Spiritually oriented interventions in developmental context.

Abstract

Five-year-old Joseph was referred for psychotherapy because of severe separation anxiety from his mother. He was terrified to go to his kindergarten class and was extremely worried about separating from his mother. Joseph's Korean American family identified as having a Christian faith. Joseph said that he loved God and knew God was watching him and his mother from heaven. Prayer, scripture reading, and religious discussion were common daily practices in the family. However, Joseph's religious beliefs were also tied into his separation anxiety. For instance, although he believed that God was watching over him, he also believed that if he disobeyed his mother, God might punish him by taking his mother away.Given the importance of Joseph's faith and its relevance to his presenting problem, his psychotherapist determined that the use of spiritually oriented interventions would be appropriate and make sense to Joseph SPIrItuAlly OrIented InterventIOnS In develOPmentAl COntext HeAtHer lewIS QuAGlIAnA, PAmelA ebStyne KInG, dAvId Peter QuAGlIAnA, And lIndA mAnS wAGener 4

Cultivating a spiritually integrative psychotherapy approach with youth: An exploratory qualitative study.

“…This finding substantiated the work of Cervantes and Arczynski (2015); Miller (2013), andMiller andKelley (2006) and is not new to the broader therapy landscape (for children, see Landreth, 2014). This study found that participant clinicians applied spiritual practices and explored spiritual themes in their work with youth, which empirically substantiated a growing conceptual base of scholarship (Briggs et al, 2011;Bruce & Cockreham, 2004;Magaldi-Dopman & Park-Taylor, 2013;Marker et al, 2007;Miller, 2013;Miller & Kelley, 2006;Quagliana et al, 2013;Walker et al, 2010).…”

“…Miller and Kelley (2006) have advised that therapists consider the interplay between psychological symptoms and spiritual oppression. These and other authors have underscored the importance of affirming young clients' relational and spiritual predilections and experiences, versus focusing solely on their developmental limitations and functional problems (Cervantes & Arczynski, 2015;Miller, 2013;Miller & Kelley, 2006;Quagliana et al, 2013).…”

“…Spirituality has garnered increased attention in psychotherapy scholarship (Post & Wade, 2009; Rosmarin et al, 2013; Sperry, 2011). In the last 20 years, emerging conceptual literature has concentrated on integrating spirituality in psychotherapy with youth (Briggs, Akos, Czyszczon, & Eldridge, 2011; Bruce & Cockreham, 2004; Cervantes & Arczynski, 2015; Magaldi-Dopman & Park-Taylor, 2013; Miller, 2013; Miller & Kelley, 2006; Quagliana King, Quagliana, & Wagener, 2013; Walker & Hathaway, 2013; Walker, Reese, Hughes, & Troskie, 2010). This emergence is notable, given that scholars have described spirituality as a core component of life-span development (Cervantes & Arczynski, 2015; Hay & Nye, 2006; Roehlkepartain, Benson King, & Wagener, 2006).…”

“…According to the current theoretical literature, therapists have a broad menu of developmentally attuned spiritual practices that can be integrated into the therapeutic process, including cultivating acceptance or forgiveness; using sacred texts, prayer, mindfulness, grounding, meditation, and/or loving images of God; and enhancing spiritual awareness (Marker, Weeks, & Kraegel, 2007; Miller, 2013; Miller & Kelley, 2006; Quagliana et al, 2013; Walker et al, 2010). Scholars have also described a plethora of spiritually oriented therapeutic focus areas for working with youth.…”

“…By exploring religious/spiritual identity development in therapy, therapists can normalize young clients’ spiritual struggles and can support them as they build personal spiritual identities (Bruce & Cockreham, 2004; Magaldi-Dopman & Park-Taylor, 2013; Miller, 2013; Miller & Kelley, 2006; Walker et al, 2010). Further, scholars have postulated that helping youth connect with spiritual communities and develop skills to positively influence others can enhance therapeutic outcomes (Briggs et al, 2011; Magaldi-Dopman & Park-Taylor, 2013; Quagliana et al, 2013).…”