Perceptions of Clients and Counseling Professionals Regarding Spirituality in Counseling

Abstract

Although current research indicates that psychotherapeutic change both affects and is affected by spiritual concerns, relatively little is known about the degree to which spirituality is used as an intervention in counseling and how it is perceived by clients and mental health professionals. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of clients and professionals regarding the use of spirituality in counseling. The results suggest that more professionals may be using spirituality in counseling than has previously been reported.

Discussion on Religious Practice in Counseling: a Preliminary Survey

“…Further, the lack of emphasis by counselors to discuss the issue of religious or spiritual practice in counseling also cause clients to be less interested to discuss it. Because of this current lack of addressing religion and spirituality by counselors, clients were less willing and less likely to find it appropriate to discuss religion and spirituality in counseling sessions (Richards & Bergin, 1997;Morrison et al 2009). …”

Examining Client Spiritual History and the Construction of Meaning: The Use of Spiritual Timelines in Counseling

“…It is crucial that counselors let clients know the scope of their practice in relation to spirituality, as this is a concern for many clients. Specifically, Morrison, Clutter, Pritchett, and Demmitt (2009) examine spiritual issues in the counseling process when giving clients informed consent paperwork. Another critical concern in dealing with client spiritual issues is counselor scope of competence.…”

“…The nine competencies briefly state the requisite awareness, knowledge, and skills that a counselor needs to possess in order to facilitate client spiritual growth and development. However, in spite of these strides to integrate spirituality in the counseling process, it appears that counseling students and practitioners may still hesitate to address clients' spiritual issues (Graham et al, 2001), possibly due to a lack of efficacy for how to effectively deal with spirituality in the counseling process (Morrison, Clutter, Pritchett, & Demmitt, 2009).…”

The Effect of Spiritual Counseling on Stress and Anxiety in Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

“…In spiritual counseling, the counselor spiritually supports the mother based on her religious beliefs, gives her hope to assess her pregnancy-related concerns from her spiritual and religious point of view, identifies her spiritual concerns and doubts, and corrects her misconceptions (18).…”