One Approach to a Counseling and Spirituality Course

Abstract

The authors describe the design of and student reaction to a counseling and spirituality course offered to full-time resident counselor education students at the University of Virginia, a secular university. The course was offered as a blended Internet-based and seminar course.The Internet components were the result of student feedback from previous distance Internet courses. Positive student reactions to both the content and the method were reported. The students viewed the Internet discussion of spiritual and religious isues as a positive feature of the course. Their most common suggestion was to have more seminar meetings to discuss the issues raised in required Internet postings.

Integrating Religion and Spirituality Into Counselor Education: Barriers and Strategies

“…In addition to integrating religion and spirituality into current courses, counselor education programs may wish to consider offering a specialized course on religion and spirituality in counseling. A considerable body of literature describes such courses (e.g., M. O'Connor, ; Pate & Hall, ), which could be used to guide programs in developing a religion and spirituality course. In fact, researchers (Baggs et al, ; Robertson, ) have found that courses that focused on religion and spirituality may significantly improve students' competence to address religious/spiritual issues.…”

Spirituality and Religion: The Ninth CACREP Core Curriculum Area

“…Excellent examples have been provided in the counseling literature on how to integrate spirituality and religion into counselor training (Briggs & Rayle, ; Curtis & Glass, ; Hagedorn & Gutierrez, ; Meyer, ; Pate & Hall, ) that range from classroom activities (Meyer, ) and specific courses (Curtis & Glass, ; Pate & Hall, ) to the infusion of spirituality into the CACREP core (Briggs & Rayle, ; Burke et al, ; Hagedorn & Gutierrez, ). For example, Meyer () recommended the implementation of classroom experiential exercises using drama therapy for enactments and role plays to explore religion and spirituality (Emunah, ) and to enhance therapeutic distance (Grainger, ).…”

“…Curtis and Glass () provided detailed content for a combination didactic, experiential, and process course in spirituality, with the objectives of expanding students' awareness, having students reflect on their spiritual development, and increasing students' confidence in addressing spiritual issues with clients. Pate and Hall () developed and evaluated a blended Internet‐based independent study course specifically designed for students to address spirituality with clients. The literature highlights the need for more training focused on spirituality (Curtis & Glass, ; Pate & Hall, ).…”

Spirituality, religion and counselling practice: a guide to competent integration

“…, Cashwell & Young, 2004;Leseho, 2007;Myers & Williard, 2003;O'Connor, 2004;Pate & Hall, 2005 ;Souza, 2002). Indeed, there are more opportunities today for students and clinicians to become competent in religious and spiritual matters related to counselling than ever before.…”

“…Indeed, there are more opportunities today for students and clinicians to become competent in religious and spiritual matters related to counselling than ever before. Pate and Hall (2005) assert that education opportunities, dedicated to fostering the integration of religion and spirituality within clinical practice, reinforce how vital it is for counsellors to accept and understand the significance of religiosity and spirituality of those they help.…”