Worldview Diagnostic Tree - Educational Instrument for Enhanced Pedagogy on Spirituality and Religion

Abstract

Recent, 21st century developments in the mental health field encourage the practical integration of many diverse forms of spiritual and religious practices. Belief systems such as moral relativism, naturalism, New Age philosophy and postmodernism are deeply imbedded in the culture and find direct implementation into the therapeutic treatment process. Graduating students, however, are not adequately prepared to face the spiritual and religious diversity of the professional field. The Worldview Diagnostic Tree is a pedagogical instrument designed to address the identified problem. It has a two-fold function: equipping students with a tool for assessing their own spiritual orientation and assessing their clients' spiritual orientation as well. This educational tool for classroom pedagogy on the integration of spirituality and religion in social work curricula meets EPAS requirements for competent social work practice.