Spirituality In Counseling And Psychotherapy

The authors argue that when psychotherapists diagnose and assess their clients, they should routinely assess the religious and spiritual values of their clients to obtain a fuller and more accurate diagnostic picture. This book is the first to provide guidance for integrating a theistic spiritual strategy into mainstream approaches to psychotherapy in order to reach a large, underserved population of clients with religious and spiritual beliefs.

`Fascinating. There is much here that is controversial, thought provoking and very useful. It is encyclopaedic in its breadth and use of knowledge. [Like] rich food [it] needs to be taken in slowly, savouring every morsel!′ - Thresholds `[Spirituality] has been traditionally ′taboo′ within the counselling and psychotherapy profession. Denis Lines comes into this controversial scene with a rigorous-but-gentle, mystical-but-grounded, inspiring and thought-provoking voice.... The book is well written and presents the model in the context of other therapeutic modalities, which makes it interesting and useful for therapists from different backgrounds and practice settings. It could also be of use for those involved in religious education, pastoral care or anybody interested in the spiritual development of the self or the existential quest of humankind′ - Therapy Today ′This gentle, mystical, empirical and scholarly book is truly inspirational and it deserves the widest possible readership among therapists, religious educators and all those who care about the spiritual destiny of humankind′ - Professor Brian Thorne, Co-founder The Norwich Centre and Emeritus Professor of Counselling, University of East Anglia Spirituality in Counselling and Psychotherapy explores the idea that throughout the course of a therapeutic relationship between therapist and client, a spiritual level is reached by the two people involved. The author shows how this dimension can help clients who are living in an increasingly secular and faithless society to find some resolution with the issues they bring to therapy. By exploring different perspectives on religion and spirituality, the book provides therapists with the grounding they need to introduce spiritually-centred counselling into their practice. It describes the characteristics of spiritual counselling and covers practical considerations such as: " recognising indications from the client to move into a spiritual mode of therapy " exploring the ′self′ through spiritual work within the therapeutic process, and how this can lead to healing and growth " how to deal with doubt and scepticism over issues of spirituality. The book is illustrated throughout with transcripts and case studies to show how therapists can integrate the spiritual within their own approach to therapeutic work. It will be invaluable to all those who wish to explore this dimension in their work with clients.

"This book, through its well-referenced and critically thoughtful approach, has made an invaluable contribution to the counseling literature. The extensive use of case studies and other applied materials makes it a valuable . . . reference." –Dr. Thomas J. Russo, Department of Counseling and School Psychology, University of Wisconsin, River Falls Incorporating Spirituality in Counseling and Psychotherapy presents an applied, insightful, and well-researched overview of the theory, practice, and ethics of integrating spiritual and religious themes and rituals into traditional therapy models. This well-conceived and immensely readable text examines common barriers and bridges between spirituality and mental health and documents the effectiveness of using spiritual practices and concepts in treatment. Most important, it encourages readers, through group activities and individual reflection, to consider their own spiritual belief systems and biases before engaging clients in therapy with a spiritual base. Key features of this book include: A synopsis of the major Eastern and Western religions and spiritual movements Theoretical, cultural, and ethical implications of incorporating spirituality in counseling Practical methods for helping clients develop a spiritual identity Proven techniques for incorporating spiritual practices in treatment Case studies providing complex, real-life scenarios, as well as questions and activities for individual and group discussion A practical book for students and a valuable resource for counselors, psychologists, social workers, addiction specialists, and other mental health professionals, Incorporating Spirituality in Counseling and Psychotherapy offers expert guidance on how to handle issues of spirituality in furthering the therapeutic process.

Here, the authors share specific strategies suggesting holistic and sound interventions to include religion and spirituality into counselling and social work practice.

From a leading researcher and practitioner, this volume provides an innovative framework for understanding the role of spirituality in people's lives and its relevance to the work done in psychotherapy. It offers fresh, practical ideas for creating a spiritual dialogue with clients, assessing spirituality as a part of their problems and solutions, and helping them draw on spiritual resources in times of stress. Written from a nonsectarian perspective, the book encompasses both traditional and nontraditional forms of spirituality. It is grounded in current findings from psychotherapy research and the psychology of religion, and includes a wealth of evocative case material.

`This book is encyclopaedic in its range compacting much fascinating material into a small space....West has a gift for summarising and critiquing others' thought with brevity....The book will resource and stimulate its readers' - Counselling `There have been many books written about counselling with respect to class, politics, gender, culture and similar issues but, as far as I am aware , this is the first major work to be presented in this country about working with a client's spirituality and the importance this may have... Is a must for trainees in the field and for those who feel a client's spirituality is an irrelevance.'- Cahoots This thoughtful and intelligent book encour

The goal of this book is to help counselors move from a respectful but hesitant neutrality to a skilled, and action-oriented sensitivity toward their clients' spirituality. The primary audience is professional counselors and psychotherapists, social workers, counselor and therapist educators, and counselors-in-training in college programs. The book presents and discusses recent theory and research on spirituality and religion with regard to counseling and psychotherapy. It builds on the premise that spirituality and religion deserve counselors' sensitive regard, informed understanding, and, as ethically and therapeutically appropriate, skillful integration into effective counseling treatment. The first two chapters present information, concepts, and background knowledge that undergird counseling approaches, skills, and techniques. Chapter Three focuses on the relationship dimension of counseling and discusses principles and practices for relating the spiritual/religious dimension of the counseling relationship. Chapter Four looks at systematic approaches for evaluating the appropriateness of including spiritual and religious issues in counseling, and Chapter Five addresses a variety of treatment approaches and techniques for working with clients' spiritual and religious concerns. (Contains over 400 references and an index.) (RJM)

Bringing Religion and Spirituality into Therapy provides a comprehensive and timely model for spirituality-integrated therapy which is truly pluralist and responsive to the ever-evolving World of religion/spirituality. This book presents an algorithmic, process-based model for organizing the abundance of theoretical and practical literature around how psychology, religion and spirituality interact in counseling. Building on a tripartite framework, the book discusses the practical implications of the model and shows how it can be used in the context of assessment and case formulation, research, clinical competence, and education, and the broad framework ties together many strands of scholarship into religion and spirituality in counseling across a number of disciplines. Chapters address the concerns of groups such as the unaffiliated, non-theists, and those with multiple spiritual influences. This approachable book is aimed at mental health students, practitioners, and educators. In it, readers are challenged to develop richer ways of understanding, being, and intervening when religion and spirituality are brought into therapy.