counselors understand how a clients’ spirituality and faith shapes their perspectives on
themselves, others, and the world around them in order to effectively incorporate religious and
spiritual values into counseling” (Watts, 2000, as cited by Henriksen et. al., 2015, p.59).
How
the client conceives of treatment, symptoms, and even illness.
Not only are conversations about religion necessary to inform the counselor about
therapeutic choices, but such discussions foster a deeper understanding of the client and forms a
foundation of trust.
“Additionally, exploring these issues within the counseling environment
conveys to clients that their beliefs are valued and can be discussed openly, rather than
discounted, ignored, or viewed as pathological” (Richards & Bergin, 2000; Watts, 2001, as cited
by Henriksen et. al., 2015, p.59).
For clients from culturally diverse backgrounds working with
counselors from different backgrounds, being heard and feeling their beliefs are accepted is not
only more therapeutically productive but strengthens the client / therapist relationship.
The client’s treatment benefits equally from the client’s awareness of their spiritual
values, so too is it important for the clinician to be aware of their own religious or spiritual bias
and blind-spots.
Cultural sensitivity necessitates the careful consideration of those principles and
values in comparison between the client and the patient therefore clinical “students need to be
trained to recognize their own beliefs and values related to spirituality and their role as a
counselor” (Henriksen et. al., 2015, p.59).
When counselors are unfamiliar with their client’s
religious principles and values misdiagnosis and mismatch of treatment goals “and some
evidence indicates that clinicians may pathologize religious / spiritual beliefs with which they are
unfamiliar” (S. O’Connor & Vandenberg, 2005, as cited by Adams, et. al., 2015, p.45). The
negative impact may undermine the therapeutic process.
Increased self-awareness, continuing
education, are the responsibility of any responsible clinician.
Critically, religious values and spirituality are not only an aspect of one’s REC Identity,
but may be leveraged as a potential strength to aide in therapy because “people who use religious
coping skills, such as prayer, reading biblical scripture, or meditation, develop better adjustment
and self-care strategies during times of stress and life crises than those who do not” (Henriksen
et. al., 2015, p.59).
Clinicals should consider utilizing these competencies and traditions as part
of treatment.
Responsible therapists “[r]ecognize that spirituality is an intimate aspect of the
human condition and a legitimate aspect of mental health work” (Sue et al., 2022, p. 199), but
must endeavor to recognize the power and confluence of these different and sometimes divergent
belief systems.
Even if the therapist’s beliefs are in contradiction to the client’s, the therapist is
the one who must incorporate the client’s conceptions and not the other way around, because
validating “alternative realities does not mean that the counselor must subscribe to a particular
belief system. It does mean, however, that he or she must avoid being judgmental” (Sue et al.,
2022, p. 199).
As the client explores the tension between the science of mental health and the
psychological impact of religious and spiritual constructs in treatment, so too must the clinician
to endeavors to provide an effective and supportive therapy.
References
Adams, C., Puig, A., Baggs, A., & Wolf, C. (2015). Integrating religion and spirituality into
counselor education: Barriers and strategies.
Counselor Education and Supervision,
54
(1), 44-56.
Balkin, R., Watts, R., & Ali, S. (2014). A conversation about the intersection of faith, sexual
orientation, and gender: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim perspectives.
Journal of
Counseling & Development, 92
(2), 187-193.
Cashwell, C. S., & Watts, R. E. (2010). The new ASERVIC competencies for addressing spiritual
and religious issues in counseling.
(Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious
Values in Counseling). Counseling and Values, 55(1), 2-5.
Henriksen, R., Polonyi, M., Bornsheuer-Boswell, J., Greger, R., & Watts, R. (2015). Counseling
students' perceptions of religious/spiritual counseling training: A qualitative study.
Journal of Counseling and Development, 93
(1), 59-69.
Sue, D. W., Sue, D., Neville, H. A., & Smith, L. (2022).
Counseling the Culturally Diverse
(9th
ed.). Wiley Professional Development (P&T). https://bookshelf.textbooks.com/books/
9781119861911.
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