Are Psychologists Equipped to Help Clients Deal with Spiritual Concerns?

Some individuals are deeply spiritual. Their religion and spirituality are at the forefront of everything that they think, say and do. For others, their religious beliefs are a secondary concern. While they consider themselves to be spiritual, they tend to focus more on their immediate physical needs rather than dwell on their spiritual concerns. Regardless of what category you fall into, if you are seeking psychological therapy, chances are good that your spiritual concerns will be brought up at some point during your therapy sessions. What is Spirituality? Spirituality is a person’s concept or visualization of an ultimate utopia and the path that allows that person to discover the blessings and joys related to that alleged utopic reality. The word “spirituality” can also be used in reference to the values and meanings by which people live. In the realm of psychotherapy, the second definition is most relevant. Spiritual Practices People participate in many different spiritual practices that help shape their life. These practices often help a person refocus on their values and spiritual beliefs. Most commonly, individuals mediate, pray and contemplate the meaning of their religious beliefs. These activities help a person find their spiritual center and find the inspiration that they need to continue on with their day-to-day lives. These spiritual practices can be an integral part of the success of a patient’s psychotherapy treatments. Two Related Ideas Spirituality and counseling are two ideas that have a similar goal. Patients and therapists alike believe that spirituality is intrinsically related to most forms of psychotherapy. Both of these ideas focus on healing a person emotionally and spiritually and giving them the tools that they need in order to grow and move on in a healthy and wholesome manner. It is the responsibility of the therapist to recognize their patient’s spiritual aspects, despite their varied appearance, validate their patient’s spiritual concerns, and assess the validity of spiritual thoughts in feelings in the process of providing the required psychotherapy. Spirituality and the Therapists’ Couch As a matter of course, most therapists make it a point to inquire about their patient’s religious and spiritual beliefs. Disregarding the importance of religion and spirituality in a patient’s life is irresponsible, as religion and spirituality influence many aspects of a person’s life. Qualified therapists recognize that religion and spirituality are an important component of their patient’s well-being. They understand that a person’s mental and emotional distress may disrupt their religious and spiritual traditions, and they understand how this problem often compounds their patient’s condition. Being open to a religious discussion and maintaining an understanding atmosphere will allow a psychologist to obtain a deeper understanding for their patient, which can lead to a broader psychotherapy evaluation. Spirituality as a Therapy Some therapists use various aspects of religion and spirituality as a means of treatment for their patients. This type of psychotherapy is relatively new and controversial, but many patients find these therapies to be helpful. Spiritual therapy includes such practices as praying during therapy sessions, directed prayers, spiritual journaling, methods of forgiveness, and the study of biblical texts to help reinforce positive, healing thoughts and messages. While many psychologists consider themselves equipped and able to provide their patients with spiritual therapy, experts suggest that they proceed with caution. When implemented incorrectly, spiritual and religious-based therapies can have a detrimental effect on patients. Most commonly, this type of therapy introduces the idea of an angry, vengeful god that is causing the turmoil and upset in the patient’s life. This type of situation can often worsen the patient’s condition. Therapeutic Precautions Very few psychologists receive direct training on the importance of a patient’s spiritual being and the proper protocol for addressing spiritual concerns during a therapy session. The best course may be for a therapist to remain open and understanding of a patient’s spiritual feelings and concerns. However, those psychologists who choose to incorporate spiritual therapies into their practice should do so carefully. Prior to introducing spiritual therapies, a psychologist should perform a self-study and realize all of the ways that their religion and spirituality are important to whom they are as a person. Recognize that each patient is affected by spirituality and religion in much the same way. Therapists must realize that it is okay to encourage spiritual study and religious beliefs, but these treatments cannot be the sole means of psychotherapy for patients with deep-rooted mental and emotional problems. Spiritual therapy can be a beneficial and positive addition to traditional psychotherapy, and established markers of psychological improvement must be utilized throughout the therapy process.